Last week NASCAR announced they would not race at the track in 2020 due to COVID-19, and most of the staff at the racetrack were released from their duties. This is mainly because Talladega Superspeedway is less than an hour drive from the fans home. The track opened in the late 1990s, and for a number of years, it enjoyed hosting two NASCAR races, bringing huge revenue to the Joliet region, notably to the motels and hotels throughout Will County. You have entered an incorrect email address! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) tri-oval speedway with a curved backstretch in Ingalls Park, Illinois.It is adjacent to the Joliet city limits, southwest of Chicago.The speedway opened in 2001 and actively hosted NASCAR racing including the NASCAR Cup Series until 2019. Chicagoland Speedway race weekend cancelled. The series now boasts an industry-leading $11.8 billion in annual revenue, which is up 28.7% from 2017. The track seems to have suffered from a perfect storm of circumstances that led many to doubt the facilitys future. Concord Speedway is officially dead. Shocking News Revealed! Grassroots Racing Returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway with Racetrack Revival in 2022, Clint Bowyer to Pilot Davey Allisons No. At the tie, no walls surrounded the speedway. CoPart is an auto auction company. Talladega Superspeedway has also been significantly updated with a state-of-the-art video booth, digital scoreboards, and a new seats and paddock area. Chicagoland Speedway sits right outside of Chicago, Ill. in Joliet and will be easily accessible for fans traveling by car or plane with its central location and multiple airports. The NASCAR Cup Series weekend was originally scheduled. The removal of seats at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway came as no . NASCAR fans looked forward to this year's race. It does not store any personal data. After 69 years, one of NASCARs most historic venues is set to be demolished. Once the tracks are leveled, new surfaces will be laid down and the buildings will be restored or replaced. Chicagoland Speedway Will Be Replaced By A Warehouse Industrial Park the Speedway started life as a hated 1.5-mile "cookie-cutter" D-shaped oval. So many memories there. Late models became the headline weekly class. Take Daytona International Speedway, for example. Quote Tweet. The most famous of these is unquestionably the 2018 NASCAR All-Star Race. As you may have heard through news reports, the Chicagoland Speedway released all their employees earlier this week and closed their facility, Summit Hill Superintendent Barb Rains wrote Friday to parents of eighth-graders. One of those tracks, is Chicagoland Speedway. WJOL's story on the NASCAR shakeup that puts Joliet in bad shape can be read here. Rumors swirled about the tracks impending closure and demolition and prompted the city of Joliet to issue a clarification news release late Monday. Home - Chicagoland Speedway SuperMotocross World Championship September 16, 2023 | TBD The premier off-road motorcycle racing series. Interests:Racing. We are disappointed, but hopeful its a one year thing and not permanent, said Joliet Mayor Bob ODekirk. Moving on to Talladega Superspeedway, which is also set to be demolished this year. Even more good news for NASCAR fans is that they will not have to look far for replacements. The same can be said for Daytona International Speedway. Not even four years later though, the mile-and-a-half racetrack has laid dormant for most of the time since then. The county had a population of around 400k people. It's probably too late to turn back now anyway. , Its a story that made headlines around the world: in 2019, motorsport mogul Roger Penske purchased the legendary Indianapolis Speedway for an undisclosed sum. So many memories there. Be part of the "ULTIMATE FAN EXPERIENCE" with driver meet-and-greets, pre-event tailgating, overnight camping accommodations, kid-friendly outdoor activities, fireworks shows, and more! It wouldnt be surprising if some drivers start to feel a little nostalgic towards these familiar but aged structures. Willie Millers record-setting night becomes emotional one as Lake Station makes history: Ive been waiting for this my whole life, Photos: Chicago Fire season opener at Soldier Field, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Ticketholders may receive credit for the full amount of tickets plus an additional 20% of the total amount paid to apply towards future race events, the track announced. Chicagoland Speedway Deserves Another Chance with NASCAR. . NASCAR will race . But a proposal to develop warehouses on part of the tracks surplus