Carson Hocevar, the 22-year-old NASCAR driver from Portage, Michigan, recently explored the long-quiet Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, a track he had only seen from the sky before. Since its last NASCAR Cup race in 2019, the 1.5-mile speedway has remained mostly dormant, creating an eerie atmosphere that captured Hocevar’s curiosity during his visit.
The Silent State of Chicagoland Speedway Following Years of Inactivity
Opened in 2001, Chicagoland Speedway mirrored Kansas Speedway with its 1.5-mile tri-oval layout and served NASCAR fans for nearly two decades. However, after hosting its final Cup race in 2019, the venue has slipped into obscurity like other defunct tracks including Rockingham Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, and Road America, with only a single motocross event held there in 2023 along with occasional minor gatherings like car shows. Hocevar described his visit as a unique opportunity to witness the site firsthand after years of seeing it from above.
I drove over and walked in to see what it looked like up-close,
Hocevar shared.
It was cool to see it in-person. It’s kind of an eerie feeling (to see it shuttered), but I like going to check racetracks out.
I always find videos of people exploring abandoned stuff is cool, or even movies where they explore the prequels or whatever, where everything is abandoned. I think that’s cool. To me, (old) racetracks are less sketchy and cooler looking. I just like racetracks.
Challenges and Prospects That Shaped the Speedway’s Fate
Although NASCAR retains ownership of Chicagoland Speedway and the adjacent Route 66 Raceway dragstrip plus a dirt track, the future of the property remains uncertain. At one point, speculation swirled around a potential sale to Amazon, which was reportedly interested in developing a large Midwest distribution center on the site. This plan aligned well with the speedway’s location near over a dozen existing Amazon facilities, a major intermodal center, and easy access to Interstate 80. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic slowdown forced Amazon to scale back construction efforts, removing immediate prospects for redevelopment.
Chicagoland Speedway originally accommodated over 90,000 fans when it opened, but after economic downturns and dwindling attendance, its seating capacity was gradually halved to roughly 47,000. Over its 18-year run, the track hosted a vibrant schedule including 19 NASCAR Cup races, 24 Xfinity events, 11 Truck races, as well as competitions in ARCA, IndyCar, Indy Lights, and the International Race of Champions (IROC).
In lieu of the speedway, NASCAR introduced a street race through downtown Chicago in 2023, marking the sport’s first-ever urban circuit. While innovative, the initial two editions were affected by poor weather and lackluster crowds, raising questions about the event’s long-term viability.
The Uncertain Future of NASCAR Racing in Chicago’s Market
Next weekend, Chicago will host the third running of its NASCAR street race, though rumors suggest it might be the final installment. Originally signed for a 10-year contract, only the first three races are guaranteed, with subsequent events contingent on factors such as attendance and local support. NASCAR has been exploring alternative street race possibilities in cities like San Diego, Philadelphia, Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, indicating a potential shift away from Chicago’s downtown event.
With the Amazon redevelopment plan shelved and Chicagoland Speedway largely unused, speculation has stirred about whether the track could be revived to return to the Cup schedule should the downtown race be discontinued. While this possibility remains uncertain, discussions about a potential revival have grown louder within Chicago’s motorsport community and media outlets, especially if upcoming events face similar challenges.
Hocevar expressed openness to any form of NASCAR racing continuing in the Chicago region, whether through the street race or a potential comeback of Chicagoland Speedway. He also recognized the complexity involved in hosting two major NASCAR events in close proximity.
I have no idea of their schedule plan,
Hocevar said regarding the chances of NASCAR maintaining both the street race and a CLS event.
I would bet the odds are very, very low of them existing together in the same year. There’s so many tracks you can name that hope they’re on the schedule.
Having a track in the same market basically within an hour of each other isn’t probably realistic. It would be cool, they’re two great racetracks, but I wouldn’t imagine that’s in the works. If it is, I’d be shocked, but if it was, it’d be a good surprise, but I don’t think so.
What Lies Ahead for Chicagoland Speedway and NASCAR’s Chicago Presence?
The dormant state of Chicagoland Speedway embodies the shifting landscape of NASCAR in the Midwest. With the closure of established venues and the experimental urban street race model, Chicago stands at a crossroads regarding its role in the sport’s future. The fate of CLS, a track once capable of hosting nearly 100,000 fans, hinges on economic conditions, corporate interests, and NASCAR’s evolving scheduling priorities.
As the next street race approaches, performances both on and off the track will play a critical role in determining whether Chicago retains its place on the NASCAR calendar, and whether the silent Oval in Joliet might roar back to life.
