Step back in time because the 2018 Overton\u2019s 400 at Chicagoland Speedway still lingers in the memory like a hot summer night! That race on July 1 was a slick, sweaty battle, with the track surface throwing curveballs all day. The Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Kyle Busch dominated, leading a race-high 59 laps, but the Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet of Kyle Larson turned heads with a gritty comeback. Struggling early, Larson clawed toward the front and found himself in striking range with 15 laps left. Busch held the lead, but Larson was closing, running a lower line in Turns 1 and 2 to gain an edge.<\/p>\n
On the penultimate lap, Larson pulled within a car length, and Busch started mirror driving to block him. As they hit the white flag, Larson went all-in with a daring slide job into Turn 1. It was a gutsy move that sent his No. 42 Chevrolet up the track and clipped Busch\u2019s left rear quarter panel. The contact wiggled Busch, letting Larson snatch the lead momentarily as the crowd lost its mind. But Busch took his revenge and won, as he hit the bumper of Larson\u2019s No. 42 in Turn 3, which ended his winning hopes as he went spinning down the track.<\/p>\n
For nearly two decades, Chicagoland was a Cup Series cornerstone. From 2011 to 2017, it even kicked off the NASCAR Playoffs, replacing New Hampshire in that high-stakes opening slot. But by the late 2010s, cracks began to show. Attendance dipped, TV ratings for intermediate tracks declined, and NASCAR felt the need to shake things up with short tracks, road courses, and new venues.<\/p>\n
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The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 accelerated the shift. That year\u2019s race was canceled, and by 2021, Chicagoland<\/a> vanished from the calendar, replaced by Road America and others. It was never officially closed, but as of 2025, no national series have roared back. Now, a new rumor has sparked hope for longtime Chicagoland faithful.<\/p>\n Chicagoland Speedway revival rumors<\/p>\n That nostalgic hum might get a revival, because NASCAR is hinting at bringing racing back to Chicagoland Speedway. Rumors have been swirling for months that the Joliet facility could get a second chance, and a spokesperson for the company recently told Crain\u2019s they\u2019re eager to make it happen.<\/p>\n Chicagoland Speedway, owned by NASCAR and located about 50 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, has been mostly dormant since the pandemic hit. It opened in 2001, hosted 90 races, and served as the playoff opener from 2011 to 2017. The last Cup race was held there in 2019. Lately, it\u2019s seen smaller events, but nothing matches the energy of a Cup Series showdown. NASCAR has maintained an active business license with the state, which suggests there\u2019s still some interest in preserving the track.<\/p>\n This buzz follows closely on the heels of NASCAR pausing the Chicago Street Race<\/a> downtown, with tentative plans to possibly return in 2027. While nothing is guaranteed, the organization has said it will keep its Chicago office open and remain active in the community. That decision has left fans wondering what\u2019s next.<\/p>\n Enter the Joliet hope. \u201cWhile we currently do not have a timeline or specific series, we do hope to bring NASCAR racing back to Chicagoland Speedway at some point in the future,\u201d a NASCAR spokesperson said. The track would need some renovations before stock cars return, but it appears to have had some level of maintenance.<\/p>\n