Chicago NASCAR Event Under Scrutiny Ahead of Possible Finale
As the anticipation builds for Sunday’s NASCAR event in Chicago, uncertainty looms over the future of the race and its presence on the calendar. The current race marks the conclusion of a three-year contract between NASCAR and the city, although there are optional years that could extend the partnership.
Prominent driver Denny Hamlin advocates for the race’s continuation, emphasizing its economic significance. "I personally would like to see them do everything they can to keep it here,” Hamlin stated. He highlighted the race’s substantial economic impact, which reached $109 million in its inaugural year and increased to $128 million in 2024. According to Julie Giese, president of the Chicago Street Course, new race fans accounted for 80% of attendance in the first year and nearly 70% in 2024.
The dialogue around the future of the event has been invigorated by Hamlin’s comments regarding the potential for both a Chicago street course and the dormant Chicagoland Speedway to coexist. "Chicagoland is not a substitute for this race… I’d like to see us run both," he remarked, suggesting that the Next Gen car’s performance on intermediate tracks supports this prospect. The last NASCAR event held at Chicagoland was in 2019.
Additionally, speculation about a possible NASCAR race in San Diego is intensifying, though no final arrangements have been confirmed to date. The key question is whether Chicago and San Diego could feature on the same schedule or if San Diego aims to replicate Chicago’s success.
Hamlin concluded, “It seems like this is a bigger event than some of the ovals we go through… younger fans might not travel to Chicagoland for a race, but they can walk to this one.”
With the implications of Sunday’s race extending beyond competition, the motorsports community awaits official decisions that may shape the future of NASCAR in urban environments.
