While this season the sport will head to Chicago for the first street race for the Cup Series, NASCAR executives are in active talks to race in the New York City region, a move that would take it into the largest media market in the U.S.
Steve O‘Donnell, COO of NASCAR, said the sanctioning body is having ongoing discussions with multiple groups in the New York City area and has made several site visits. He did not disclose any specific groups or possible venues. MetLife Stadium would seem like one of the potential options or a street race in the city.
NASCAR made one earlier push to get into the New York City market when in 2004 International Speedway Corp. bought land on Staten Island with plans to develop a track but abandoned the effort after being unable to garner enough local political support.
O‘Donnell also cited the Pacific Northwest cities of Seattle and Denver as possibilities domestically for new races. Internationally, NASCAR has “very strong interest” from entities in Canada and Mexico to bring a premier series race to those countries.
