NASCAR is set to return to Chicagoland Speedway in 2027 and will not hold a race on a street circuit in downtown Chicago next year, sources report. Several outlets say NASCAR could announce the decision as early as Tuesday.
The change follows negotiations involving NASCAR, the City of Chicago, and the state of Illinois over bringing back a premier Cup Series event on a downtown track built along Grant Park—after NASCAR ran a street course there from 2023 to 2025. When the most recent downtown contract ends after that three-year run, the parties reportedly were unable to agree on an extension for the 2026 season.
Yahoo reports that NASCAR is instead “punting” a return to downtown Chicago for 2026 and points to its recent return to Chicagoland as part of the rationale, including attendance and sellout figures cited by the league. Overall, the sources agree on the venue shift and the timing, with differences focused on the reason given and when an official announcement may occur.
