There’s a certain electricity that crackles through Chicago when NASCAR roars into Grant Park, but no one has harnessed it quite like Shane van Gisbergen. The post NASCAR Plots Long-Term Comeback in Chicago After Rejecting City’s Plea for 2026 appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Chicago officials met with NASCAR representatives to discuss the potential return of the Chicago Street Race in 2027, with a focus on improved set up and tear down efficiency, financial impact, and community engagement.

NASCAR's acknowledgment that it hopes to revive the Joliet facility comes just days after the organization hit pause on the Chicago Street Race downtown. NASCAR said it hopes to return to the downtown streets in 2027, though there is no guarantee that will happen.

NASCAR is headed to San Diego for a race at Coronado Naval Base in 2026, according to reports. The RACER revealed that Coronado is a new destination for the upcoming season, marking an exciting addition to the calendar.

Freddie Kraft and Ty Dillon had some interesting things to say about NASCAR going to San Diego next year and potentially adding Chicagoland to the 2026 schedule. On the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Kraft and Dillion reacted to NASCAR going to San Diego for a road course race.

Aldermen who represent downtown met with NASCAR officials via Zoom on Monday to begin paving a path forward for the Chicago Street Race in 2027 — and possibly 2028. The meeting came three days after NASCAR announced it was pausing the race in 2026.