NASCAR released an official statement announcing a pause on the Chicago street race in 2026. The event has been dropped from the sport's calendar for next year so that NASCAR could work with the City of Chicago to form a plan that "further optimizes operational efficiencies." The objective is to bring the street race back in 2027.

NASCAR is hitting pause on its Chicago Street Race for a year, officials said. In a statement, NASCAR officials said they will not be returning to the Loop for the Chicago Street Race in 2026 "to afford us the time necessary to work collaboratively with the City of Chicago."

In a letter Friday to Mayor Brandon Johnson, NASCAR said it is pausing the race because it needs more time to try to reschedule the event and reduce the build-out and breakdown of the pop-up