Following the first on-track action at Chicagoland Speedway since 2019, NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director Brad Moran gave fans an update on the condition of the venue during a recent interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
This week, NASCAR returned to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, for a Goodyear tire test for NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and Cup Series teams.
While this was just a test, it was the first on-track action at Chicagoland since 2019, as the track was removed from the 2020 schedule following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and NASCAR opted not to return in 2021.
This year, the track will host its first race weekend of the 2020s, taking over the July 4 race weekend once held by the Chicago Street Circuit.
Per photos of the still-abandoned track in summer 2025, Chicagoland was in better condition than other returning venues like North Wilkesboro Speedway and Rockingham Speedway. Still, fans have wondered what condition the track’s facilities and surface are in.
During a recent appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio following this test, NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director Brad Moran said that the track is worn, but in a way that has NASCAR officials and teams excited for the July 4 race weekend.
“It is still a little early on, but the tracks in good condition. It’s well-worn. . . I talked to quite a few teams about it, and everybody’s excited about the surface.” — Brad Moran
Moran says that the track is worn enough that it could have a major effect on tire wear, and depending on what tire Goodyear brings to the track, fans could see racing similar to that of Auto Club Speedway in its final years.
“We’re almost expecting like an Auto Club-type race on a worn-out surface,” Moran said. “And if we get anything close to that, Auto Club, towards its end, put out some great racing. So we really believe it could look similar to that.”
While NASCAR is promising a good showing, something fans have hoped for from the NASCAR Next Gen car, fan footage from the test showed that Chicagoland was in better condition than fans expected.
While the ballfield (the grass dividing the frontstretch and pit road) looked better than those photos and videos from 2025, some fans did point out that NASCAR does need to replace some of the old Monster Energy Cup Series signage around the venue and on the track.
Fans also got to see multiple classes of cars on track during the test, with the OAP and Cup Series cars running at the same time.
But the biggest takeaway from the test was the decent crowd the test drew. While any action at an abandoned track would line cars up, the crowd drawn by this small test made fans hopeful for a big crowd for the track’s return.
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