Chicago Street Race 2026 Economic Impact and Road Closures

Alright, let’s yak about this Chicago street race thing, the one they say might happen in 2026. I heard some folks talkin’ about it down at the market, so I figured I’d tell ya what I know, or what I think I know, anyways.

Now, they’re callin’ it a street race, which means them cars, they ain’t gonna be drivin’ on no fancy racetrack. Nope, they’ll be zoomin’ around on the regular roads, right there in Chicago. Sounds kinda crazy, don’t it? But I guess that’s what them city folks like.

What kind of cars, you ask? Well, that’s where it gets a bit confusing. Seems like there’s talk of two different kinds of racin’. One’s called NASCAR. Them cars, they’re big and loud, and the races go on for hours and hours. Like, you could start watchin’ in the mornin’ and still be watchin’ when the sun goes down. My grandson, he likes them NASCAR races. Says they’re excitin’.

• NASCAR cars are big and loud.
• NASCAR races last for hours.

Then there’s this other thing called Formula 1, or F1 for short. Them cars, they’re smaller and fancier, like somethin’ out of a sci-fi movie. And they’re real fast, zip zoomin’ around the track. I heard tell they use all sorts of fancy gadgets and gizmos in them F1 cars.

Now, some folks are sayin’ it’ll be a NASCAR race in Chicago in 2026. They had one last year, too, and it seems like it made the city some money. Folks came from all over, spent their money on food and hotels and such. The mayor, he seemed happy about it. And the police, well, they got paid extra to keep things in order, so I guess they weren’t complainin’ either, even if it did cause some trouble with the roads bein’ closed.

But then there’s this other rumor goin’ around, about Formula 1 comin’ to Chicago in 2026. They even filed some papers, trademarks they call ‘em. But somebody on the TV said that ain’t necessarily a sure thing. It’s all kinda hush-hush, you know? Nobody really knows for sure.

So, which one will it be? NASCAR or F1? Or maybe neither? Honest to goodness, I ain’t got a clue. It’s all a bunch of he said, she said, as far as I can tell. But if I had to guess, I’d say NASCAR’s more likely. They already did it once, and folks seemed to like it. And they’re plannin’ on havin’ a race down in Mexico in 2025, so they’re movin’ around. Formula 1, well, that seems like a bigger deal, harder to pull off. But then again, them city folks, they like to do things big, so who knows?

One thing’s for sure though, whether it’s NASCAR or F1, it’s gonna be loud. And it’s gonna cause a ruckus. And it’s gonna cost somebody a pretty penny. But hey, that’s how things are these days, ain’t it? Always gotta be somethin’ goin’ on.

Anyways, that’s the gist of it. That’s what I’ve heard, pieced together from listenin’ to folks talk and catchin’ bits and pieces on the news. Don’t take my word as gospel, though. I’m just an old lady tryin’ to make sense of it all.

Tags: [Chicago Street Race, NASCAR, Formula 1, 2026, Chicago, Racing, Motorsport]