NASCAR Withdraws 2027 Chicago Street Race, Focuses on Joliet Return

The sound of high-speed race cars will not fill the streets of Grant Park in 2027. NASCAR has announced that it is canceling plans for the Chicago Street Race next summer due to a failure to finalize a deal with the city in time. However, NASCAR remains hopeful about bringing the race back to Chicago in the future.

NASCAR confirmed that Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet will be back on the schedule next summer. This decision comes after a successful event at the location over the July Fourth weekend. NASCAR had aimed to host races in both Chicago and Joliet in 2027.

“While we will not be racing on the streets of Chicago in 2027 despite genuine joint efforts by both NASCAR and our partners at the city and state level, we remain committed to the Chicagoland region and would welcome the opportunity to bring the NASCAR Chicago Street Race back at some point in the future,” NASCAR announced.

The Chicago Street Race transformed Grant Park into an urban racecourse from 2023 to 2025 but took a break this year as NASCAR and the city worked on minimizing disruption and maximizing benefits. In its place, a street race was held at San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado under a one-year agreement. Efforts to return to Chicago in 2027 did not result in a finalized deal for next year’s schedule.

One of the significant hurdles was a $10 million funding gap in a state grant intended to support NASCAR’s expenses. The state allocated $5 million for the fiscal year 2027, whereas NASCAR sought $15 million.

Chicago-area NASCAR enthusiasts will still have the opportunity to see top drivers compete next summer. Although not in downtown Chicago, the NASCAR Cup Series will return to Joliet.

Chicagoland Speedway, which hadn’t hosted a NASCAR event since 2019, saw great success over the July Fourth weekend with 50,000 fans from 31 countries attending as Chase Briscoe won the race. The Cup Series event is scheduled for June 25 to 27 in 2027 at the 1.5-mile oval speedway in the southwest suburbs.

“The fan response this year was overwhelming, so we’re thrilled to be able to honor that turnout with another milestone weekend of racing in Joliet,” Jacque Herrera, general manager of Chicagoland Speedway, expressed.

Torrential rain and resident backlash aside, the Chicago Street Race attracted new fans and positively showcased the city to millions across the U.S. However, the event did not bring a direct financial windfall. It brought in a $128 million economic impact and generated $43.6 million in media value for Chicago in 2024. Despite these figures, NASCAR faced financial losses during the three-year duration of the Chicago Street Race. NASCAR will continue its presence with a downtown office and community programs that it started alongside the event.