NASCAR has never been shy about trying new things to keep fans engaged and improve its racing product. That’s why, in 2023, they took the bold step of bringing racing to the streets of Chicago. Street racing is common in open-wheel racing, like Formula 1, but it’s a major departure for NASCAR, which usually sticks to ovals and a few select road courses. The Chicago Street Course, with its blocked-off roads and big-city backdrop, was certainly a spectacle—but was it worth the investment?

At first, there were plenty of critics questioning whether NASCAR was straying too far from its roots. Shouldn’t they just stick to what works? The goal of the Chicago race wasn’t necessarily to create the “best” street race, but rather to make it a unique, must-see event that fans would want to attend. Fast forward to 2025, and it seems like NASCAR might be ready to move on from the Chicago Street Circuit. So far, the race hasn’t lived up to expectations, and NASCAR is looking at other options for its future.

NASCAR is exploring replacement options

The 2023 Chicago Street Race kicked off with grand ambitions—live music, pre-race events, and a full-on festival vibe. But Mother Nature had other plans, bringing rain and forcing the cancellation of concerts, and shortening some of the races. Despite those challenges, the event managed to draw 79,299 fans from 15 countries and all 50 states. And while the crowd was a bit smaller in 2024, it still had a major impact on the city, generating $128 million in economic activity—17% more than the previous year.

On the track, things were exciting too. Shane van Gisbergen made a splash by winning the inaugural ‘Grant Park 165’ in his NASCAR debut. But even with a strong TV viewership and economic boost to Chicago, NASCAR hasn’t been able to turn a profit on the race. NASCAR reportedly spent around $50 million on the event in 2023, with a similar investment in 2024. NASCAR President Steve Phelps told Adam Stern of SBJ that while the France family still believes in the street race concept, it’s been a tough road financially.

As Phelps put it, “If it’s the right thing to do to grow the sport, I think NASCAR and the France family have shown that they’re going to invest.” But as the weather challenges mount and profits remain elusive, NASCAR might be ready to cut ties with Chicago in favor of a new venue.

NASCAR has already started exploring alternative options, including potential international venues. One possibility? Saudi Arabia. The country’s ambitious plans for the Qiddiya entertainment city, which will feature a state-of-the-art Speed Park, have opened the door for NASCAR to potentially bring a race to the region. The Speed Park is set to open in 2028, and NASCAR might be in talks about adding it to the calendar.

However, NASCAR’s Chief Operating Officer, Steve O’Donnell, says they’re not locked into any one international location just yet. “I wouldn’t put it specifically on Saudi. We’ve got a finite amount of content we can bring, but I think as you look at NASCAR from an international standpoint, it’ll be more around that Mexico model,” O’Donnell said. That means NASCAR isn’t just interested in one-off races but aims to build a grassroots presence in new markets.

NASCAR’s biggest competitor in motorsports is undoubtedly Formula 1. With the open-wheel racing sport having a global format, venturing into the Middle East was inevitable and in 2004, they had the first Bahrain Grand Prix. Since then, F1 has expanded to multiple locations such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. According to Nielsen data, the figures showed female interest increased by 11% compared to last year in Saudi Arabia, and 10% among men, with the biggest growth in the 50-69 year age bracket. It’s no surprise as to why NASCAR is targeting a high-income market like the Middle East, with the booming success its competitors have seen.

While an international street race would make a lot of sense it doesn’t seem to be an immediate plan in NASCAR’s books. However, NASCAR could probably look to try a different venue in Southern California.

Southern California is also a possible venue

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NASCAR has also been eyeing Southern California, a region known for its motorsports culture. Could a street race in places like Long Beach or San Diego be the next big thing? While Long Beach has been a successful venue for IndyCar, San Diego has hosted events like the GT World Challenge America, so it’s certainly not out of the question.

O’Donnell confirmed that California is very much on NASCAR’s radar. “We are certainly interested in California and the Southern California market, and that will continue to be a focus for us, but nothing to confirm at this point,” he said. If NASCAR does go in this direction, a Southern California street race could be a perfect fit, especially with the region’s passionate fanbase.

As NASCAR gears up for 2025—its third and final year of the Chicago Street Race contract—the organization is focused on building on the momentum they’ve gained while learning from the challenges they’ve faced. From weather issues to event tweaks, NASCAR is taking it one race at a time. “We’ve learned things each and every year,” O’Donnell said. “It’s our first street race, a lot of learnings came from that. A lot of weather challenges as well. … We’ve made some tweaks to the event format and continuing to evolve that as well.”

It’s clear that NASCAR is committed to pushing the envelope and exploring new venues, whether that’s in the U.S. or internationally. But with the high price tag of these events, the future of the street race still hangs in the balance.

What do you think about NASCAR’s street race experiment? Do you want to see more street races, or should NASCAR stick to its roots? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!