We hope you and your family continue to stay safe and healthy. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. However, the highly anticipated 2021 schedule has yet to be announced as NASCAR works diligently to form a modified schedule to complete the 2021 season. We have reached out to the City of Joliet for comment but have not received a response at the time of publication. The coronavirus pandemic has created uncertainty in many areas. However I have been to a lot of the drag racing events. Soon after, the racing season was abruptly cut short at the facility and the track declared season champions in July. The move away from NASCAR racing at Chicagoland Speedway is one of many changes reflected in the 2021 schedule, and by no means a reflection of the support our fans have demonstrated. Kansas Speedway Click here to exit the well. As one of the most well-known and respected names in racing, , Michigan International Speedway is one of the most famous racetracks in the world, hosting some of the most exciting events in motorsports. After 69 years, one of NASCARs most historic venues is set to be demolished. While we share your disappointment around this news, we truly appreciate and value your commitment to the sport and to the track. Shocking News Revealed! For sale signs and minimal staff are the name of the game for the track and there is no signs of life from the facility that we can see as fans. Gender:Male. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. 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 sport has lost 50% of its audience since 2005, according to multiple reports. Not right that Chicagoland has no race. In addition to running the blog, he is also a talented writer and photographer, with a particular talent for capturing the excitement of motorsports. 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. Auto Club Speedway, located in Fontana, California, has been on the Cup schedule since 1997. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Scott Paddock, the president of Chicagoland, could not say whether there would be events at his track in . ", "They need to cull the schedule down to 28 races and lose the stupid All Star race. The race track has also hosted events with the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoor Truck Series, ARCA, and the Indy Car Series. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Baby Jessica, it appears you've fallen into the well. The speedway currently hosts a NASCAR race and is home of NASCAR Racing Experience and Mario Andretti Racing Experience. 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 track is located in Midland, North Carolina, southeast of Concord. Link to the article: https://kickinthetires.net/news/exclusive-is-chicagoland-speedway-being-reduced-to-an-industrial-complex/ Yes, sports ratings as a whole are down, but NASCARs fall is alarming: Daytona 500 viewership from 2001 to 2009 ranged from 16 to 19 million.. May 8, 2020. 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. In 2020, the track was closed amid the pandemic, and in 2021 remained closed to the drag racing community. Until 2010, the speedway has also hosted the IndyCar Series, recording numerous close finishes including the . By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 17 - Atlanta Motor Speedway (Night) Race 18 - Sunday, Jun. COVID-friendly outdoor entertainment located near Chicago at the Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL. Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Dragzine, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE! EVER. The $2 billion dollar merger gave NASCAR far more control of their schedule. It also provides fans with a whole new perspective on the sport from a glass booth. The removal of seats at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway came as no . Over the years, he has photographed several major auto racing events, sports, news journalism, portraiture, and everything in between. 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. The sport still doesnt make enough money to support the entire industry, though. Joined Nov 25, 2007 Messages 1,596 Points 573 Location wi (ex-iowa) May 11, 2020 #1 just wondering if anyone knew anything about this: . Once the construction process is finished, the track will open for business in October 2024. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Once the tracks are leveled, new surfaces will be laid down and the buildings will be restored or replaced. I have never been to any NASCAR events there. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Furr previously operated a dirt track which was sold. Then, there is the issue of NASCARs declining popularity. Chicagoland's Cup race in 2020 was moved elsewhere because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 1.5-mile speedway has sat unused since then while questions loomed about its future. 25 - Michigan International Speedway. With over 70,000 seats available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Noted Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway PresidentScott Paddock in a prepared statement: With the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series schedule unveiling, came the unfortunate news that Chicagoland Speedway will not be part of that lineup. ", "Is it to allocate more to the tracks that they own outright? 2 - Road America. NASCAR is hitting the track again next year, but the Joliet learned there will be no races at the Chicagoland Speedway. 5. Those races were won by Johnny Cauter and Davin Scites. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Find Highway 41 (Lake Front Trail) by Lake Michigan and travel South, then take the Highway 55 (Stevenson Expressway) West to Highway 355 South, travel to Interstate 80 West to Joliet, Illinois. The Chicagoland Speedway hosted Nascar events for more. I live near these tracks. Additionally, the North-South Shootout event returned, an event with once brought super late model drivers from all over the country. When these buildings are torn down, it will be a massive void that many within the industry are unable to fill. Over its 19 year history at the track, there have been a total of 14 different Cup Series winners. A recent ownership change of the Joliet track may have contributed to belief that another sale of the property was plausible. There are not a lot of details available on the record right now, except for one. These are truly exciting times for NASCAR fans as more and more of its historic tracks are set to be torn down and replaced with state-of-the-art facilities. 