NASCAR's Chicago Street Race is getting closer to a 2027 return: Sources

NASCAR and event organizers hoped that 2026 would be just a one-year pause for the Chicago Street Race. That's getting closer to reality, industry sources say. James Gilbert / Getty Images Share articleNASCAR is making progress toward bringing back a race in downtown Chicago for its premier Cup Series, according to multiple industry sources briefed on the discussions but not authorized to speak publicly. There is no finalized deal between the league and the city yet, but those sources say there is growing optimism that the Chicago Street Course will be included in NASCAR’s 2027 schedule. From 2023 to 2025, NASCAR staged a race on a temporary course around Grant Park on a three-year deal with the city. In the lead-up to last year’s race and throughout the race weekend, NASCAR and Chicago leaders sought to continue the relationship after a 2026 pause. One of the key discussion points centered around finding a more advantageous date. Previously hosted over the Fourth of July weekend, the race will likely move, industry sources say, though it’s not yet clear to what date. Holding the race near the holiday is something the city wants to avoid, since the track build requires shutting down city streets for varying periods. NASCAR announced in July it would not race for a fourth consecutive year under the Chicago skyline. At the time of that announcement, it was unclear whether NASCAR would again race in the heart of the third-largest media market in the United States. All the while, though, NASCAR executives have remained bullish, publicly and privately, about the possibility of a return. “Our goal is for the Chicago Street Race to return in 2027 with an event that further enhances the experience for residents and visitors alike, as we work together towards a new potential date, shorter build schedule, and additional tourism draws,” NASCAR-appointed Chicago Street Race president Julie Giese said in an open letter she wrote last July announcing the hiatus. Hurdles remain to finalizing a deal, industry sources stressed, and such negotiations are always fluid. Still, NASCAR’s goal of racing again in downtown Chicago is now closer to reality than ever. The event drew criticism from city leaders and NASCAR fans, ranging from logistics to the racing product. Some public officials decried the use of public roads and the associated costs of holding a race. Some fans didn’t like what they considered a stark departure from NASCAR’s typical stock-car racing style, which largely plays out on ovals. But since NASCAR first announced the race in July 2022, league officials have worked hard to win Chicagoans over, and by the time of the race last July, both sides felt they should find a way to continue the partnership, even after pausing this year. NASCAR cited racing in a major media market and the fanfare surrounding the event as factors in Prime signing a seven-year media rights deal to carry five Cup races annually. Several race teams heard a similar sentiment from their partners, who liked the additional exposure and marketing opportunities. The 12-turn, 2.2-mile course also earned praise from drivers for its multiple passing zones, which are atypical of most street circuits, and its proximity to a major metropolitan city. Shane van Gisbergen won the 2023 and 2025 editions. Alex Bowman won in 2024. “It’s probably my favorite event in NASCAR each year,” said Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson, the defending Cup champion. NASCAR will still have a street course on the schedule in 2026 with a Father’s Day weekend race on Naval Base Coronado outside San Diego. The league also will maintain a footprint in the Chicago area, returning to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., for a race in July after a six-year absence from the track. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms