- NASCAR is ready to return to the Chicago street race once again in 2027.
- Admitted to losing $55 million over three years of the Chicago Street Race.
- The date change for the Chicago street race would be a big change.
After stepping away from the Chicago Street Race this year in favour of a return to Chicagoland Speedway, NASCAR now appears ready to steer back toward street-course racing in 2027.
According to multiple industry sources briefed on the discussions, the sanctioning body is making progress toward reviving a downtown Chicago event for its premier Cup Series.
The development comes despite NASCAR’s own acknowledgment that the Chicago Street Race resulted in a $55 million loss across its three-year run.
Reason behind the Chicago Street Race return despite past losses
There is still no finalised agreement between NASCAR and the city of Chicago, but sources familiar with the talks indicate that momentum is building and optimism is growing that the Chicago Street Course will return to the 2027 NASCAR schedule.
Back in December, amid the antitrust lawsuit surrounding the sport, Steve O’Donnell, who at the time served as NASCAR’s chief operating officer, admitted that several race teams argued they were fighting for financial survival. However, O’Donnell countered that NASCAR itself had absorbed major financial losses while attempting to expand into new markets.
O’Donnell detailed the numbers, revealing that NASCAR lost $55 million over the three years of operating the Chicago Street Course, and another $6 million by staging the Mexico City race in June. Still, he articulated those costs as calculated investments aimed at broadening NASCAR’s audience and strengthening long-term partnerships.
He further explained that the Chicago Street Course project, which initially faced resistance from NASCAR’s board and even chairman Jim France, eventually became central to NASCAR’s negotiations with Amazon.
A landmark event
O’Donnell reiterated to outside counsel Chris Yates that Amazon had made it clear it would not have entertained discussions surrounding media rights deals without the Chicago race serving as proof of concept.
Despite the financial hit, the street race continues to be viewed as a landmark event with tourism impact tied to the city. NASCAR officials have remained in discussions with city representatives in hopes of developing a model that can sustain the event on an annual basis.
The pause in 2026 is intended to create a more streamlined operating framework, one that shortens the street construction timeline while reducing disruption for residents and local businesses. NASCAR also views the event as a gateway to a broader audience in a major metropolitan market, aligning with the sport’s long-term effort to expand beyond its traditional oval-racing footprint.
This time around, NASCAR is reportedly planning to move the race away from the Fourth of July weekend, which previously became a sore spot for many residents. Instead, officials are exploring a different date to minimize disruption across the city. The holiday weekend became problematic because constructing the course required shutting down streets throughout downtown Chicago for extended periods.
Julie Giese, NASCAR-appointed president of the Chicago Street Race, addressed the matter in an open letter released last July when the hiatus was announced.
She wrote, “Our goal is for the Chicago Street Race to return in 2027 with an event that further enhances the experience for residents and visitors alike, as we work together towards a new potential date, shorter build schedule, and additional tourism draws.”
Support from drivers
Despite hurdles tied to traffic, road closures, and disruptions throughout race weekend, NASCAR officials have spent the last several years attempting to win over Chicago residents since the event was first announced in July 2022. By the time last year’s race rolled around, both NASCAR and city officials reportedly believed the partnership still had legs, even with the temporary pause this season.
The 2.2-mile street course also gained support from drivers because of its passing zones, something not commonly associated with street racing layouts, along with the backdrop of a major city setting.
Shane van Gisbergen won in the 2023 and 2025 editions of the race, while Alex Bowman took the win in 2024.
NASCAR will still feature a street-course race on the 2026 calendar through its Father’s Day weekend event at Naval Base Coronado outside San Diego.