2023 Power Automedia. Rumors have circulated suggesting the drag strip assets were going to be sold off, and fortunately to this point has not come to fruition. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Races go karts out back, raced my first legend car race there, my first ASA race there.Won the 64k LMSC race, and the best Big 10 race I remember seeing with @LowLightNLeft .. sucks.. pic.twitter.com/b5tGJ4c1G0, Filed Under: Asphalt Short Track Tagged With: Asphalt Late Model Asphalt Late Models Asphalt Short Track CARS Tour Concord Concord Speedway Copart Copart USA David Laton Henry Furr Midland NC Midland North Carolina North Carolina PASS Rodney Childers, Mobile International Speedway returns to life in 2021, Texas World Speedway: Former NASCAR track being torn down, Chicagoland Speedway: Development plans suggest NASCAR track will be torn down, Jimmie Johnson torn up in big 2018 Daytona 500 crash, Texas World Speedway Former NASCAR track being torn down. Chicagoland Speedway race weekend cancelled. All rights reserved. In the beginning, it was a dirt track. I dont know, but I think it is not all doom and gloom. Following the end of this years NASCAR season, demolition of the track begins in earnest. NASCAR returns to competition on Sunday at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, but without fans in the stands. One of those tracks, is Chicagoland Speedway. Like a mummy at night fightin' with bright lightnin'. "The iconic volcano outside of the Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas will be torn down as part of remodeling plans, Hard Rock International Chief Executive Officer Jim Allen said," according to . These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This is mainly because Talladega Superspeedway is less than an hour drive from the fans home. The Chicago Motor Speedway at Sportsman's Park was a motorsports race . WJOL's story on the NASCAR shakeup that puts Joliet in bad shape can be read here. 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. You have entered an incorrect email address! 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. St. Louis Worldwide Technology Raceway and Fontanas Auto Club Speedway were added to the schedule. In addition, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Gander Trucks and ARCA will also not be returning to Chicagoland Speedway in 2021. we have road America just up the road, said NASCAR Vice President of Racing Development Ben Kennedy. Chicagoland Speedway 500 Speedway Blvd . The late Henry Lee Furr built the track in 1982. 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. A smaller track was . Chicagoland Speedway President Scott Paddock declined comment. 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. Click Here to Learn More 2022 Schedule Information Chicagoland Speedway News 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. NASCAR still is in Chicagoland, but it appears as if Chicagoland is not as thrilled as it used to be about NASCAR, Forbes said. Later that year, it was announced that David Laton had sold the facility. The payments are in lieu . In a file photo from 2018, Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Skittles Red White & Blue Toyota, celebrates after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton's 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on J in Joliet, Illinois. I'm not here to save you. The coronavirus pandemic has created uncertainty in many areas. This year marks the 69th anniversary of Chicagoland Speedwaya track located in Chicagos Joliet area. Raced go karts out back, raced my first legend car race there, my first ASA race there. The same can be said for other iconic tracks such as Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. The Speedway has hosted NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and ARCA series races, adding the NASCAR truck series in 2009. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. donates more than $50,000 to Chicagoland organizations in 2018: Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway's charitable entity, Racing Advocates for Community . However, it wouldnt make sense from a business standpoint to pull the plug on such a major investment. She provided a copy of the message to The Daily Southtown. Then take Highway 53 South and you will see many signs to Chicagoland Speedway. Being from will county, we tend to appreciate the past after it's gone. Related: Texas World Speedway Former NASCAR track being torn down. So, he constructed a new 4/10-mile dirt track. Districts planning graduation events at the track in late May were New Lenox School District 122, Frankfort Township-based Summit Hill School District 161, Mokena School District 159, Frankfort School District 157-C and Manhattan School District 114. Concord Speedway is officially dead. 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. In 2019, Darren Hacket moved his North-South Shootout event away from Concord due to uncertainty around the facility. It's part of the ongoing development efforts for the growing Southern Pointe Community near College Station. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. JOLIET, Ill. - NASCAR is hitting the track again next year, but Joliet learned there will be no races at the Chicagoland Speedway. In 2001, Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet was built in the hopes of attracting more racing fans and upper-level races; all Cicero races were subsequently moved to Joliet and the . Over its 19 year history at the track, there have been a total of 14 different Cup Series winners. Following drivers meeting with Crew Chief, you'll drive a NASCAR race car for timed racing sessions. These tracks once occupied prominent places in the American psyche. Tight finishes in . Temporarily located on the Streets of Chicago until 2025 (or until bureaucracy shuts it down) . The track appeared on loopnet, listed for $1.95 million. "It's . Jimmie Johnson has a track-record six wins. The NASCAR Southeast Series made its debut in 1997. 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. Alex Bowman won the 2019 . The Chicagoland Speedway hosted Nascar events for more than two decades, but now they are pulling out. 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. Rumors swirled about the tracks impending closure and demolition and prompted the city of Joliet to issue a clarification news release late Monday. However, the thing that always struck me as odd. Chicagoland lost its race in 2020 due to COVID-19 and had a slot this year given to Road America in Wisconsin. It's probably too late to turn back now anyway. 