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July 07, 2023

Chicago traffic has never moved so quickly. Not even a fire truck on an emergency call.

Yet last weekend, Kaz Grala, driving the No. 26 Fire Department Coffee (FDC) Toyota Supra for Sam Hunt Racing, had the pedal to the floor, tearing down Balbo Drive and Congress Circle, screaming along Jackson Drive and DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

If you blinked, you might have missed it. Except you knew he’d be screaming back down the same streets again before long, showing off a new custom paint scheme that celebrated our iconic Skull-Crushing Espresso design.

Cheering on Kaz Grala in a Skull-Crushing Espresso Scheme

The Fire Department Coffee team was out in full force for the groundbreaking race weekend in Chicago, a short (but slower) drive from our headquarters in Rockford, Illinois, to show support for the Skull-Crushing Espresso scheme. The NASCAR Xfinity Series Loop 121 dropped the green flag on Saturday, followed by the NASCAR Cup Grant Park 220 on Sunday. They represented NASCAR’s first-ever urban street races.

Fire Department Coffee Car Burns Rubber at NASCAR Xfinity Series Chicago Street Race

“This was an amazing event from start to finish,” FDC founder Luke Schneider said. “We were excited to bring our team and our families here to be part of the festivities. It was a great chance to spend time with Kaz Grala and thank him for representing Fire Department Coffee so well all season. Of course, it was a surreal experience to see the cars racing down the streets of Chicago.”

Fire Department Coffee Car Burns Rubber at NASCAR Xfinity Series Chicago Street RaceCars reached speeds of up to 140 mph on the straightaways, and fans were treated to a roaring good time throughout the weekend.

Honored to Be Part of NASCAR History

NASCAR turned the event into a two-day festival of racing and entertainment. More than 300,000 people flocked to the city to enjoy the spectacle.

The weekend included musical performances by The Chainsmokers, Miranda Lambert, The Black Crowes and Charley Crockett. Throughout the festival grounds were family friendly attractions like face-painting, games and a petting zoo.

Of course, fans never had to go far to find food vendors selling a wide variety of Chicago-style favorites.

Fire Department Coffee Car Burns Rubber at NASCAR Xfinity Series Chicago Street Race

But the true spectacle was out on the streets, where NASCAR did a masterful job of designing a road course that captured the essence of the Windy City. Everything from skyscraper office tours to centuries-old historic buildings provided a stunning backdrop for the race. 

The FDC team was honored to be part of this groundbreaking NASCAR event, which was an extraordinary showcase for the sport and the city — and, of course, for Fire Department Coffee. Stay tuned for more ways we're fueling the drive.


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