In 2018, Chicagoland Speedway delivered one of the greatest finishes in NASCAR history. The final lap of the Overton’s 400 was nothing short of a Hollywood script. Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson weren’t just racing — they were battling like prizefighters. Coming to the white flag, Larson threw a slide job in Turns 1 and 2, nudging Busch and sending him into the wall. Larson surged ahead down the backstretch. But Busch wasn’t done. In Turn 3, he retaliated, slamming into Larson’s bumper and spinning him as both cars hit the wall.

Somehow, Busch straightened his No. 18 car and crossed the line first. It was pure chaos, yet entertaining at the same time. Fans were left stunned. Busch, reflecting on the battle, said, “Larson tried to pull a slider but didn’t quite complete it. He slid up into me and used me, and then I kind of used him a little bit in Turn 3 to come back for the victory.” Even Larson took it in stride, saying, “That was just kind of hard racing there, I thought.” The finish had everything: drama, intensity, respect, and a touch of controversy. It reminded fans why they love this sport. For a moment, Chicagoland was the heart of NASCAR.

This race mattered. Not just for the highlight reels, but because it showed how good racing could be on 1.5-mile tracks.. That race became a reference point whenever fans talked about exciting intermediate-track finishes. But despite delivering an edge-of-your-seat thriller, Chicagoland Speedway disappeared from the NASCAR schedule after 2019. Now, almost five years later, a series of mysterious updates and insider chatter have fans wondering, could Chicagoland be on its way back?

After the 2019 season, NASCAR’s presence at Chicagoland quietly vanished. The COVID-19 pandemic forced major changes to the 2020 schedule, and the 1.5-mile oval in Joliet, Illinois, found itself on the outside looking in. Despite two decades of history, the venue sat idle as NASCAR shifted its focus to new markets and formats. Since then, the grandstands have stayed quiet. The engines haven’t roared. For fans in the Midwest, it felt like an abrupt end to a track that had delivered more than its fair share of racing magic.

However, recently, NASCAR fans began noticing something curious. The official Chicagoland Speedway website had been refreshed. Not only was the design updated to match other active tracks, but it also featured a new message: “Check back soon for new events.” This was the first sign of life in years. Then came another clue. A new layout map showed a “Turn 4 Club” — a feature that hadn’t been previously advertised. Similarly, the track posted a job vacancy for an events nurse.

These weren’t signs of a forgotten venue. They looked like signs of preparation. The reaction was immediate. One fan on social media posted, “Don’t give me hopes,” a sentiment echoed by many who had long accepted Chicagoland’s fate. But the numbers back the optimism. In its later years, Chicagoland had emerged as one of the better intermediate tracks. In 2018, there were 23 lead changes among nine drivers. The 2019 race saw Alex Bowman get his first Cup win thrillingly. The track’s worn surface had finally matured into a racer’s delight.

Adding fuel to the speculation, Chicagoland appeared as an option in an official NASCAR fan poll asking, “Which track would you like to see host the championship race?” Inclusion in such a poll doesn’t guarantee anything. But it showed that NASCAR was at least considering the track’s potential return and wanted to know what fans thought. Meanwhile, the Chicago Street Race’s future looks shaky.

NASCAR’s three-year deal with the city ends this year. And there’s growing doubt it gets renewed. Insiders like Jordan Bianchi say the garage is sensing an end to the Grant Park experiment. The logistics are a nightmare. The cost is sky-high. And fans haven’t exactly embraced it. If that race disappears in 2026, NASCAR will need a race for the Chicago market. This is where the return of Chicagoland makes perfect sense.

It’s not just fans pushing for a return. Drivers have spoken out too. Denny Hamlin, in 2024, on his podcast, said, “We should be going back to Chicagoland, for sure.” Ryan Blaney echoed the same: “That’s the track we need to revitalize. You start with that one.” These aren’t just empty endorsements. These guys know what works with the Next Gen car, and Chicagoland fits. Even Jeff Gluck from The Athletic made his stance clear: “In its final years, Chicagoland had evolved into a great showcase for stock car racing. Imagine how well the Next Gen car would do there.”

Add in the success of recent intermediate races, like Kansas and Homestead, and there’s momentum behind the return. Notably, NASCAR is also working to make a rotational championship venue. The sport will return to Homestead-Miami in 2026 for the championship, but it looks to expand it just like the NFL. “It is a change. We’ve made other bold changes… One of the remaining things on our checklist is to begin rotating our championship,” NASCAR official Ben Kennedy said earlier this month. This might also reflect that NASCAR is looking at Chicagoland for grandeur.

Fans ask NASCAR to fulfil their Chicagoland dream!

NASCAR fans didn’t waste time once the rumors started to swirl. They took to Social Media platforms to share their thoughts, many of them hopeful, some skeptical, but all invested. “The Street’s Getting Booted, the Mile and a Half’s Getting Back,” one user posted. Fans believe this isn’t just a dream—it’s the most practical choice. With the street course likely done and no oval in the region ready, Chicagoland becomes the obvious fallback. Plus, the website update, the new map, and NASCAR’s recent track revivals (like North Wilkesboro) only fuel this theory.

“Heard Bob Pockrass mentioned at Kansas tweet up that he expects Chicagoland for 2026,” another user pointed out. That insider comment adds weight to the rumors. Pockrass is a trusted voice in the NASCAR world, and if he’s saying it, fans listen. “They would be crazy not to bring it back, look how good Kansas is,” another fan posted. Kansas and Chicagoland are both 1.5-mile ovals. Kansas just delivered one of the cleanest, most exciting races of the year. Fans believe Chicagoland could do the same, maybe even better.

“Don’t give me hope,” this was the GIF shared by a user, and it encapsulates the sentiment of the fans for the track. Not long ago, NASCAR also closed its doors on Auto Club Speedway. The track once ruled the California market and drew fans to the 2-mile track. Now, it is in ruins with no fixed plans on when it will return as a promised short track. While this update has got everyone’s hopes up, there’s a possibility that this won’t lead to a NASCAR return at Chicagoland.

“I hope not. It’s a great IndyCar track, but some of the worst stock car races I’ve seen were held there,” another user posted. Not everyone’s thrilled. A few argue that Chicagoland produced some dull stock car races. But they mostly refer to pre-2016 runs. The racing improved drastically by 2018, and with the Next Gen car thriving at similar tracks, the potential has changed. Chicagoland might’ve gone quiet in 2020. But its echoes are getting louder. Fans want it. Drivers support it. And if the Chicago Street Race falls off the map, NASCAR will need a new home in the Windy City. The mile-and-a-half in Joliet could be ready for round two.