Over its 19 year history at the track, there have been a total of 14 different Cup Series winners. 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.. Route 66 Raceway last hosted an NHRA Camping World Series drag race back in 2019. The most famous of these is unquestionably the 2018 NASCAR All-Star Race. On Twitter Tuesday afternoon, there was a strong reaction to the news of Joliet losing its NASCAR weekend for the 2021 season. Shocking News Revealed! The track was first established in 1939 and has been home to some of the sport's biggest moments. Each template in our ever growing studio library can be added and moved around within any page effortlessly with one click. The Speedway was snubbed for the third consecutive year after the sport released the 2022 schedule earlier today. Not even four years later though, the mile-and-a-half racetrack has laid dormant for most of the time since then. 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. Chicagoland Was Originally on Another Schedule. Concord Speedway was built in 1982 by Henry Furr. The shocking news has left fans and industry insiders stunned, and . View photos of the Concord Speedway construction below. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. NASCAR returns to competition on Sunday at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, but without fans in the stands. While Chicagoland Speedway has not been active since Alex Bowman's win in 2019, the . By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The iconic press box at the Texas World Speedway was torn down Thursday. Following drivers meeting with Crew Chief, you'll drive a NASCAR race car for timed racing sessions. ", "They need to cull the schedule down to 28 races and lose the stupid All Star race. So many memories there. News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday, By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. Or both? My family and I are truly blessed to have gotten to know so many wonderful people through the years. The CARS Tour did not return following a race in 2017. 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. (Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images). 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 speedway currently hosts a NASCAR race and is home of NASCAR Racing Experience and Mario Andretti Racing Experience. The county had a population of around 400k people. A smaller track was . These tracks represent a glorious era of professional horseracing in America, which helped build the countrys identity and infrastructures. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The Speedway was snubbed for the third consecutive year after the sport released the 2022 schedule earlier today. Let's hope they can make the 45 mile trip from the city to Joliet when it inevitably moves to Chicagoland Speedway after the street race runs its course. Race 19 - Sunday, Jul. Related: Texas World Speedway Former NASCAR track being torn down. Concord Speedway is officially dead. The good news for fans is that the new owners have vowed to keep the infield untouched, preserving the classic look of the place. Rumors have circulated suggesting the drag strip assets were going to be sold off, and fortunately to this point has not come to fruition. NASCAR fans looked forward to this year's race. Several factors may have contributed to social media users believing the misleading report that warehouses might replace the entire racetrack. We will continue to work with NASCAR on potential future opportunities beyond 2021 and will keep you updated. We are disappointed, but hopeful its a one year thing and not permanent, said Joliet Mayor Bob ODekirk. 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. Moving on to Talladega Superspeedway, which is also set to be demolished this year. Route 66 Raceway, the lavish drag strip located outside of Chicago, Ill., will return to the NHRA's Div. Once the tracks are leveled, new surfaces will be laid down and the buildings will be restored or replaced. 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. 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. NASCARs recent emphasis on road courses, particularly at Indianapolis, has alienated this 50 race fan of over 50 years. As one of the premier NASCAR tracks in the country, Michigan International Speedway offers an unparalleled racing experience. Today, many people can no longer remember a time before they were online. 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. ROUTE 66 RACEWAY RETURNS TO NHRA SCHEDULE IN 2022, KINDA SORTA. The Speedway, a 1.5-mile oval, held its first Cup series race on July 15, 2001. 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. Pit Bike National Returns to Chicagoland Speedway During NASCAR Weekend. A lifelong car enthusiast, Eric started the blog to share his love of all things automotive with like-minded enthusiasts. All rights reserved. The same can be said for Daytona International Speedway. 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. 42.2k Followers, 282 Following, 1,914 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Chicagoland Speedway (@chicagolndspdwy) Chicagoland Speedway (@chicagolndspdwy) Instagram photos and videos chicagolndspdwy Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Eric Thunder is the founder and editor-in-chief of Skyline Speedway, a popular automotive blog covering a variety of topics. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The track is located in Midland, North Carolina, southeast of Concord. The layout of the track itself has remained relatively the same since it was first built in 1967. 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. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk joined the Afternoon Rush to speak of the future of Chicagoland. 