Insider claims Chicagoland could return to NASCAR schedule in 2026

After three years of the Chicago Street Race, is it time for the NASCAR Cup Series to return to Chicagoland Speedway for 2026? The series hasn’t raced at Chicagoland since 2019. In its place, the last few years has been the new street race.

With how well the Next Gen car performs at 1.5-mile race tracks, there is a serious consideration to be made about Chicagoland. You can’t just shrug and let it sit there without at least thinking about a return to the venue.

Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic believes a return is possible for 2026. However, there are updates and renovations that have to take place first. Images from Spire Motorsports driver, Carson Hocevar, showed a lot of overgrowth around the facility.

It looks like Chicagoland is going to be on the waiting list. If Mexico City, San Diego, or the Chicago Street Race don’t happen next season, the intermediate track could slip into the empty slot.

“A return to Chicagoland could happen in 2026, but it’s no sure thing. Right now, the focus within NASCAR, those sources said, is to finalize the San Diego race and sort out the respective futures of Mexico City and the Chicago Street Race. Chicagoland, though, is an option if a spot opens up,” Bianchi reported.

Mexico City and the Chicago Street Course are still possibilities for next season. There are logistics issues with both, mostly relating to the date on the schedule, when the races will take place.

NSACAR could head to Chicagoland as a backup

From Bianchi’s reporting, Chicagoland Speedway feels like an afterthought for NASCAR. The renovations have to take place, that will take time. Then there are the more prefereable destinations and events for NASCAR.

Reporting from earlier today confirmed that San Diego will be on the 2026 schedule. Does NASCAR want to have two street races and run a fourth year of the Chicago Street Race? Does that market have the desire for two Cup Series dates, even if the races are drastically different?

Mexico City appears to be the most difficult race to pin down. The date is likely to move to another weekend in the early spring. NASCAR would also like to see a week off for the teams either before or after the race in Mexico. Travel was killer on the hauler drivers, teams, and drivers this year.

Would you like to see NASCAR return to Chicagoland? Would the fans show up? We will find out when the 2026 Cup Series schedule is released in the next month or two.