Weather Forecast for NASCAR’s 2026 Chicagoland Race Weekend

What’s Happening?

This weekend, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and Cup Series make their long-awaited return to Chicagoland Speedway. So, whether you are going to be at the track or home, what does the forecast look like for the race weekend in Joliet, Illinois?

• Chicagoland Speedway and its sister track, Kansas Speedway, both opened as new staples of the Midwest for NASCAR in 2001. Despite the continued success of Kansas Speedway, Chicagoland would be removed from the schedule during the COVID-19-affected 2020 season’s rescheduling and left to sit until this year.
• The NASCAR Cup and OAP Series have both raced at the track from 2001 to 2019, and the OAP Series even added a second date from 2011 to 2015. These two series are both transitioning their shared weekend from downtown Chicago’s street race, which was held from 2023 to 2026.
• While NASCAR’s bad luck with rain during its street race era in Chicago, there is no telling how the weather could be in the sport’s return to Chicago.

Weekend Weather Forecast

• Via the National Weather Service
• All Listed Times CT (Local)

Saturday, July 4: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race | 5:30 PM on The CW

Before the OAP Series Race (12:00 PM – 5:00 PM)

• Temperature: High of 89°F at 3:00 PM
• Precipitation Chance: 29% Chance at Noon
• Wind: 13 to 14 MPH

During the OAP Series Race (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM)

• Temperature: High of 88°F at 5:00 PM
• Precipitation Chance: 27% Chance at 5:00 PM
• Wind: 13 to 14 MPH

After the OAP Series Race (8:00 PM – 11:00 PM)

• Temperature: High of 81°F at 8:00 PM
• Precipitation Chance: 23% Chance
• Wind: 5 to 8 MPH

Sunday, July 5: Cup Series eero 400 | 6:00 PM on TNT and HBO Max

Before the Cup Series Race (1:00 PM – 6:00 PM)

• Temperature: High of 87°F at 2:00 PM
• Precipitation Chance: 41% Chance
• Wind: 9 to 10 MPH

During the Cup Series Race (6:00 PM – 10:00 PM)

• Temperature: High of 85°F at 6:00 PM
• Precipitation Chance: 41% Chance at 6:00 PM
• Wind: 7 to 8 MPH

After the Cup Series Race (10:00 PM – 11:00 PM)

• Temperature: High of 76°F at 10:00 PM
• Precipitation Chance: 41% Chance
• Wind: 8 to 10 MPH

Note: This article will be updated with a more accurate and detailed forecast as the race weekend nears.