Dale Earnhardt Jr. discusses what 2026 NASCAR schedule could look like

With only 10 races remaining before the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, we are getting closer to finding out what the 2026 schedule will look like.

While the official schedule announcement will likely not come out for a little while, there are some rumors swirling around what 2026 could look like, including a potential return to a former track.

NASCAR has proven in recent years that it is open to just about anything, with its most recent race in Mexico City and a pair of races, thus far, on the streets of Chicago.

With so many unknowns surrounding what the schedule will look like, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. gave his thoughts and expanded on some of the rumors on his "Dale Jr. Download" podcast.

"Would I go back (to Mexico City)? Absolutely," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I'm hearing some rumors that it's probably, it's a chance it stays on the schedule, but it might not be in the same part of the season. They might move it to a different part of the schedule. I hear there's a lot of conversation, I'll just say, around you know, what happens, I guess we might not go back to Chicago Street Course. There's a chance Chicagoland can come back, I'm hearing, but I'm not 100% sure about that. San Diego idea, there's a chance to race in the streets, I guess, of San Diego, or create some sort of course there. That's pretty realistic."

Given the fan reception from Mexico City, it should not come as a surprise if NASCAR were to return there next season. However, there may be an off week following the sport's trip south of the border, which would certainly be welcomed by those within the industry after the logistical hurdles faced last week.

Fourth of July weekend on the streets of Chicago will be NASCAR's third attempt there after a pair of rain-impacted races so far. If NASCAR elects to bring the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway back, it would mark a return to the Joliet, Illinois track for the first time since 2019. The mile-and-a-half track has put on some of the best racing since the Next Gen Car's inception in 2022, so there is no doubt that could happen.

Even if the Chicago street race does not remain on the schedule, it sounds like another street course could be an option. According to Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, a street race in San Diego is something NASCAR is considering as it looks to return to Southern California. Sonoma Raceway is the only track the series visits in California, so that could be a major step toward getting NASCAR back in that market.

And while The Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum ran its course after three races, NASCAR president Steve O'Donnell said the industry is looking into staging a short track race at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. 

Again, none of that is set in stone at this time, but if the last few years are any indication, don't be surprised if most, if not all, of that comes to fruition.

As NASCAR has showed us lately, anything is possible from one year to the next as the sport continues to tweak its schedule and go to some venues that were never thought possible before.