land seems to have generated the most uncertainty regarding the future of the 20-year-old racetrack. JOLIET - NASCAR will not be returning to Chicagoland Speedway in 2022. As exciting as this years Daytona season opener was, its probably not the same as driving down the same old dusty trackway in the summertime. In 2020, the track was closed amid the pandemic, and in 2021 remained closed to the drag racing community. The panel at the time tabled until July 16 consideration of a request to subdivide part of the track property to allow industrial development. The new Daytona is completely overhauled with a state-of-the-art lighting system, high-definition video boards and a roof that can be opened up to the elements. NASCAR also announced Route 66 Speedway will not host drag races next year. He says the facility probably needs a facelift adding the area has changed in the past 20 years,becoming industrial with large warehouses around the speedway. The Speedway was snubbed for the third consecutive year after the sport released the 2022 schedule earlier today. HiTech went by Corpus Christi Speedway today (March 10, 2021) and took a couple of pics of the work being done to dismantle the historic facility. Saw this picture yesterday of them tearing down @ConcordSpeedway .. The Route 66 Raceway dropped a bombshell today, announcing that it will not contest drag racing events in 2021, due to a range of factors, not the least of which is the long-term uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic. UPDATE 2: The future of the Chicagoland Speedway will not be affected by plans for a new industrial complex and the track itself, will be spared, Kickin' the Tires (KTT) has confirmed. Won the 64k LMSC race, and the best Big 10 race I remember seeing with Clay Rogers. Chicagoland Speedway was deemed a nonessential business and thus not allowed to open during the states stay-at-home order that remains in effect. Alex Bowman won the 2019 . Posted March 11, 2021. I thought it was Road of the Americas in Texas that was getting a race? Track officials also announced that NHRA drag racing events will not be held at the Route 66 Speedway in 2021, leaving the future of that circuit's presence at the track in doubt. 4 for Kevin Harvick commented, Saw this picture yesterday of them tearing down Concord Speedway. However, it wouldnt make sense from a business standpoint to pull the plug on such a major investment. A smaller track was . 7 pm. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Ahead of the 1997 season, David Laton purchased the track. The Fabtones. Playing a 1960s Dance Tribute. Lees ons privacybeleid en cookiebeleid voor meer informatie over hoe we uw persoonsgegevens gebruiken. Originally it was a .4-mile dirt track and was reconfigured to a half-mile tri-oval in 1993. Through the hatred, the track found a renaissance in the last few seasons as it has become a fan favorite for it's worn out surface and fantastic races. However, it wasnt until 1991 when the track was reconfigured, adding a dogleg and making the three corner oval. Concord Speedway was built in 1982 by Henry Furr. It is, in fact, one of the least profitable sports leagues in North America. Exclusive: Is Chicagoland Speedway being reduced to an industrial complex? asked a headline of a post published Sunday on a media site that covers motorsports. The most famous of these is unquestionably the 2018 NASCAR All-Star Race. 25 - Michigan International Speedway. Chicagoland Speedway is back in the news and it is not for the good reasons fans have been hoping for. The Chicagoland Speedway hosted Nascar events for more. On Twitter Tuesday afternoon, there was a strong reaction to the news of Joliet losing its NASCAR weekend for the 2021 season. Furr previously operated a dirt track which was sold. Track officials sent a letter to ticket holders in the fall of 2020 which included the following: "Due to the corresponding impact on the shared resources between Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway, and the future uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic; Route 66 Raceway will unfortunately not be hosting drag racing events in 2021 . Once the construction process is finished, the track will open for business in October 2024. Race 20 - Saturday . Andrew has been involved in motorsports from a very young age. They represent a bygone era of brick-and-mortar raceways. On Tuesday evening, WJOL Morning Show Host Scott Slocum reported the news to his Facebook followers, asking them, "Have we seen the last racing ever at Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway in Joliet. The land was purchased by International Speedway