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NASCAR race expected to return to Joliet

NASCAR’s premier Cup Series will not return to Mexico City next year, leaving a spot on its 2026 schedule that is expected to be filled by the addition of a race at Chicagoland Speedway, multiple sources briefed on the league’s plans told The Athletic.

Not going back to Mexico City leaves NASCAR without an international Cup race in 2026, as the logistics of getting the series to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit in Mexico’s capital, along with finding a date that works for NASCAR, the teams and the track, proved challenging.

In June, Mexico City became the site of the first Cup international points since 1958. But that date is unavailable next year as Mexico City hosts the FIFA Men’s World Cup soccer tournament, with five matches scheduled from June 11 to July 5. Both sides looked at a spring date — likely around the traditional Easter off weekend to give teams additional time to manage the travel — and even explored a possible NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader before NASCAR decided to turn its attention to finding a date for Mexico City on the 2027 schedule.

Needing a replacement for Mexico City on its 38-race schedule (36 points races plus two exhibitions), NASCAR is now solidifying plans to return to Chicagoland. The 1.5-mile oval in Joliet is owned by NASCAR.

Chicagoland previously hosted races for NASCAR’s three national series (Cup, Xfinity and Trucks) from 2001 to 2019 before the league decided to shift its date elsewhere — first to Road America in northern Wisconsin, then to a temporary street circuit NASCAR built in downtown Chicago around Grant Park.

After a successful three-year run for the Chicago Street Course, NASCAR announced earlier this month it would not race there next season, with the hope of returning in 2027. The league also said in its statement that it will keep its Chicago-based office open.

Adding Chicagoland would mean NASCAR would continue to hold a race in the third-largest market in the United States, significant in a sponsor-driven sport. Doing so will require capital improvements to the facility, estimated at around $4 million, according to industry sources — a cost NASCAR would have to cover.

Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar recently visited Chicagoland, which has largely sat dormant since 2019, and he said it “still looks pretty decent shape … kind of abandoned, but obviously somebody is taking care of it.”

NASCAR declined to comment on whether Chicagoland would be added to the 2026 Cup schedule. The most likely spot for a Chicagoland race would be in the summer, though NASCAR is finalizing next year’s schedule.

Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy would not confirm NASCAR’s return to Chicagoland in a statement to The Athletic, but he did express enthusiasm and excitement about the possibility.

“It’s always a fun event for our community and a great economic boost for the entire region,” D’Arcy said.

The 2026 Cup schedule is expected to include two new dates: Chicagoland and the already announced temporary street circuit to be built at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, which is taking the place of the Chicago Street Race. The San Diego race is slated for Father’s Day weekend.

Chicagoland’s return would likely be well-received by the industry and fans. The track pairs well with the Next Gen car NASCAR rolled out in 2022, which has raced well on intermediate-sized tracks similar to Chicagoland. Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman, the most recent race winner there, recently expressed enthusiasm about the possibility when asked, as did several other drivers.

“It’s awesome; it’s such a cool track,” Team Penske driver Joey Logano said last month. “We bring everything else back these days, let’s bring that one back. That’d be cool.”

Swapping in Chicagoland for Mexico City would mean 33 of the 38 races on the 2026 schedule will be held on ovals, an increase from 32 this season.

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