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NASCAR’s 2026 national series schedule just dropped, and it’s got everything from military-base street courses to a long-awaited Chicagoland revival. There’s real movement here, historical tracks making a comeback, the playoff picture getting a shakeup, and the All-Star Race switching homes. This isn’t just a reshuffling of dates; it’s a clear push to evolve without abandoning the sport’s identity.

Let’s start with the headline-grabber: Chicagoland Speedway is officially back on the Cup Series calendar for the first time since 2019. The 1.5-mile oval in Joliet, Illinois, will host a July 5 points race during Independence Day weekend. After three years of downtown street racing in Chicago, NASCAR is opting for a more traditional setup, though the door is still open for a potential Grant Park return down the road. For now, the move ensures the Midwest stays on the map.

That July race also plays a crucial role in the second edition of NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge, a five-race, bracket-style tournament that caught some momentum this year. The 2026 version begins June 28 at Sonoma and hits Chicagoland, EchoPark Speedway near Atlanta, and North Wilkesboro, before crowning a winner July 26 at Indianapolis. The series is clearly betting on this midseason format becoming more than just a gimmick, and right now, it’s working.

Speaking of North Wilkesboro, it’s back in a big way. After serving as host of the All-Star Race the past three years, the historic North Carolina short track will stage its first Cup Series points event since 1996 on July 19. The All-Star Race itself is moving north, landing at Dover Motor Speedway for the first time on May 17. That event will also mark the end of FOX Sports’ portion of the broadcast schedule, before Prime Video, TNT Sports, and NBC Sports split up the second half of the season.

But the boldest swing might be the street course announced at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, set for June 21. Racing through a functioning military base isn’t just a NASCAR first, it’s an unprecedented move across all of motorsports. Course layout and logistics are still being worked out, but the concept alone is ambitious and loaded with upside if it can be pulled off cleanly.

As for the postseason, Homestead-Miami Speedway is back in the championship spotlight. It’ll host the season finale for all three national series, a move that pushes Phoenix out of the final slot for the first time since 2019. Phoenix, however, stays relevant. It will now open the Round of 8 on October 18. Talladega (October 25) and Martinsville (November 1) will follow to decide the Championship 4.

The addition of Homestead means New Hampshire Motor Speedway is bumped from the playoffs but still finds a home on the schedule, August 23, just before the regular season wraps. Kansas and Las Vegas are also on the move, with Kansas opening the Round of 12 (September 27) and Vegas following it (October 4), providing a fresh cadence to the playoff stretch.

A few more notable shifts:
Watkins Glen earns the earliest date in its history, May 8–10, for a full national series tripleheader.
Dover’s All-Star weekend expands to include all three series, not just Cup.
Bowman Gray Stadium will once again open the season with the Clash on February 1, following a successful return this past year.

It’s not a schedule overhaul, but it’s a smart evolution. NASCAR’s balancing tradition with calculated risk, using legacy venues like Chicagoland and North Wilkesboro to complement innovative ideas like the Coronado street race and the In-Season Challenge. With new media partners and a shifting playoff landscape, 2026 is shaping up to be a year that could redefine how the sport packages both its history and its future.