NASCAR will race at Chicagoland Speedway in 2026! The sport returns to the 1.5-mile facility for the first time in seven years, with the NASCAR Cup Series scheduled to race at the oval on July 5. The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will join the Cup Series for a points-paying race, slated to run on July 4.

In 2001, the gates to Chicagoland Speedway opened up for NASCAR, ARCA, IndyCar and the International Race of Champion. In total, 90 races have been held with Kyle Busch holding the most wins at the track for a total of 10. Tony Stewart leads all drivers with three wins at the 1.5-mile paved oval in the NASCAR Cup Series. Kevin Harvick has four wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, while Kyle Busch has five wins in the Craftsman Truck Series. Since the beginning, Chicagoland Speedway has produced some of the closest finishes in IndyCar history, the 2018 "Slide Job" between Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson during the Overton's 400 and the infamous orange rolling down the track during qualifying in 2004.

Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet is a $130 million, 1.5-mile D-shaped tri-oval speedway that sits on 930 acres of land, which is large enough to accommodate 42 United Centers, home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks. It is adjacent to Route 66 Raceway and provides 700 acres of free parking for 50,000 vehicles. The infield is 1,200 feet x 2,850 feet, which is equivalent to four Soldier Fields, home of the Chicago Bears. The grandstands are 2,480 feet long, which is slightly longer than two John Hancock buildings laid end-to-end.

While some updates to the facility will be necessary for NASCAR to return after a seven-year hiatus, the track sits mostly ready for a roaring return. For pre-sale information and a countdown to the event, visit Chicagoland Speedway’s website.