In a recent conversation, Joey Logano outlined why NASCAR is experimenting with a broader array of venues, emphasizing that taking the sport to fans can be as valuable as asking them to travel to traditional tracks.
The centerpiece of that experiment is the return of Chicagoland Speedway to the schedule after a seven‑year hiatus, a move that reflects both the series’ desire to revive historic venues and to address shifting attendance patterns that have seen crowds dip from the 75,000‑85,000 range of the early 2000s to the 35,000‑45,000 figures of the late 2010s.
Logano pointed to the 2026 event at the Illinois oval, where near‑sellout ticket sales suggested a warmer reception than many had anticipated, and he noted that the adjacent Chicago Street Race offers a contrasting, urban backdrop that can attract a different crowd.
A Dual‑Chicago Future?
City officials and series executives are already discussing a 2027 calendar that could feature both the historic 1.5‑mile track in Joliet and the downtown street circuit, a proposition that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has confirmed is under serious consideration.
Such a dual‑Chicago lineup would cater to core racing enthusiasts who favor the high‑speed oval while also tapping into the tourism and cultural energy of a city race, potentially reshaping how the sport balances tradition with innovation.