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. In this file image, fans watch as drivers complete 267 laps at the Geico 400 NASCAR race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. Drop us a line anytime: news@countryherald.com. Despite being taken off the NASCAR circuit, Morris said Kentucky Speedway made its most recent industrial bond payments to Gallatin County totaling about $400,000 a year. Its sister facility, the Chicagoland Speedway oval, was also left off revised NASCAR schedules, leaving the complex shuttered and staff out of work. 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. My family and I are truly blessed to have gotten to know so many wonderful people through the years. NASCAR is expected to release the 2021 schedule tomorrow, however, a post on the Chicagoland website by track president Scott Paddock confirmed the 1.5-mile facility will not be included: "With the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series schedule unveiling, came the unfortunate news . But Jordan Bressler with a local sports marketing agency says the writing is on the wall. A lifelong car enthusiast, Eric started the blog to share his love of all things automotive with like-minded enthusiasts. Eric Thunder is the founder and editor-in-chief of Skyline Speedway, a popular automotive blog covering a variety of topics. RELATED:NASCAR to allow limited number of fans at upcoming races in Florida and Alabama. The half-mile is next on the agenda. This trend isnt expected to reverse itself anytime soon as NASCARs popularity continues to rise, spurred on by the right formula of drivers, great tracks and the right marketing strategy. Its fair to say that NASCAR has never been more popular or lucrative. The same nostalgia may be felt towards this track as well, though perhaps not to the same extent as towards Daytona International Speedway. These iconic structures hold a special place in the hearts of many fans throughout the United States. Jones said that the citys subdivision regulations require that preliminary plats shall include all contiguous holdings of land in the same ownership. Documents submitted for the Plan Commissions consideration correctly included 423 acres that covered the racetrack, Jones said, though warehouses were proposed for just 82.3 acres. While it's easy to focus on the loss to spectators, who now face a 200-mile journey to any race weekend in Bristol, Tennessee; Charlotte, North Carolina; or even down to South Georgia's own Valdosta, I feel that the potential loss would be measured in public safety for the Atlanta metro area if Atlanta Dragway were to close down. The track is a 1.5-mile oval in Joilet, Illinois. The event took place on June 20 at the track and was watched by a worldwide audience of nearly 300 million people. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The CARS Tour did not return following a race in 2017. These are not the kind of cars that fans would want to see but Ford Motor Company is using the seemingly shuttered 1.5 mile super speedway as a parking lot for thousands of new vehicles. The same can be said for Daytona International Speedway. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. To tell you the truth, I think that the facility, the operations have maybe seen their better day, said Bressler. by | Jun 16, 2022 | baja telecaster vs american special | muslim population in spain in 2021 | Jun 16, 2022 | baja telecaster vs american special | muslim population in spain in 2021 The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. These tracks represent a glorious era of professional horseracing in America, which helped build the countrys identity and infrastructures. The track was first established in 1939 and has been home to some of the sports biggest moments. This new Daytona is expected to open in July 2022. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Chicagoland Speedway was deemed a nonessential business and thus not allowed to open during the states stay-at-home order that remains in effect. 4 for Kevin Harvick commented, Saw this picture yesterday of them tearing down Concord Speedway. The addition of the Pit Bike race adds to an already action-packed line-up of content, including the BBQ SmokeDown, the Carnival, concerts and more.. The track seems to have suffered from a perfect storm of circumstances that led many to doubt the facilitys future. 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. 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. They may not have to travel as far as they do for a Daytona race to feel like theyre back in their childhood. With all the trucks that are coming through there, that's not really the kind of thing that I can see a NASCAR fan getting excited about. But fear not, racing fans! Late models became the headline weekly class. Getty Cup Series drivers race at Chicagoland Speedway in 2018. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. R.A.C.E. Quote Tweet. Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk joined the Afternoon Rush to speak of the future of Chicagoland. 3 sportsman schedule with an event scheduled on the weekend of August 5 - 7, 2022. 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. 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," the letter also said. But are we ready to say RIP Chicagoland Speedway? Several factors may have contributed to social media users believing the misleading report that warehouses might replace the entire racetrack. 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! However, it wasnt until 1991 when the track was reconfigured, adding a dogleg and making the three corner oval. NASCAR has over recent months, worked on liquidating some assets and releasing personnel following the ISC merge. Wanneer u onze sites en apps gebruikt, gebruiken we, gebruikers authenticeren, veiligheidsmaatregelen toepassen en spam en misbruik voorkomen, en, gepersonaliseerde advertenties en content weergeven op basis van interesseprofielen, de effectiviteit meten van gepersonaliseerde advertenties en content, en, onze producten en services ontwikkelen en verbeteren. 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. The county had a population of around 400k people. In 2018, the Minimizer Bandit Big Rig Series was the headline of the season along with the North-South Shootout. Warehouses are everywhere in Joliet, and more are coming. Chicagoland Was Originally on Another Schedule.