McDonald’s has reportedly ended its founding sponsorship of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race after two years. The move is a significant loss for NASCAR, as the company was estimated to be paying around $2 million annually.
The fast-food giant will not be part of this year’s race, as it ended its sponsorship after two years of a three-year deal. McDonald’s logo no longer appears on NASCAR Chicago’s partner website page.
The remaining founding partners of the street race are ABB, BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois, and Xfinity, all of whom are still listed on the NASCAR website alongside 17 other official partners. This year’s race weekend is scheduled for July 5-6.
NASCAR Chicago Street Race Loses Local Connection
The move marks a loss of a key sponsor for NASCAR, as McDonald’s is a Chicago-based institution and a major global brand. McDonald’s provided a local connection to the race, with its famous golden logo prominently displayed on the track, television broadcasts, and radio promotions. Its absence has left a void in the race’s branding.
Although McDonald’s has reportedly pulled its sponsorship of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, no reasons for the decision have been made public. Despite this, the fast-food brand continues to be a major sponsor of 23XI Racing in NASCAR.
With 2025 marking the final year of NASCAR’s current agreement to host the race in Chicago, the loss of one of its biggest sponsors has sparked renewed speculation about the future of the street race. Some fans believe this may signal that NASCAR’s street race experiment has not met its desired expectations.
As NASCAR looks to keep its street race format alive, one potential solution could be shifting to other cities. If these speculations prove true and the Chicago Street Race loses momentum, NASCAR might explore locations with higher sponsor engagement.
