Remembering the Heat of Chicagoland’s Glory Days
The 2018 Overton’s 400 still lives rent-free in NASCAR fans’ minds. It was a battle under blistering heat, with Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson dueling in one of the best finishes of the season. Larson’s daring slide job on the final lap made hearts race, but Busch took the win after spinning him out in Turn 3.
From 2001 until its quiet exit in 2019, Chicagoland Speedway hosted some of NASCAR’s most thrilling moments. Between 2011 and 2017, it even opened the playoffs. But as interest in intermediate tracks dipped and COVID-19 hit, the venue faded into the background.
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NASCAR Revival Rumors Spark Joliet Hopes
Despite being off the national series calendar since 2020, Chicagoland Speedway was never officially shut down. NASCAR still holds an active business license for the site. That quiet optimism became louder recently, when a NASCAR spokesperson told Crain’s they “hope to bring racing back.”
Even Carson Hocevar believes it’s coming. The Cup driver toured the site, said it’s being maintained, and hinted during a Twitch stream that racing at Chicagoland in 2026 could actually happen.
While NASCAR hasn’t set a timeline, the decision to keep their Chicago office open suggests something’s brewing.
Street Race Pauses as Military Course Debuts
With Chicago’s downtown Street Race on pause until 2027, NASCAR is heading west. The new stop? Naval Base Coronado in San Diego. Over the June 19–21 weekend, fans will witness history as NASCAR holds its first-ever race on an active military base.
Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s EVP of Racing Innovation, said the event ties into America’s 250th birthday and honors service members. Even Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan praised the partnership, calling it a tribute to “grit, teamwork, and love of country.”
iRacing helped design the new track, and all three national series are scheduled to compete. With Auto Club Speedway demolished and the Clash at the Coliseum done, this brings NASCAR back to Southern California in bold fashion.
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