What’s Happening?
With the release of NASCAR’s 2027 schedule closing in, fans are still hyperfixated on the future of the series short-lived street circuit in downtown Chicago.
During a short period of time during the spring, it seemed that everything was lined up for NASCAR to return to the track, but now, rumors of a funding snag suggest otherwise.
That still hasn’t stopped the pot from stirring about NASCAR’s eventual return to Chicago, with a new report catching the eye of NASCAR fans this week.
In an interview with dailysportscar.com, IMSA President John Doonan, speaking about the series search for another new racing venue, expressed direct interest in joining NASCAR if the sport returned to Grant Park in the future, asking, “Could you send a series or two there? You never know.”
🗓️ NEW EVENT? @IMSA President John Doonan says he is “on the hunt” for a new circuit for the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship to visit before the end of the decade
— Dailysportscar News (@dailysportscar) August 4, 2026
READ ➡️ https://t.co/G0MioPvgED#IMSA pic.twitter.com/2jaj7OCYPA
These comments caught the eyes of plenty of fans online, as it could be a boost to the weekend that, from 2023 to 2025, hosted just the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and Cup Series.
Of course, IMSA and NASCAR have deep ties, as the sanctioning body itself is owned by NASCAR Holdings, making this a potentially easier concept to build around as opposed to inviting another series racing that weekend.
Still, nothing is official about NASCAR returning to downtown Chicago, something more and more apparent as we near the announcement of next year’s schedule.
NASCAR Race Facing Major Date Change
What’s Happening? With rumors of NASCAR’s return to the streets of Chicago picking up, the race could also face a major…
Chicago Street Race’s Uncertain Future
The first word of a financial snafu came last week in a report from Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business, which said that discussions regarding NASCAR’s return to downtown Chicago for the 2027 season have stalled out concerning a potential state subsidy that would have assisted in bridging the costs associated with hosting the event for NASCAR.
Following that report, while some fans loved the idea of the race returning to the schedule, others agreed that NASCAR returning to nearby Joliet, Illinois’ Chicagoland Speedway, which took Chicago’s spot on the calendar this year, is the right move.
As of press time, NASCAR is seemingly still mulling over the 2027 schedule, though a handful of schedule dates have already hit the new cycle. For an up-to-date list of all 2027 races, make sure to check out our tracker linked below.
All Confirmed Dates on the 2027 NASCAR Schedule (So Far)
What’s Happening? Throughout 2026, NASCAR will announce dates for its 2027 schedule. Though the sport drops the full schedule in bulk,…
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