NASCAR has announced that for the first time in several years, there will be no significant new additions to the NASCAR Cup Series calendar. The urban circuit race held at the North Island naval base will return for the second consecutive time, while the inability to reintegrate the race at Grant Park, Chicago, has led to the return of Chicagoland Speedway next season.
Additionally, the calendar does not include any new international circuits, and the O’Reilly Series has no independent events. Instead, the Truck Series will return to the Mosport circuit in Canada for the first time since 2019, marking a fairly familiar national schedule for 2027.
During a digital press conference, Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s COO, revealed that their approach to scheduling could change significantly with the new broadcasting rights agreement expected for 2032. «We are thinking about 2028 to 2030, where we want to go in the coming years,» Kennedy stated. «We want to continue providing the best possible schedule for our sport and our fans.»
International ambitions
Recently, NASCAR hired Adam Layton, former UFC executive, as senior vice president of NASCAR International. Currently, their international strategy focuses on North America, aiming to explore more opportunities in Mexico and Canada.
According to Kennedy, «logistically, it is much easier for us to travel north or south of the border, given that we don’t have many free weeks in the calendar.» He also mentioned the existence of opportunities for exhibition races, such as The Clash, which takes place before the Daytona 500.
Events at military installations
After confirming their return to the military base near San Diego, NASCAR has begun exploring the possibility of organizing more races at military installations starting in 2028. Kennedy expressed that the goal is to focus on national bases, in collaboration with the Department of Defense, to evaluate viable options.
«We have had several conversations with the Department about different options and opportunities,» Kennedy stated. «Thus, we are working to identify which sites are feasible for future races.»
Potential in Washington D.C.
Julie Giese, NASCAR executive, attended the IndyCar Freedom 250 race in Washington D.C. last weekend, where she observed how similar events were organized. Giese did not rule out that NASCAR might be interested in this market if an opportunity arises.
White House officials have expressed their support for NASCAR to organize events in D.C., highlighting that «NASCAR can handle anything.» This could be an opportunity for North American motorsport to expand into the nation’s capital.
Future of races in Chicago
With NASCAR’s return to the Joliet circuit in Illinois and the cancellation of the race in downtown Chicago, it remains to be seen if both events can coexist. The city and the state of Illinois have not reached an agreement on the operational costs of the event in the city center.
Both sides have expressed interest in continuing talks to return to Grant Park in the future, and Giese indicated that there is room in the Chicago market to host two races in successive years, given the high number of fans in the area.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
