As Chicago’s NASCAR contract nears end, drivers eye return to Joliet, Ill., raceway

In the third year of a three-year contract, the future of NASCAR in Chicago remains up in the air.

Races are scheduled July 5 and 6 on streets in the heart of the city’s downtown area.

Mayor Brandon Johnson would not say if he wanted NASCAR to return next year.

“They’re going to have conversations. We’re going to have internal conversations. What I can say, though, what I was trying to offer up is there is real hope in our economy right now,” Johnson said.

The mayor said Chicago is the No. 1 destination for the Fourth of July.

“There’s all good reasons of why people want to bring large events to the city of Chicago, particularly sporting events,” Johnson said.

Regarding NASCAR, Johnson said the conversations would be about making sure Chicago got the most out of the experience.

Illinois’ $55.2 billion budget includes the allocation of $5 million in state taxpayer funds to Chicago for NASCAR-related operating expenses.

As NASCAR visits downtown Chicago for the third straight year, a track designed for stock-car racing sits empty in Joliet.

Chicagoland Speedway hosted 94 races from 2001 to 2019, including NASCAR Cup Series events each of those years and Indycar races from 2001 to 2010.

Drivers recall Chicagoland fondly. 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney said he hated to see the Joliet track dropped from the schedule.

“You never know. It could make a comeback. I know people really enjoyed going out to Joliet as well and it had a really dedicated fan base,” Blaney said in May.

NASCAR driver Justin Allgaier is a Springfield native. Allgaier said he misses Chicagoland Speedway.

“I was fortunate enough to win there a couple of times. I made my Cup Series debut actually at that race track, so a lot of fond memories for me there,” Allgaier said in April.

NASCAR returns to Illinois Sept. 6 and 7 for races at Worldwide Technology Raceway in Madison.