JOLIET, Ill. - The race may not be held downtown, but NASCAR is coming back to the Chicago area next year.

NASCAR returns to Chicagoland Speedway

What we know:

NASCAR officials announced Wednesday that the Cup Series will race at Joliet's Chicagoland Speedway on July 5, 2026. The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race will take place a day before on the Fourth of July, preceded by the ARCA Menards Series on July 3.

NASCAR last came to Chicagoland Speedway in 2019, when Alex Bowman recorded his first career win in the Camping World 400.

The news came about a month after NASCAR announced the Chicago Street Race would not return in 2026.

NASCAR officials said the door is still open to bringing the race back to downtown Chicago in the future.

"A fantastic homecoming"

What they'r

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