NASCAR Cuts Mexico City 2026, Plans Chicagoland Return

NASCAR will not return to Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit in 2026 due to scheduling conflicts with the FIFA Men’s World Cup and logistical challenges, ending its first international points-paying race since 1958 after just one event this year. The league considered alternate dates, including a spring race or a NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader, but no agreement was reached, pushing the Mexico City race to potentially return in 2027. To fill the vacancy, NASCAR is solidifying plans to bring back the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, a 1.5-mile oval owned by NASCAR that hosted races from 2001 to 2019 but has been largely unused since. The Chicagoland return is supported by a grassroots campaign and would replace the Chicago street circuit, which will not be on the 2026 schedule. Renovations to Chicagoland are estimated to cost around $4 million, with drivers like Carson Hocevar and Joey Logano expressing optimism about the venue. Consequently, the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series will have no international race, focusing instead on domestic venues including the Streets of San Diego.