NASCAR: 5 possible additions to the Cup Series schedule

Possible new NASCAR Cup Series track: No. 5 – Chicagoland Speedway

Track description: 1.5-mile oval

Of all the tracks that have been mentioned thus far, Chicagoland Speedway would be the easiest one for NASCAR to return to.

The track opened in 2001, and NASCAR wasted no time adding it to the Cup Series schedule. From 2001, the track remained a fixture on the schedule for almost two decades.

The track hosted its most recent Cup Series race in 2019 and was set to host a race in 2020 — and likely beyond — if it weren’t canceled as a part of the schedule changes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, that race moved to Darlington Raceway. Since then, the track has remained in good condition, but it has not hosted another NASCAR race.

The track had grown to be one of the most popular 1.5-mile tracks on the schedule and has played host to many memorable races, most notably the 2018 race which saw an amazing last lap battle between Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson, with the former ultimately prevailing.

With the new Gen 7 aero package having made races at the 1.5-mile tracks extremely competitive thus far, a race at Chicagoland Speedway would likely be memorable and produce great racing.

There is a good chance that the Chicago street race will be a temporary event that only runs once or twice, which would open the door for a Chicago race weekend to be contested at Chicagoland Speedway.

And with NASCAR currently in the mindset of holding races in big markets, it’s not all that inconceivable that Chicagoland Speedway could be added to the schedule even if the Chicago Street Course stays.

If NASCAR wants to have a “doubleheader” weekend like they have had in the past at Pocono Raceway, the Chicago Street Course and Chicagoland Speedway could be the place to start.