As NASCAR looks to grow its domestic reach with new, bold scheduling ideas, one type of race in particular has become the fulcrum of the sport’s attempt to reach new fans: street races in major markets.
NASCAR’s first street race took place in Chicago in July 2023, with the final race of the three-year deal signed by NASCAR and the city set for July 6.
Should NASCAR not return to the Windy City, one West Coast city could host NASCAR’s nest street race: San Diego.
According to Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, NASCAR is “nearing a deal” with the city to host a street race in 2026. According to NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps, however, that deal isn’t done – but it’s not off the table, either.
Phelps spoke with CNBC Sport this week to discuss the future of street races in NASCAR, among other topics.
“We’re in discussion with a lot of different cities,” Phelps told CNBC’s Brian Sullivan regarding street racing. “The great news about where NASCAR is, we’ve proven we can race on the streets. We’ve proven that we can race in a stadium. It’s an open canvas for us now to determine where we’re going to race, and what we’re trying to do is open new eyes.”
