What’s Happening?

In a slightly perplexing yet understandable turn of events, there is growing momentum for NASCAR to return to the streets of Chicago in 2027. According to The Athletic reporter Jordan Bianchi, NASCAR is “moving closer” to bringing the Chicago Street Course back, with optimism growing behind the scenes. And while the report itself is light on details, it absolutely opens the door to one massive question: what happens to Chicagoland Speedway?

• Could NASCAR realistically run both the Chicago Street Race and Chicagoland Speedway on the same schedule, or would the two events cannibalize the same fan base and market?
• Is the most likely outcome simply the street course replacing Chicagoland entirely, especially given that Prime Video clearly values marquee “destination” events in major cities?
• Would NASCAR try spacing races, potentially running the Chicago Street Race in early June and Chicagoland later in the summer as a standalone oval event?
• Or does alternating between the two venues every couple of years make more sense, even if it risks killing momentum for both tracks long-term?

The biggest thing working in the street race’s favor is visibility. Whether fans love it or hate it, the downtown Chicago event generated attention, TV conversation, and crossover appeal unlike almost any other NASCAR event in recent years. At the same time, Chicagoland’s return this season proves there is still interest in traditional intermediate tracks with worn surfaces and strong racing potential.

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