NASCAR’s bringing Chicagoland Speedway back to the Cup Series in 2026, a big win for fans who’ve missed the Joliet oval since its last race in 2019. The Fourth of July weekend will be a tripleheader bash: ARCA on Friday, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series on Saturday, and Cup on Sunday.

It’s a nod to the sport’s heartland roots, answering fan calls to revive the 1.5-mile track after the Chicago street race got the boot for 2026. But NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell’s got a curveball up his sleeve, hinting the street course isn’t dead yet. This dual-track tease has fans buzzing about what’s next for Chicago’s racing future.

O’Donnell’s Chicago vision

On the Dale Jr. Download, Steve O’Donnell dropped a bombshell: “Well, we’re not going back as it looks right now, so we’re putting some money in

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