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. We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request. The NASCAR Cup Series weekend was originally scheduled. These tracks once occupied prominent places in the American psyche. JOLIET, Ill. (March 10, 2020) Chicagoland Speedway announced today the return of the Pit Bike National June 18-21. Great seating and the suites are outstanding. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. JOLIET NASCAR will not be returning to Chicagoland Speedway in 2022. Baby Jessica, it appears you've fallen into the well. 28 with Ceremonial Lap at Talladega Superspeedway, Entertainment Expectations Sky High For NASCAR All-Star Race Weekend. The diagram distributed to Planning Commission members shows the race track split into seven sections that are to be discussed about a potential new industrial park. EVER. In 1986, Furr decided to pave the speedway. But fear not, racing fans! Chicagoland Speedway hosted the Cup Series from 2001-19. Thank you for your continued support. Demolition of this iconic structure begins in earnest in April 2020 and will take roughly three months to complete. 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 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. Once the final steel beam is in place, construction will begin on a new $80 million, state-of-the-art speedway. Until 2010, the speedway has also hosted the IndyCar Series, recording numerous close finishes including the . Both are asphalt short tracks. In the beginning, it was a dirt track. The infamous ' slide-job ' finish between Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson happened at the Chicagoland Speedway. It is, in fact, one of the least profitable sports leagues in North America. The NASCAR Southeast Series made its debut in 1997. For the area to permanently lose it, we lose a part of our story. The panel at the time tabled until July 16 consideration of a request to subdivide part of the track property to allow industrial development. Location:San Antonio, Texas. Even more good news for NASCAR fans is that they will not have to look far for replacements. The removal of seats at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway came as no . We are leading Amazon experts, and we're here to help you realize your full potential in the largest marketplace in the world. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Smoke is pouring out of the rear window. 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. 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. For sale signs and minimal staff. JOLIET, Ill. - NASCAR is hitting the track again next year, but Jolietlearned there will be no races at the Chicagoland Speedway. For starters, warehouses are becoming as ubiquitous in Joliet as sea shells on Florida beaches or pine needles in the Northwoods forests of Wisconsin. Sue Regis: 'Im Inspiring People To Make Positive Life Changes', Mudron Urged Dickinson To Get Ahead Of Private Parts Photo Scandal, Man Fights For Life After Fall At Abandoned US Steel Plant, 35th Annual Arts, Crafts and Food Festival, Playing In The Bar. I'm not here to save you. No Cover, All Welcome, 21+, NL VFW Sunday Jackpot Raffle Prize $14,830. 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 sport has lost 50% of its audience since 2005, according to multiple reports. I'm just here for the ride. 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. NASCAR will race . 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! 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. NASCAR fans looked forward to this years race events June 18-21 at the Will County track. Its another shot that these businesses are taking, hotel industry has struggled,riverboats seriosuly impacted, NASCAR was a great event and great weekend, said ODekirk. The land was purchased by International Speedway Corporation in 1999 for 7.3 million dollars. GIFT. 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. The Joliet, Illinois facility, which has hosted the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series since 1998, has remained closed this season, foregoing its NHRA national event date, as well as the long-standing NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl, as it navigated the fallout of the pandemic. The concrete barriers wasnt added until 1984. Is Daytona Speedway Breaking Up With NASCAR? If your downtown Chicago rent a car and drive to Chicagoland Speedway. COVID-friendly outdoor entertainment located near Chicago at the Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL. Furr previously operated a dirt track which was sold. This is mainly because Talladega Superspeedway is less than an hour drive from the fans home. 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. . Chicagoland Speedway has confirmed it will not host a NASCAR race in 2021. 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 cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". (LINK TO ARTICLE IN DESCRIPTION) 126 views May 10, 2020 2 Dislike Share Save JR Smith 150 subscribers Link to the article:. 5. CoPart USA is now the owner of the track. In this file image, fans watch as drivers complete 267 laps at the Geico 400 NASCAR race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. To tell you the truth, I think that the facility, the operations have maybe seen their better day, said Bressler. NASCAR is looking to lessen its footprint with several tracks, Chicagoland . 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. 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. Chicago's Route 66 Raceway To Remain Closed Though 2021 Season By Andrew Wolf September 29, 2020 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. NASCAR also announced Route 66 Speedway will not host drag races next year.