NASCAR’s Chicago exit draws praise from Illinois fiscal advocate
[September 14, 2026]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – NASCAR will not return to the streets of downtown
Chicago in 2027, a decision one Illinois fiscal policy advocate says
could save taxpayers money as the city and state face ongoing budget
pressures.
The NASCAR Chicago Street Race debuted in 2023 and ran for three years
through 2025. After taking a year off in 2026, NASCAR had hoped to bring
the event back to Grant Park in 2027. But the organization announced in
August that there was not enough time to finalize plans with city and
state officials.
Instead, NASCAR will hold its 2027 Chicago-area race at Chicagoland
Speedway in Joliet for the second consecutive year. The track returned
to the NASCAR schedule in 2026 after a seven-year absence, and NASCAR
said the event drew a sellout crowd.
Brian Costin, deputy state director with Americans for Prosperity, said
the decision to keep the race out of downtown Chicago could benefit
taxpayers.
“I think it ends up saving the taxpayers money,” Costin said. “I don't
think that entertainment is something that government should be
subsidizing.”
Costin said NASCAR should be allowed to hold races in Chicago but argued
the company should pay what he described as a fair market price for
access to public roads.
“If they want to do that, it shouldn't be banned,” Costin said. “But,
you know, they should pay a fair market price for that.”
NASCAR and Chicago tourism officials reported that the 2024 race
produced an estimated $128 million in total economic impact and $9.6
million in state and local taxes.
Costin questioned whether those types of economic incentives are the
best way to encourage growth, arguing that government should focus on
policies that apply broadly rather than providing special benefits to
individual events or industries.
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“The intention is bad because they are treating different businesses
unequally before the law,” Costin said. “They are giving special
benefits.”
He argued that the economic activity surrounding a major sporting event
does not necessarily mean the government subsidy itself produces new
economic activity.
“People have a limited amount of money for entertainment type of
choices, and they have a lot of choices already,” Costin said. “So it
doesn't really end up benefiting the local economy of any more or less
because it just shifts people's economic preferences around.”
NASCAR, meanwhile, has not ruled out a future return to downtown
Chicago. NASCAR Vice President Julie Giese said the organization remains
in discussions with city officials and other stakeholders, but the
timeline for putting together a 2027 agreement expired before a deal
could be completed.
For now, NASCAR's Chicago-area presence will remain in Joliet, with the
2027 race weekend scheduled for June 25-27 at Chicagoland Speedway.
Costin said the shift provides an opportunity for Chicago officials to
reconsider how they approach economic development.
“They have a high tax, high spending problem, and that doesn't get fixed
by NASCAR,” Costin said. “They have to make tough decisions.”
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