Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro addresses NASCAR interest in bringing Cup Series race to Philadelphia

NASCAR has shown it is willing to take its show anywhere. NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell suggested late last week that Philadelphia could be next.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro confirmed there have been some conversations about bringing NASCAR to the “City of Brotherly Love.” Franklin Field, opened in 1895 and the oldest operating football stadium in the United States, is one of the places NASCAR is eyeing.

“There’s some conversations,” Shapiro said, via Dan Gelston of The Associated Press. “First and foremost, we don’t want to do anything that undermines Pocono. But as [Pocono President] Ben [May says], the more NASCAR the better. The more racing, the better. The more we can turn people on in communities that haven’t been to Pocono yet, to get excited about racing, and then make that trip to Pocono next year, the better. I want to see more NASCAR, more racing. I also just want to see more sports in general.”

NASCAR considering adding Philadelphia race to schedule

O’Donnell and Shapiro made the comments ahead of this past weekend’s events at Pocono Raceway. Pocono, of course, is in Pennsylvania, but a race weekend in Philadelphia would be something entirely different.

“Pocono has delivered for us in terms of fans, but when you look at opportunities, one of the places we looked was Franklin Field,” O’Donnell said. “It was one of the only places we could’ve put a racetrack inside. Those are the type of things that, within a city, we’re gonna look at.

“The days of just building a rural track are over, but if we can build a track with some real estate development around it and partner with some people, we’re gonna look at major cities and bring the product to the fan base within the city as well.”

Expanding into new markets has been a priority for NASCAR in recent years. The LA Memorial Coliseum hosted The Clash 2022-24. The Chicago Street Race is set for its third event next month. NASCAR just went to Mexico City. A San Diego street course appears to be next.