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Yes, you read that right. NASCAR just announced that the downtown Chicago street race will not return in 2027. The decision came after the city and NASCAR ran out of time to agree on a 2027 date.
Instead, the Cup Series race weekend will be held at Chicagoland Speedway in suburban Joliet, about an hour outside of the city, from June 25 to June 27, 2027. This marks the second year in a row that the race takes place in Joliet, after NASCAR traded the streets for the Speedway earlier this year.
NASCAR first took over the streets of Chicago in 2023 over Fourth of July weekend, notoriously bumping Taste of Chicago out of its signature Independence Day time slot. The debut race weekend was defined by abysmal weather, a truncated race, multiple delays and the cancellation of all three scheduled concerts by The Chainsmokers, Miranda Lambert and Charley Crockett.
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The following two years brought wet weather and extreme heat, but were far less chaotic than 2023. Despite more favorable conditions and cheaper tickets, Chicagoans weren’t totally sold on the street race. Many residents still complained about things like extensive street closures and parking restrictions, and still-high ticket prices (a single-day ticket went for $99 in 2025). Even the drivers weren’t all in, as they expressed concerns about the possibility for crashes on the track.
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The door remains open for a potential return to the streets of Chicago. “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,” a NASCAR spokesperson told CBS News.
For now, motorsport fans will have to make the trek out to Joliet to see the full-throttle action up close. Those who attended the race at Chicagoland Speedway this year can renew their tickets and receive a discount of up to 20%. The deadline to renew is October 30, 2026. Single-day Early Bird tickets start at $27 and are on sale now.