NASCAR is as American as apple pie, and nothing screams red, white, and blue like racing on oval tracks in the South during the nation’s biggest summer holidays—Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day, not at Chicagoland.
In light of recent news confirming that the NASCAR Chicago Street Race will not return in 2026, the urgency to restore a Southern oval tradition for the Fourth of July weekend is even greater.
The pause in Chicago’s street course, announced on July 18, 2025, opens the door for NASCAR to refocus on its heartland, ensuring the holiday weekend delivers the high-energy, oval-track racing fans expect.
The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway have cemented their status as crown jewels on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, respectively. However, the Fourth of July weekend, once synonymous with Daytona’s iconic Firecracker 400, has drifted away from its Southern oval roots. To preserve NASCAR’s cultural heartbeat and maximize its appeal, the sport must return to racing at either Daytona or Atlanta on Independence Day weekend, ensuring all three major summer holidays feature high-octane racing on Southern ovals.
The Coca-Cola 600, held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, is a Memorial Day weekend staple that draws massive attention. In 2025, its broadcast on Amazon Prime Video garnered strong viewership, with the event’s 600-mile endurance test captivating fans as a patriotic kickoff to summer. Similarly, the Southern 500 at Darlington, the “Lady in Black,” closes the regular season on Labor Day weekend with a nod to NASCAR’s Southern heritage. In 2024, the Southern 500 saw a 7% increase in viewership over the previous year, averaging 5.2 million viewers on USA Network, proving its enduring appeal. These races succeed because they blend tradition, regional pride, and high-stakes competition on oval tracks that resonate with NASCAR’s core audience.
The Fourth of July weekend, however, has lost its way. Once anchored by Daytona’s night race, the holiday has been diluted by experiments like the Chicago street course, which in 2025 drew only 2.1 million viewers on TNT, down significantly from Daytona’s historical holiday numbers. Street courses like Chicago or road courses like Road America are fine for variety, but they lack the visceral, all-American energy of a Southern oval on Independence Day. Superspeedways like Daytona and Atlanta, with their high-banked, drafting-style racing, consistently deliver thrilling, unpredictable finishes that casual fans crave.
In 2023, Daytona’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 pulled 4.8 million viewers, outpacing non-oval races like Sonoma’s 2.189 million in 2025. Plate tracks, with their pack racing and potential for dramatic lead changes, are tailor-made for the casual audience that tunes in during holiday weekends.
Daytona’s historical dominance on the Fourth of July, with its fireworks and packed grandstands, is unmatched. From 1959 to 2020, the Firecracker 400 (later the Coke Zero Sugar 400) was a holiday tradition, drawing up to 7 million viewers in its peak years. If Daytona cannot reclaim its July 4th slot due to scheduling or weather concerns, (rumors of the City of Daytona wanting 3 major travel weekends), then Atlanta Motor Speedway is the perfect alternative. Oh, I’m sorry, Echopark Speedway. Yea, that’s going to take some getting used to. It’s Atlanta in my heart and it always will be.
Atlanta’s 2021 reconfiguration into a 1.54-mile drafting track mirrors Daytona’s high-speed chaos, and its 2025 Quaker State 400 on June 28 drew a respectable 3.9 million viewers on TNT, with hometown hero Chase Elliott taking home the dub.
An Atlanta night race on Independence Day weekend would combine Southern hospitality, patriotic fervor, and the kind of racing that keeps fans glued to their screens. If Daytona hosts the holiday, Atlanta should reclaim the regular-season finale in late August, ensuring both tracks anchor the summer schedule.
Racing in the South on oval tracks during these holidays isn’t just about tradition—it’s about smart business. Superspeedways like Daytona, Atlanta, and Talladega consistently outperform road and street courses in TV ratings, with Talladega’s 2025 spring race drawing 4.041 million viewers on FOX. The South is NASCAR’s heartland, where fans pack grandstands and tailgates pulse with energy. Holiday weekends attract casual viewers who want spectacle, not the nuanced racing of a street course like Chicago or a road course like Watkins Glen. Chicagoland Speedway, while an oval, lacks the Southern cultural cachet and hasn’t hosted a Cup race since 2019, making it a poor fit for the holiday.
No Chicagoland on the Fourth of July, please. It beats a road course or street course, but we can do better, NASCAR. No Chicagoland on the Fourth.
NASCAR must double down on its Southern roots for the Fourth of July. Whether it’s Daytona’s tri-oval under the lights or Atlanta’s revamped superspeedway, a Southern oval race on Independence Day weekend is non-negotiable. It’s time to bring back the thunder, celebrate America’s birthday in Dixie, and give fans the high-speed, heart-pounding racing they deserve.
Come on Steve Phelps, Steve O’Donnell, Elton Sawyer and Jim France. Do the right thing here. NASCAR in Dixie on the Fourth of July weekend.
It’s not that hard.
Cade Klubnik and Drew Allar are poised for big years on the gridiron!
NASCAR is likely going back to Chicagoland!
