Carson Hocevar visits Chicagoland Speedway just as rumors surface about the abandoned NASCAR facility possibly rejoining the Cup schedule. The Michigan driver toured the dormant Joliet, Illinois track after an event at a nearby road course, sharing his feelings about its closure and unique atmosphere.
Hocevar, who only watched the rise and fall of Chicagoland Speedway from afar as a high-school student in Portage, Michigan, never witnessed its heyday firsthand. Built in 2001 as a 1.5-mile twin to Kansas Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway lies about an hour southwest of Chicago, serving as a staple for NASCAR fans before it fell into disuse following its last Cup race in 2019.
Now, the Speedway sits among a group of forgotten venues such as Rockingham Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, and the demolished Auto Club Speedway in California, all no longer gracing the Cup calendar. Hocevar’s recent stop came after a visit to Autobahn Country Club, just a short drive away, where his curiosity drew him closer to the shuttered motorsport landmark. The 22-year-old described venturing through the empty grounds for a firsthand look at a track he had only seen from the sky while traveling.
“I drove over and walked in to see what it looked like up-close,”
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Driver
Though the Speedway has not faded entirely from use—it hosted a Motocross event in 2023 and occasional car shows—the grandstands and track remain largely untouched, echoing with memories of roaring engines now fallen silent.
“I always find videos of people exploring abandoned stuff is cool, or even movies where they explore the prequels or whatever, where everything is abandoned. I think that’s cool. To me, (old) racetracks are less sketchy and cooler looking. I just like racetracks.”
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Driver
Shift in Plans: From Amazon Rumors to Uncertain Future
The Speedway’s fate seemed sealed at one point, with rumors that Amazon would transform the grounds into a Midwest distribution hub—one of several already established in the region. The proposed warehouse would have been surrounded by existing logistics centers, making practical use of the facility’s access to intermodal transport and interstate highways. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic downturn forced Amazon to curb expansion plans, leaving Chicagoland Speedway untouched but idle.
Since opening, the grand venue drew crowds topping 90,000, but changes in the sports landscape and economic pressures saw capacity reductions down to 47,000. The economic slowdown from 2007 to 2009 struck particularly hard, resulting in dwindling attendance through the subsequent years and leaving the track’s future in limbo. Over 18 years, it welcomed a variety of events: 19 Cup races, 24 Xfinity Series competitions, 11 Truck Series races, 19 ARCA showdowns, 10 IndyCar contests, as well as unique events such as the International Race of Champions.
With Chicagoland Speedway silenced, NASCAR convinced Chicago to stage the Cup Series’ first-ever street race through downtown beginning in 2023. Although heralded as a bold new experiment, the street format has faced its own obstacles: severe weather and tepid attendance have overshadowed both initial runnings, raising fresh concerns about its future viability.
Rumors Intensify Ahead of Potential Final Chicago Street Race
The third iteration of Chicago’s street race is set for next weekend, yet widespread speculation suggests this could be the event’s swan song. While a 10-year contract was initially announced between NASCAR and city officials, only three races were guaranteed and the remaining years subject to NASCAR’s discretion. This uncertainty has spurred talk of NASCAR exploring new sites for street racing, including San Diego, Philadelphia, and Canadian cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.
Chicagoland Speedway remains a dormant presence, with talk of a return growing louder as the fate of the street race appears increasingly tenuous. There’s ongoing debate among media outlets and fan communities in and around Chicago about resurrecting the traditional oval should the street experiment conclude.
Hocevar Reflects on Chicago’s Racing Prospects Amid Market Concerns
Despite the Speedway’s ongoing uncertainty, Hocevar expressed enthusiasm for any racing to take place in Chicago—whether on city streets or back at the storied oval. He doubts the feasibility of both tracks coexisting on the schedule, citing market realities and NASCAR’s historical approach to venue selection.
“I have no idea of their schedule plan,”
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Driver
Hocevar acknowledged the slim odds of both the street race and Chicagoland Speedway hosting Cup events in the same calendar year, considering the logistical and business challenges inherent in scheduling races so close together.
“Having a track in the same market basically within an hour of each other isn’t probably realistic. It would be cool, they’re two great racetracks, but I wouldn’t imagine that’s in the works. If it is, I’d be shocked, but if it was, it’d be a good surprise, but I don’t think so.”
—Carson Hocevar, NASCAR Driver
As Sunday’s street race approaches and interest in the future of racing in Chicago intensifies, the fate of Chicagoland Speedway again becomes a focal point—for NASCAR, city officials, and the motorsports community. Whether the facility gets a second chance or remains a relic of the past depends in part on what unfolds next weekend and in the off-season, as NASCAR weighs its options for high-profile events in the Chicago area.