Corporation in 1999 for 7.3 million dollars. In the beginning, it was a dirt track. Thats probably something that even the most die-hard of NASCAR fans will admit to. It is an exciting time for the sport as it looks to build upon the successes of the past year and continue cementing its position as Americas #1 racing series. Jimmie Johnson has a track-record six wins. JOLIET, IL Interim city of Joliet manager Steve Jones issued a news release Monday afternoon announcing "there may have been some public confusion and misinformation" about the Chicagoland. Thats mainly because this track will be completely torn down and rebuilt before the next NASCAR season in 2024. ". Chicagoland Speedway has confirmed it will not host a NASCAR race in 2021. In the meeting, the Commission was to talk about a new industrial development that will take over the Chicagoland Speedway; however, that specific item was tabled to a future meeting. Thread starter klemmabyna; Start date May 11, 2020; klemmabyna Team Owner. Finally, due to the corresponding impact on the shared resources between Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway, and the future uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Route 66 Raceway will unfortunately not be hosting drag racing events in 2021. Areas being removed were going empty, creating a perception problem for tracks and stockcar racing. The following comments were posted on the thread for the Sports Business Journal news blurb: ts annual NASCAR race weekend June 18-21. Thats the situation that will affect Chicagoland Speedway. NASCAR still is in Chicagoland, but it appears as if Chicagoland is not as thrilled as it used to be about NASCAR, Forbes said. That's sad. Over the years, he has photographed several major auto racing events, sports, news journalism, portraiture, and everything in between. The photo below shows the equipment tearing up the 1/4-mile oval. On Tuesday, the Sports Business Journal broke the news on Twitter that Joliet's Chicagoland Speedway is being stripped of its annual NASCAR weekend as part of the 2021 schedule. Last year, Forbes reported that the stands appeared half-full at the start of the annual NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway in July, and that was after seating capacity in the stands had been reduced to 47,000 from 55,500 during the off season. CoPart USA is now the owner of the track. For the area to permanently lose it, we lose a part of our story. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The company is based out of Dallas, Texas and providesonline vehicle auctionand remarketing services to automotive resellers such as insurance, rental car, fleet and finance companies. There may have been some public confusion and misinformation about the Chicagoland Speedway being sold, as some of the maps and other supporting documents in the Plan Commission packet show that a portion of the proposed subdivision would include a portion of the racetrack, Interim City Manager Steve Jones said in a statement. Eric is dedicated to bringing his readers the best and most up-to-date content possible and is always looking for new ways to engage with his audience. But Jordan Bressler with a local sports marketing agency says the writing is on the wall. The infamous ' slide-job ' finish between Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson happened at the Chicagoland Speedway. Gender:Male. They're trying to go to the racetrack on a Friday, said Bressler. After working with the Power Automedia staff for some time on a freelance basis, Andrew joined the team in 2010. The president of the speedway says he hopes to work with NASCAR to bring races back to this speedway. Over its 19 year history at the track, there have been a total of 14 different Cup Series winners. Developing surplus land around the racetrack makes a lot of sense from a business perspective. NASCAR has over recent months, worked on liquidating some assets and releasing personnel following the ISC merge. The track is located in Midland, North Carolina, southeast of Concord. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Have you had it up to here? Adam Stern The Speedway, a 1.5-mile oval, held its first Cup series race on July 15, 2001. DRIVE a NASCAR race car by yourself on the Chicagoland Speedway-a 1.5 miles tri-oval speedway which has 18 degrees banking in the turns. JOLIET, IL Millions of people from across the U.S. have flocked to Joliet's Chicagoland Speedway for more than 20 years to watch NASCAR races that are televised across the nation, but Joliet's track may not have a future. