Chicagoland in, Chicago street course out for 2027 NASCAR schedule

One of the biggest pieces of the NASCAR schedule was set Tuesday with the announcement that Chicagoland Speedway will return for another year of racing.

Both the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Cup Series will compete at the 1.5-mile intermediate in Joliet the weekend of June 25-27. The ARCA Menards Series will again serve as the support race. 

The facility sold out last month when NASCAR returned to the track for the first time since 2019. It is a popular intermediate track amongst both fans and drivers.

“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,” said Jacque Herrera, the general manager of Chicagland Speedway. “I grew up coming to this track with my family, so to see it roar back to life this year and return to the NASCAR competition schedule in 2027 is an incredible thrill.”

Questions lingered about the track's future even after its return as NASCAR worked to finalize whether there was room for one or both the oval and the street course in downtown Chicago on the schedule. However, the street course requires collaboration (resources and funding) between NASCAR and the city, and the terms were never able to be finalized.

Chicagoland Speedway will be the only event in the market next season. NASCAR will not hold the street race, which had been held from 2023-2025.

In the announcement, it was stated that “Chicagoland Speedway represents NASCAR’s ongoing commitment to the greater Chicagland region, which remains a top market with over one million NASCAR fans.”