For a long time, NASCAR always held its big 4th of July race at Daytona. But in recent years, NASCAR started moving this special holiday race to different tracks across the country. Every track wants this race because it is the biggest party of the summer. Fans in Illinois were very happy when Chicagoland Speedway came back in 2026 after a long six-year break. The 1.5-mile tri-oval track in Joliet put on a great show. But that happiness has now turned into worry.
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Chicagoland is losing its big holiday race. Instead, the popular 4th of July weekend in 2027 is going to Iowa Speedway.
Veteran Fox reporter Bob Pockrass shared an update on X, “Iowa announces it has the July 4 weekend next year with Cup on July 4. O’Reilly race on July 3. ARCA on July 2.”
Iowa got on the Cup Series calendar on June 16, 2024, and the track will get the Cup racing back on track this weekend after a week’s break.
The 2027 Cup Series schedule is taking shape, and Iowa’s announcement filled another piece of the puzzle. With 22 of 38 dates still unset, Chicagoland’s future dims with each rival track’s confirmation. Especially with the option to race in the streets of Chicago.
Swapping Chicagoland for Iowa is a very smart move by NASCAR. Since joining back the Cup Series schedule, it has been a huge success right away. Fans love the close, fast racing. The track has sold out every single seat for three years in a row. To make things even better for 2027, the track is getting a brand-new paved road surface.
“From the moment NASCAR returned to Iowa Speedway, fans have embraced this event in an incredible way with three consecutive NASCAR Cup Series sell outs,” said Iowa Speedway President Eric Peterson. “Moving to Fourth of July weekend and competing on a brand-new racing surface is an exciting next chapter for our fans, our partners and the entire state of Iowa.”
Peterson is not the only person excited about the news. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds cheered the move because the race brings a lot of money to local businesses and towns. The July date also fits perfectly with the start of the corn harvesting season in Iowa. This connects directly with the race sponsors.
The event will even promote special E15 fuel, which is made from local corn to help the environment.
Chicagoland’s rough surface thrills fans, but the facility needs major overhaul. Even before the 2026 4th of July weekend race, NASCAR had to allocate $4 million to install SAFER barriers, renovated the grandstands, and parking facilities.
Spending millions of dollars to fix an old track is a tough choice for NASCAR. This is especially true because they have another option nearby: the Chicago Street Race. Racing right through the streets of downtown Chicago is a huge rival for Chicagoland Speedway.
NASCAR now has to make a tough choice between fixing an old track or running a flashy city street race.
The good news is that NASCAR hasn’t released the full schedule for 2027 yet. And with Chicagoland’s ownership in hands of NASCAR, there is a possibility that we might see it return next year.