NASCAR May Not Return to This Rumored Track in 2027 After All

What’s Happening?

For some time now, one of the biggest rumors about the 2027 NASCAR schedule was the potential return to the streets of Chicago, though these hopes may be fading away as the sport nears an official 2027 schedule launch.

NASCAR introduced its Chicago Street Race in 2023, taking place on the streets of the city’s iconic Grant Park.

While the event was a major shakeup for the sport, most fans were curious about the longevity of the event, given some reports that locals were not too pleased with the crowded Fourth of July weekend.

These suspicions came to a head last season when NASCAR announced the race would not return to Grant Park in 2026, though the door was open for a return in the future on a new weekend.

This year, reports from insiders like Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic suggested that a return was moving along nicely, with subsequent reports from local reporters pinning the race to a late-May or early-June weekend.

But now another report is catching the eyes of NASCAR fans as it seems the sport may have hit a bump in the proverbial road (or street).

Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business now reports that talks for NASCAR to return in 2027 have stalled out regarding a state subsidy that would have assisted in bridging the costs associated with hosting the event for NASCAR.

Effort to bring NASCAR back to Chicago stalls over state subsidy https://t.co/6ftns1TWhZ

— Crain's Chicago Business (@CrainsChicago) July 29, 2026

It’s no secret that NASCAR was losing money on the race, with former NASCAR President Steve Phelps claiming in late 2024 that Chicago’s Street Race costs $50 million to put on, before claiming that “we unfortunately didn’t sell $50 million in tickets or sponsorships.”

While NASCAR may lose money on the event, the exposure is well worth it, as teams are able to leverage downtown Chicago into notable sponsorships.

Per the report from Hinz, there is still no final decision on the race’s future as of now.

The Chicago Conundrum

Of course, this could play in NASCAR’s favor as it would take a tough decision off the drawing board for the 2027 schedule.

This year, NASCAR directly replaced Chicago’s Street Race with a race at Joliet, Illinois’ Chicagoland Speedway, following a year of campaigning by fans and drivers.

But even before the green flag fell, the rumors of Chicago’s return left Chicagoland’s future in doubt despite the money the sport had poured into reviving the 1.5-mile oval.

Recently, many names, like Dale Earnhardt Jr., all the way up the NASCAR ladder to NASCAR COO Ben Kennedy, have suggested the sport could race at both venues, an idea that, with the sport’s 36-race schedule, would mean some other track would lose a date.

But if this subsidy were a deal breaker for NASCAR, it would make that discussion much easier, with NASCAR perhaps opting to stay at Chicagoland, rather than reshuffling the calendar to keep both venues.

While there is no set date for NASCAR to announce the 2027 schedule, the sport typically likes to do so prior to the Chase (or playoff in prior years).

Last year, NASCAR announced the 2026 schedule on August 20, the week of the Daytona fall race, the final race of the regular season.

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