NASCAR Drives Bold Schedule Shift for 2026 Season

In a major overhaul of its 2026 calendar, NASCAR is set to make a triumphant return to

Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois—marking a seven-year hiatus since the last Cup

Series race held there in 2019.

The highlight? The NASCAR Cup Series is scheduled to roar back onto the 1.5-mile oval on

July 5, Independence Day weekend, joined by the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series the day

before. According to NASCAR's Chief Venue & Racing Innovation Officer Ben Kennedy, "fans have been asking for a race in Joliet for years,” and the track promises intense, competitive 1.5-mile racing.

Preparations are already underway. NASCAR has dispatched teams to assess the track,

noting that while it is "relatively Cup-ready," modest upgrades—such as refreshing SAFER

barriers, repainting, and seating and parking improvements—are needed ahead of July 2026.

This return isn’t just about nostalgia—it fits into a broader strategic reshuffle. NASCAR is

introducing a new street race in San Diego at Naval Base Coronado, shifting the All-Star race

to Dover Motor Speedway, and rotating the season finale back to Homestead-Miami

Speedway, among other changes.