NASCAR is inching closer to re‑introducing a downtown Chicago street race to its premier Cup Series, with officials expressing confidence that the event could re‑appear on the 2027 calendar.
The Chicago Experiment
From 2023 through 2025 the series ran a three‑year deal that placed a temporary 12‑turn, 2.2‑mile circuit around Grant Park, weaving between the city's iconic skyline and lakefront. The spectacle attracted both praise for its ambitious layout and criticism over traffic, parking and the on‑track product.
After a 2026 pause, NASCAR and city leaders have been discussing a revised schedule that would likely move the race away from the Fourth of July weekend to a slot that eases logistical strain and maximizes viewership.
Negotiations and Logistics
The series has highlighted the marketability of a Chicago backdrop, noting that the event helped secure a seven‑year media‑rights agreement with Prime, a beverage brand that has leveraged the exposure to boost its national profile.
Drivers have weighed in, with Kyle Larson, the defending champion, describing the Chicago Street Race as his favorite event each year, while Shane van Gisbergen, who captured the 2023 and 2025 editions, and Alex Bowman, the 2024 winner, have spoken about the unique challenges of navigating a street circuit that offers multiple passing zones.
Even as the Chicago program seeks a new foothold, NASCAR will still showcase a street‑course event in 2026, slated for a Father’s Day weekend race on the Naval Base Coronado outside San Diego, and will return to the historic Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, after a six‑year absence.