NASCAR will not be returning to Chicago streets next summer as the racing series takes its road act to likely sunnier weather in San Diego following two rain-plagued races out of its three years in Chicago.
But while the innovative race leaves town for at least one year, the state’s fiscal year 2026 budget still contains several millions of dollars for NASCAR. State records obtained by Capitol News Illinois show the state has spent nearly $7 million hosting or sponsoring the sport since 2022.
That includes sponsorship of the Enjoy Illinois 300 scheduled for Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison just across the river from St. Louis. The state-sponsored race is the second playoff race on the Cup Series schedule.
It’s one of four NASCAR races scheduled to take place in Illinois this year. Enjoy Illinois, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s tourism marketing campaign, has been the title sponsor of the race since NASCAR returned to the Metro East track in 2022
