NASCAR puts brakes on 2026 Chicago Street Race

Field Level Media|published: Fri 18th July, 17:47 2025

Jul 6, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Shane van Gisbergen (88) drives during the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

The Chicago Street Race will not be on the NASCAR calendar in 2026, officials announced Friday.

NASCAR and city officials are working toward a return to the Windy City in 2027.

"Following the success of the first three years, the Chicago Street Race will hit pause in 2026 to afford us the time necessary to work collaboratively with the City of Chicago to explore a new potential date and to develop a plan that further optimizes operational efficiencies, with a goal to return to the streets of Chicago in 2027," the event's social media account posted on X.

"Together, we have built and grown an expanded community of fans that consists of longtime NASCAR enthusiasts and first-time racegoers from around the globe, and for that, we are immensely grateful."

From 2023-25, drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series raced along a 12-turn, 2.2 mile course from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue.

Shane van Gisbergen of New Zealand dominated the Chicago streets, winning the Cup Series races in 2023 and 2025 and the Xfinity races in 2024 and 2025.

--Field Level Media