The 2027 NASCAR schedule is currently one of the most debated and anticipated topics. However, before the cars even hit the track, rumors about the race's 2027 schedule have taken over. All due to an offhand comment NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. made.

It is confirmed that the series will make a much-anticipated comeback to the Chicagoland Speedway this year. However, Junior's comment on The Dale Jr. Download podcast suggests the race may not return to the Speedway in 2027.

"I guess [the] Chicago Street Course is coming back, so I don't know if Chicagoland stays. I'm nervous. We haven't even gotten [Chicagoland] back yet, and we've already lost it," Junior said on The Dale Jr. Download podcast on June 30.

While talking to Travis Majors on The Dale Jr. Download podcast, the NASCAR Hall of Famer even pointed out that this decision might stem from the lack of tickets being sold this year for the Fourth of July weekend race.

Despite the high demand to put the 1.5-mile tri-oval back on the schedule, they discussed how the lack of ticket sales could be why NASCAR stopped hosting races at the Chicagoland Speedway.

However, it was Junior’s comments about the Chicago Street race allegedly making a comeback that have left the fans divided on social media. 

NASCAR fans weigh in on Chicago Street race reported 2027 return 

After Junior’s comment about the Chicago Street race making a comeback, a fan posted a clip of the podcast on their Reddit page, triggering a full-blown debate.

Several of the fans took to the post's comment section to give their opinion on the topic. One fan expressed his desire to keep both the tri-oval and street race for next year.

They wrote, "Can we have both the street race and the oval? We can even run the oval late in the year if we must, please." 

Another fan agreed with Dale Jr’s point about the poor ticket sales.  

"Dale made a good point. If you go back to the Chicagoland races in 2018 and 2019, the stands were empty, like even for a single date. No wonder we lost the track, because nobody went. So if you’re mad that we’re returning to the street course, blame the fans for not buying tickets," they wrote.

Yet others suggested looking beyond Chicago, as there were other markets that the sanctioning body could explore.  

"Why are they so dead set on Chicago? Why not take the Cup Series out west to cities that don’t currently have a NASCAR venue already sitting within their vicinity? Is Chicago the only city willing to play ball with NASCAR?" one such fan commented.

A fan expressed that they were relieved to attend the race at Chicagoland this year. They wrote, 

"D****, glad I’m going to Chicagoland this weekend. Will probably be the last; glad I’ll say I went at least once."

Should NASCAR keep Chicagoland or bring back the street race? Let us know in the comments. 

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Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit