JOLIET, In poor health. — NASCAR has an issue — not that it’s a foul downside to have.
Within the return to Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday and Sunday, the on-track racing product was all the pieces rivals and followers might have hoped for.
Asphalt that had aged for seven years since NASCAR’s final race in Joliet supplied a number of racing lanes, from the underside of the observe to the skin wall.
Tires mattered, particularly towards the top of prolonged green-flag runs.
Each the NASCAR O’Reilly Collection race on Saturday and the marquee NASCAR Cup Collection occasion on Sunday supplied suspense proper up till the checkered flag. In Saturday’s Cuervo 300, Brandon Jones battled Chase Elliott to the end, profitable with an expertly crafted restart in additional time.
In Sunday’s eero 400, Chase Briscoe fended off the dogged pursuit of Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell, profitable the race by a fourth of a second.
“So excited to be again in Chicagoland,” Briscoe stated quickly after climbing from his automotive. “Hopefully, we could be again.”
True to kind, NASCAR’s Gen 7 automotive excelled on the 1.5-mile intermediate speedway, and Briscoe, an Indiana native, claimed the primary victory of his profession on that kind of observe.
“It’s actually cool to win at a mile-and-a-half within the Cup Collection,” Briscoe elaborated in his post-race press convention. “I really feel like that’s the staple of what the Cup Collection is. My teammates have clearly been unbelievable on the mile-and-a-half.
“To do it right here at Chicagoland is basically particular. It’s within the Midwest. It’s near dwelling. Yeah, this has been a spot that I’ve at all times beloved coming to again once we used to. I missed it. It’s at all times been one among my prime 5 tracks.”
If drivers had been polled, it’s a given {that a} robust majority would favor a return to Chicagoland subsequent 12 months, merely primarily based on the character of the racing.
However there’s the rub. Negotiations between NASCAR and the town of Chicago have superior to the purpose the place the return of the Chicago Road Race — on maintain this season after a three-year run — is an actual chance.
The place Chicagoland Speedway is apt to attract conventional race followers, the Road Race already has a confirmed observe report of exposing a brand new constituency to inventory automotive racing.
NASCAR’s broadcast rights cope with streaming service Amazon Prime Video might necessitate the inclusion of a marquee occasion such because the Chicago Road Race—as was the case with the Mexico Metropolis race in 2025 and the Naval Base Coronado Road Race this 12 months.
The place the appearance of Kansas Speedway has revitalized Wyandotte County with a on line casino, a large buying heart, lodges, eating places and a soccer stadium, Chicagoland Speedway is surrounded by 600,000-square-foot warehouses. Little question builders of these amenities have a look at the Joliet race observe with covetous eyes.
Would NASCAR think about two races within the Chicago space? It’s an necessary market, to make sure, however that’s a query that may solely be answered with the composition of the 2027 schedule.
One factor is for certain. If the Chicago Road Race returns, it received’t be on July 4 weekend. Negotiations up to now reportedly have pointed to an earlier date with out the issues of a serious vacation.
The July 4 weekend additionally has been talked about as a chance for a return to Naval Base Coronado. Given the success of this 12 months’s inaugural occasion, NASCAR Chief Working Officer Ben Kennedy expressed the need to return there, if the USA Navy stays receptive and supportive.
A July 4 date in San Diego would all however assure superb climate for a race.
However would NASCAR think about together with two avenue races in the identical season? Is alternating between Chicagoland Speedway and the Chicago Road Race from 12 months to 12 months a chance?
These are all selections that must be made within the very close to future.
Happily for the game, there aren’t any unhealthy selections within the combine.
