No Street Race Next Summer: NASCAR Is Moving to Joliet

That's a wrap on the Grant Park street race, at least for now. NASCAR told the city last week that the 2027 race is moving out to a speedway in Joliet, set for June 25 to 27. The Sun-Times reports Ald. Brian Hopkins summed up the reasons as "75% scheduling and 25% money": the downtown dates kept crashing into July 4 weekend, and a $15 million state grant never came through.

So no barricades on Columbus next summer, no engines echoing off the museums, and no closing DuSable Lake Shore Drive for weeks. City Hall says it's open to bringing the race back, maybe in 2028.

We've heard four summers' worth of opinions on this one, from "world-class showcase" to "why can't we get to the Field Museum in July." Full story at the Sun-Times, with more at Block Club and WBEZ.

So, Sloopers: relieved, or will you actually miss it? Tell us in the comments.