Denny Hamlin proposes unorthodox idea for future of NASCAR street racing

As NASCAR returns to the streets of Chicago this weekend, the future of the race and street racing in NASCAR in general is a major topic of conversation. 

While NASCAR is looking at potentially bringing a street race to San Diego for 2026, Denny Hamlin has a rather unorthodox idea regarding the future of street racing in NASCAR. 

"A wild thought is a street oval," Hamlin said during a news conference on Saturday in Chicago. "If all you need is flat pavement to make a racetrack — we run a flat Clash, and it's at a flat track. There's so many things to that. I've never put on a race, so I wouldn't know." 

Regardless of the possibility of Hamlin's proposed "street oval," the future Hall of Famer would be happy to see the Chicago Street Race return. Hamlin would also be a proponent of seeing the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, make a return to the NASCAR schedule. 

"I think you try everything you can to get this thing back in Chicago," Hamlin said. "I believe it is an important place for us. Chicagoland is not a substitute for this race. I'd like to see us run both."

Only time will tell what NASCAR chooses to do with both Chicagoland and the Chicago Street Race, but if Hamlin gets his way, race fans in the area will get a double dose of stock-car action.