When looking at the 2024 NASCAR schedule there are a lot of factors that go into what puts a track on the schedule. From crowds, to facilities, to location, to time of year, a lot goes into it. However, lets take a look at every race track in the United States right now, and see which ones not on the schedule could host a NASCAR Cup Series race.
Chicagoland Speedway
Chicagoland Speedway is still race-ready as was evidenced by the Supercross race that was held at the venue earlier in September. With the Chicago Street Race still being under scrutiny for 2024 and beyond, Chicagoland Speedway would be a logical place to turn to. The Next-Gen car runs well on 1.5-mile tracks, and Chicagoland has an old racing surface that usually produces better racing.
Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway is another former NASCAR venue that some fans have been asking for to come back. However, it seems more unlikely that this track could come back given its location and its questionable configuration. However, the 1.5-mile product of the Next-Gen car could be what saves this race track.
Milwaukee Mile
The Milwaukee Mile is experiencing a resurgence in recent years with the Truck Series returning this year and IndyCar running a doubleheader at the track in 2024. With the loss of Road America, maybe there is a place for Milwaukee somewhere in the NASCAR ecosystem. However, for a Cup Race, it may not be the best venue in terms of racing product. It is a wide, flat track that is only one mile in length. That track type just does not fit the Next-Gen car well, but, an Xfinity or Truck date there may be perfect.
Iowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway is the most likely of any track on this list to be added to the Cup Series in 2024. With Montreal still uncertain, maybe it is time to give Iowa a shot. NASCAR does own Iowa Speedway after all. However, again, the racing product on another short track could be what gives NASCAR pause to come back to Iowa aside from the small market.
Nashville Fairgrounds
There may be more momentum in the industry for this track than any other to return, but there may be just the same amount of local and political opposition. SMI seems like they will stop at nothing to bring this track back, but a lot of hurdles still have to be cleared. It will probably be a while before this track comes back, if at all.
Road America
When Road America left the schedule following the 2022 season, many fans were upset to see it gone, and more are upset to see it off of the Xfinity Series schedule in 2024 as well. Despite the at-track attendance and general fan popularity of the track, the lack of traditional grandstands, corporate suites, and poor TV ratings have kept NASCAR from having much staying power there. Being an independently owned race track does play a role in this as well, but, hopefully, NASCAR will make a return to Road America soon.
Laguna Seca
NASCAR has never made a trip to Laguna Seca with any series, and that is primarily because NASCAR already goes to a road course just a three-hour drive from the area, Sonoma. Now that Auto Club Speedway could be gone from the sport, potentially for good, maybe Laguna Seca could take that slot. However, the road course product could be what holds NASCAR back.
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
NASCAR has held races in both the Craftsman Truck Series and the Xfinity Series at the track. The track is an interesting one, but there likely needs to be some major infrastructure improvements before a Cup Series race could be run there. However, Road America lacked many of the same things that Mid-Ohio lacked, and Road America made it onto the schedule. Maybe Mid-Ohio gets a chance in the future.
Barber Motorsports Park
Barber Motorsports Park has quietly become a solid road course just outside of Birmingham, Alabama. It hosts IndyCar every year, and it is routinely attended well with a solid racing product. The biggest thing holding back Barber is its’ proximity to another prominent NASCAR track, Talladega. NASCAR is not leaving Talladega anytime soon.
These are the race tracks that NASCAR could potentially trek to sometime in the future. Will these ever come onto the schedule, or is NASCAR going to stick with the current contingent of tracks?