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. I dont know, but I think it is not all doom and gloom. The Magnificent Mile And A Half: Chicago's Home For Stock Car Racing. The facility features a 1/2-mile tri-oval as well as a 1/4-mile oval. The iconic press box at the Texas World Speedway was torn down Thursday. Marketing director Jennifer Campbell stated in July 2019, I just wanted to say a quick thank you to all the competitors, teams, fans and coworkers that I have had the pleasure to get to know during my past ten years while working at Concord Speedway. Als u uw keuzes wilt aanpassen, klik dan op 'Privacyinstellingen beheren'. 17 - Atlanta Motor Speedway (Night) Race 18 - Sunday, Jun. we have road America just up the road, said NASCAR Vice President of Racing Development Ben Kennedy. The track was first established in 1939 and has been home to some of the sport's biggest moments. 3 sportsman schedule with an event scheduled on the weekend of August 5 - 7, 2022. 32K views 10 months ago #NASCAR #Racing #Chicagoland Chicagoland Speedway is back in the news and it is not for the good reasons fans have been hoping for. NASCARs recent emphasis on road courses, particularly at Indianapolis, has alienated this 50 race fan of over 50 years. Sunday, February 6 Clash (L.A. Memorial Coliseum), Sunday, June 5 World Wide Technology Raceway, Sunday, June 26 Nashville Superspeedway, Sunday, July 31 Indianapolis Road Course. Last week, the Route 66 Raceway and Chicagoland Speedway, which share a unified staff, dismissed a number of employees; what we do know is that Route 66 track president Scott Paddock and other members of the staff assigned to the dragstrip remain in place. (Armando L. Sanchez / TNS). Following drivers meeting with Crew Chief, you'll drive a NASCAR race car for timed racing sessions. The same can be said for other iconic tracks such as Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. ODekirk says he's been told a crew will continue to maintain the track and grounds so they arent closing up shop justyet. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. (LINK TO ARTICLE IN DESCRIPTION) 126 views May 10, 2020 2 Dislike Share Save JR Smith 150 subscribers Link to the article:. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". In 2015, the national late model scene returned to the 1/2-mile track with the PASS and CARS Tour divisions. Auto Club Speedway, located in Fontana, California, has been on the Cup schedule since 1997. However I have been to a lot of the drag racing events. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Breaking news: Chicagoland Speedway possibly being torn down? COVID-friendly outdoor entertainment located near Chicago at the Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL. If your downtown Chicago rent a car and drive to Chicagoland Speedway. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In 2013, many pot holes began to appear on the race track and in the pit area. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Als u niet wilt dat wij en onze partners cookies en persoonsgegevens voor deze aanvullende doeleinden gebruiken, klik dan op 'Alles weigeren'. But fear not, racing fans! The race track was then built and debuted its race in 2001. International Speedway Corporation was purchased by NASCAR and merged in October of last year. They may not even know what a track is. That speedway contributed to the rapid growth of the county. Tight finishes in . No Cover, All Welcome, 21+, NL VFW Sunday Jackpot Raffle Prize $14,830. Location:San Antonio, Texas. The Speedway has hosted NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and ARCA series races, adding the NASCAR truck series in 2009. NASCAR and many other businesses that rely on crowds may be facing their toughest year of business. The Racing Insiders has obtained a copy of the Joilet, Illinois Planning Commissions meeting notes from its April 16th meeting. The good news for fans is that the new owners have vowed to keep the infield untouched, preserving the classic look of the place. The post was widely shared on social media and was based on documents presented at an April 16 meeting of the Joliet Plan Commission. Five Lincoln-Way area elementary school districts had planned to hold drive-through graduation celebrations for eighth-graders on the 1.5-mile oval track.Those events also were canceled. The event took place on June 20 at the track and was watched by a worldwide audience of nearly 300 million people. In 2019, Darren Hacket moved his North-South Shootout event away from Concord due to uncertainty around the facility. We will miss some of those areas but at the same time, not running in Chicago, we still have a lot of great tracks in Midwest region now .