After a sold-out comeback in 2026, NASCAR confirmed Chicagoland Speedway returns for the Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and ARCA Menards Series the weekend of June 25–27, 2027. This is a different event from the downtown Chicago street race — Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5-mile oval track in Joliet, roughly an hour southwest of the city, and the parking situation is closer to a traditional stadium event than a downtown street closure.
Friday, June 25: ARCA Menards Series
Saturday, June 26: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
Sunday, June 27: NASCAR Cup Series (headline race)
Location: Chicagoland Speedway, 500 Speedway Blvd, Joliet, IL 60433
Getting to Chicagoland Speedway
Unlike the downtown street race, Chicagoland Speedway is a standalone track facility with its own dedicated parking infrastructure — no city street closures to navigate, no CTA connection, and a genuinely different logistics picture than anything else on this site’s Chicago event calendar. Most fans drive; there is no direct rail connection to the track.
From downtown Chicago, the drive is typically 45–75 minutes depending on traffic and which direction you’re coming from, primarily via I-55 south. Race weekend traffic on I-55 near the track builds significantly in the hours before Sunday’s Cup Series race — this is the one to plan around most carefully.
On-Site Parking
Chicagoland Speedway offers general parking included with most ticket packages, with additional preferred and close-in parking options typically available for purchase. Based on the track’s historical pattern (it ran NASCAR events from 2001–2019 before the 2026 return), expect:
| Parking Type | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| General parking | Included with most tickets — large surface lots surrounding the track |
| Preferred/close-in parking | Purchased separately — closer to gates, less walking |
| Camping (RV & tent) | On-site camping historically available for the full race weekend — books up well ahead of the Sunday Cup race |
| ADA parking | Available near accessible entrances — confirm details when tickets go on sale |
Sunday is the big one. The Cup Series race on Sunday, June 27 will draw the largest crowd of the weekend by far — arrive significantly earlier than you think you need to, especially if you don’t have preferred parking. Friday’s ARCA race and Saturday’s O’Reilly Series race are considerably lighter on both crowds and parking demand.
Camping at Chicagoland Speedway
For race fans making a full weekend of it, on-site camping is typically available and popular for NASCAR weekends at ovals like Chicagoland — RV sites and general camping areas let fans stay through the whole Friday-through-Sunday schedule without the daily in-and-out traffic. If a full race weekend is the plan, booking a camping spot as soon as they go on sale is worth prioritizing, since the popular sections sell out well ahead of race day.
What Changed From 2026’s Sellout Weekend
The 2026 return to Chicagoland was NASCAR’s first race at the track since 2019, and it sold out — drawing fans from all 50 states and 31 countries, with nearly 60% attending their first-ever NASCAR event. That strong turnout is exactly why NASCAR locked in a second consecutive year for 2027 rather than returning to the downtown Chicago street race, which will not run in 2027. If 2026 is any indication, expect 2027 demand — and the parking crowds that come with it — to be at least as strong.
Planning Your Trip From Chicago
If you’re staying in Chicago and driving down for a single day of racing, plan for a genuine day trip — the drive alone eats a meaningful chunk of your day each way, on top of track arrival time. For the Sunday Cup race specifically, an early departure from the city (well before typical race-day traffic builds on I-55) makes a real difference.
Many NASCAR fans base themselves in Chicago and drive down for race day rather than staying in Joliet directly. If that’s your plan, book early — race weekend pulls visitors from across the country and hotel availability tightens fast.
Find Chicago Hotels on Hotels.com Browse Chicago Vacation Rentals on VRBOQuick Reference: Chicagoland Speedway 2027
- Dates June 25–27, 2027 — Joliet, IL
- Biggest crowd day Sunday, June 27 — NASCAR Cup Series
- From downtown Chicago 45–75 min via I-55 south, no rail connection
- Parking General included with most tickets; preferred/close-in sold separately
- Camping On-site RV and tent camping typically available — book early
- 2026 result Sold out, fans from all 50 states and 31 countries
- Chicago street race status Not returning in 2027 — separate event, different year
Chicagoland Speedway is back for a second straight sellout-caliber year. If you’re driving down from Chicago for Sunday’s Cup race, leave earlier than feels necessary — the I-55 approach gets heavy well before green flag.