NASCAR is getting closer to announcing a new street race in Chicago that would start next year, according to sources, as the series looks to further shake up its schedule heading into media-rights talks. NASCAR execs, including President Steve Phelps and COO Steve O‘Donnell, have hinted in recent media interviews that the series is working on one big change for the ’23 Cup Series schedule, and that is believed to be the Chicago street race.
The deal is not yet completed, but sources say there are concerted talks working toward an agreement for the race to start next year. NASCAR has already stated that the goal is to have the ’23 schedule announced by the end of the summer. It is not yet clear which support series — Xfinity and/or Truck — would also be part of the race weekend, or which venue would lose a race to make way for the Chicago event. But NASCAR has started hinting that it may be open to dropping a road course, and Road America President Mike Kertscher recently said that the Wisconsin track doesn‘t have a deal yet for next year with NASCAR.
