NASCAR will bring top-tier stock-car racing back to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, on the 2026 Independence Day weekend, ending a seven-year hiatus for the 1.5-mile oval. The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will run on Saturday, 4 July, followed by a Cup Series race on Sunday, 5 July, which will serve as the second event in the sport’s five-race, $1 million In-Season Challenge. NASCAR last competed at the venue in 2019, before using it sporadically as a logistics site during the pandemic. The Joliet date fills the gap created by NASCAR’s decision to pause its downtown Chicago Street Race after the conclusion of a three-year agreement with the city. Executives said they need more time to explore a new calendar slot and streamline the temporary circuit’s build-out; discussions continue about a possible return in 2027. "There is a history and tradition of great NASCAR racing at Chicagoland Speedway," regional vice president Pat Warren said, while Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy called the announcement a “homecoming” for the region. Release of the full 38-race calendar underscores broader changes for 2026. NASCAR will debut a three-day street-course weekend at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego on 19-21 June, shift the All-Star Race to Dover, Delaware, and conclude the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway on 8 November. Iowa Speedway retains an August Cup date, while Phoenix loses the championship round but keeps spring and playoff races. The season opens with the Daytona 500 on 15 February.