Latest news with #ShanevanGisbergen
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR won't hold Chicago street course race in 2026
Will NASCAR ever have another street race in Chicago? It's an open question after NASCAR announced Friday that it would not hold the race in 2026. The 2025 edition of the race was the third after it debuted in 2023, but there was no contract with the sanctioning body and the city for 2026 and beyond despite NASCAR touting the event as a 'success' over the past three years. 'Following the success of the first three years, the Chicago Street Race will hit pause in 2026 to afford us the time necessary to work collaboratively with the city of Chicago to explore a new potential date and to develop a plan that further optimizes operational efficiencies, with a goal to return to the streets of Chicago in 2027,' a statement announcing that the race won't happen in 2026 said. 'Together we have built and grown an expanded community of fans that consists of longtime NASCAR enthusiasts and first-time racegoers from around the globe, and for that, we are immensely grateful.' The race was the first street race in modern NASCAR history and was won by Shane van Gisbergen in his first NASCAR Cup Series start. van Gisbergen also won this year's race on July 6. The event has been held in downtown Chicago and has caused logistical issues for local residents via street closures to set up the event. Those problems aren't unique to Chicago, however. IndyCar has been hosting street races for years and one of Formula 1's most famous races, the Monaco Grand Prix, is held on city streets. The demise of the street race — even if it's just for one season — will continue to fuel rumors that NASCAR could return to Chicagoland Speedway. The track in Joliet, Illinois, is owned by NASCAR and hosted its final Cup Series race in 2019. Unlike Auto Club Speedway, which has been torn down, the track still exists and could feasibly host NASCAR races with some upgrades. Chicagoland's return to the NASCAR calendar would also come at a time where intermediate track racing is the best product NASCAR produces. The current generation of Cup Series car has struggled to provide compelling racing at road courses and superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega but has shined on intermediate tracks like the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway. Without the Chicago street race on the schedule in 2026, the number of road and street course races could decrease next season. NASCAR is reportedly set to host a street race in San Diego, but the short-term future of the Mexico City race is also up in the air after van Gisbergen won the inaugural race in June.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR Will Not Race in Downtown Chicago Next Season
Over the past three seasons, NASCAR's annual 4th of July weekend race on the streets of Chicago has gone from a bold experiment to a successful proof-of-concept for stock car racing in the streets of any given city in America. It will not continue into 2026. In a statement shared to social media on Friday evening, organizers say that the race "will hit pause in 2026" in order to "explore a new potential date" and "further [optimize] operational efficiencies." This, the statement claims, is being done with the goal of resuming the race in 2027. NASCAR saw impressive racing over three years on a surprisingly wide temporary street circuit in the heart of Grant Park in downtown Chicago. Each weekend included two races, one Xfinity Series event and one Cup Series race. Shane van Gisbergen, who entered five of the six events ever held, won four. The only other winners in track history are 2024 Cup Series winner Alex Bowman and 2023 Xfinity Series winner Cole Custer. The Chicago street circuit requires significant logistical commitment from the city, which offers up public streets around Grant Park as a track during the event. Since the race lasts a full weekend and road closures start the Monday before the race, any date the series chooses will significantly impact part of the city for a full week. That means a delay was a likely outcome if either NASCAR or the city felt that a 2026 Fourth of July weekend date was untenable. While Chicago will not be on the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series or Xfinity Series schedules, a rumored date in San Diego could serve as a spiritual successor to the event. Specific details of that proposal are expected to be announced as soon as next week. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
West Australian
2 days ago
- Automotive
- West Australian
Blow for SVG as brakes put on Chicago Street Race
The Chicago Street Race will not be on the NASCAR calendar in 2026, in a major blow for three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen. NASCAR and city officials are working towards a return to the Windy City in 2027. Van Gisbergen, a three-time winner of the Bathurst 1000, has dominated the Chicago streets. The New Zealander won the Cup Series races in 2023 and 2025 and the Xfinity races in 2024 and 2025. "Following the success of the first three years, the Chicago Street Race will hit pause in 2026 to afford us the time necessary to work collaboratively with the City of Chicago to explore a new potential date and to develop a plan that further optimises operational efficiencies, with a goal to return to the streets of Chicago in 2027," the event's social media account posted on X. "Together, we have built and grown an expanded community of fans that consists of longtime NASCAR enthusiasts and first-time racegoers from around the globe, and for that, we are immensely grateful." From 2023-25, drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series raced along a 12-turn, 2.2 mile course from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Blow for SVG as brakes put on Chicago Street Race
The Chicago Street Race will not be on the NASCAR calendar in 2026, in a major blow for three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen. NASCAR and city officials are working towards a return to the Windy City in 2027. Van Gisbergen, a three-time winner of the Bathurst 1000, has dominated the Chicago streets. The New Zealander won the Cup Series races in 2023 and 2025 and the Xfinity races in 2024 and 2025. "Following the success of the first three years, the Chicago Street Race will hit pause in 2026 to afford us the time necessary to work collaboratively with the City of Chicago to explore a new potential date and to develop a plan that further optimises operational efficiencies, with a goal to return to the streets of Chicago in 2027," the event's social media account posted on X. "Together, we have built and grown an expanded community of fans that consists of longtime NASCAR enthusiasts and first-time racegoers from around the globe, and for that, we are immensely grateful." From 2023-25, drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series raced along a 12-turn, 2.2 mile course from Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue.
Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
2025 NASCAR Playoff Standings: How things shape up heading into Dover
As the NASCAR season shifts from the winding turns of Sonoma to the concrete walls of Dover, the playoff picture has never been more intense. Three wins in five races have rocketed Shane van Gisbergen into the top of contention, while just one win would catapult many racers into the playoff mix. Check out the full NASCAR Cup Playoff Standings heading into this weekend's Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400. How do the NASCAR Playoffs work? 16 drivers advance to the NASCAR Playoffs. A win guarantees a spot in the playoffs unless there are more winners than spots available. The 16 spots go to the regular-season champion and then 15 drivers based on wins with tiebreakers by points. Right now, there have been 12 winners and the regular-season champion will most likely be a driver who has won a race. So unless there are five new winners (or four new winners and winless Tyler Reddick makes up a 53-point deficit to win the regular-season title), everyone with a win will get in. NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings The top 16 drivers make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Here are the rest of the drivers on the outside looking in: Ryan Preece (–3) Kyle Busch (–37) AJ Allmendinger (–50) Ty Gibbs (–60) Erik Jones (–68) Michael McDowell (–70) John Hunter Nemechek (–85) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (–91) Carson Hocevar (–96) Zane Smith (–96) Brad Keselowski (–136) Austin Dillon (–138) Daniel Suárez (–139) Todd Gilliland (–148) Ty Dillon (–149) Justin Haley (–152) Noah Gragson (–203) Cole Custer (–214) Riley Herbst (–231) Cody Ware (–322) recommended Item 1 of 2 Get more from the NASCAR Cup Series Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
