It’s Thursday. After years of sitting empty like your uncle’s treadmill that now only holds laundry, Chicagoland Speedway is finally roaring back to life with NASCAR’s return.
I received an email from NASCAR yesterday afternoon announcing the release of the 2026 NASCAR racing schedule. I expected a few changes, but what nobody was expecting was their return to the Chicagoland Speedway in 2026! NASCAR had already announced in July that they would be taking a year off from the Chicago street race, but never even mentioned the possibility of returning to the Chicagoland Speedway. I literally had to read and reread the announcement before it actually sunk into my brain.
The Chicagoland Speedway hasn’t hosted a NASCAR race since it’s final race in 2019. For the most part, it has been sitting quietly for the better part of the past six years. As you might expect, it’s currently looking a little rough. Back in June someone made their way onto the property and filmed a very detailed walkaround of the twenty-five year old facility. If you’re interested, you can check it out above.
So NASCAR is back, which means the smell of burnt rubber, overpriced hot dogs, and fans debating whether “drafting” is a racing technique or just what happens in the parking lot port-a-potties!
SAY WHAT?
It’s Thursday. After years of sitting empty like your uncle’s treadmill that now only holds laundry, Chicagoland Speedway is finally roaring back to life with NASCAR’s return.
I received an email from NASCAR yesterday afternoon announcing the release of the 2026 NASCAR racing schedule. I expected a few changes, but what nobody was expecting was their return to the Chicagoland Speedway in 2026! NASCAR had already announced in July that they would be taking a year off from the Chicago street race, but never even mentioned the possibility of returning to the Chicagoland Speedway. I literally had to read and reread the announcement before it actually sunk into my brain.
The Chicagoland Speedway hasn’t hosted a NASCAR race since it’s final race in 2019. For the most part, it has been sitting quietly for the better part of the past six years. As you might expect, it’s currently looking a little rough. Back in June someone made their way onto the property and filmed a very detailed walkaround of the twenty-five year old facility. If you’re interested, you can check it out above.
So NASCAR is back, which means the smell of burnt rubber, overpriced hot dogs, and fans debating whether “drafting” is a racing technique or just what happens in the parking lot port-a-potties!
-keep