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. For starters, warehouses are becoming as ubiquitous in Joliet as sea shells on Florida beaches or pine needles in the Northwoods forests of Wisconsin. 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. ROUTE 66 RACEWAY RETURNS TO NHRA SCHEDULE IN 2022, KINDA SORTA. Click Here to Learn More 2022 Schedule Information Chicagoland Speedway News 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 . Thank you for your continued support. A lifelong car enthusiast, Eric started the blog to share his love of all things automotive with like-minded enthusiasts. However, it wouldnt make sense from a business standpoint to pull the plug on such a major investment. 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. Rumors swirled about the tracks impending closure and demolition and prompted the city of Joliet to issue a clarification news release late Monday. "It's . Joliet's NASCAR track now has a murky future, and it's possible that NASCAR racing is over for Joliet and Will County. The track is a 1.5-mile oval in Joilet, Illinois. Eric Thunder is the founder and editor-in-chief of Skyline Speedway, a popular automotive blog covering a variety of topics. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The race track has also hosted events with the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoor Truck Series, ARCA, and the Indy Car Series. The post was widely shared on social media and was based on documents presented at an April 16 meeting of the Joliet Plan Commission. Several weeks after the conclusion of the NASCAR season, demolition and removal will begin in earnest at the tracks that still have a few years left on their contracts. The good news for NASCAR is that the aforementioned tracks have been replaced by state-of-the-art, high-tech racing venues. Its fair to say that NASCAR has never been more popular or lucrative. We are leading Amazon experts, and we're here to help you realize your full potential in the largest marketplace in the world. You have entered an incorrect email address! Rumors have circulated suggesting the drag strip assets were going to be sold off, and fortunately to this point has not come to fruition. 111,029 were here. 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. 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 Then came the disappointing news late Thursday that local school districts looking forward to holding graduation celebrations on the Joliet track in coming weeks would have to make other arrangements. It also provides fans with a whole new perspective on the sport from a glass booth. 2 - Road America. We want to thank the Chicagoland Speedway for its generosity in the initial planning of such a memorable event and understand its decision to close operations in these uncertain times, Rains wrote. Warehouses are everywhere in Joliet, and more are coming. Until 2010, the speedway has also hosted the IndyCar Series, recording numerous close finishes including the . The iconic press box at the Texas World Speedway was torn down Thursday. The NASCAR Southeast Series made its debut in 1997. ". 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: . 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. 25 - Michigan International Speedway. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The most famous of these is unquestionably the 2018 NASCAR All-Star Race. Property could be home to more warehouses in the future?". In 1986, Furr decided to pave the speedway. These tracks represent a glorious era of professional horseracing in America, which helped build the countrys identity and infrastructures. Race 19 - Sunday, Jul. Not right that Chicagoland has no race. Story: Chicagoland Speedway, Rt 66 Racway won't host races in 2021. Drop us a line anytime: news@countryherald.com. ODekirk says he's been told a crew will continue to maintain the track and grounds so they arent closing up shop justyet. I'm not here to save you. Over its 19 year history at the track, there have been a total of 14 different Cup Series winners. The sport has lost 50% of its audience since 2005, according to multiple reports. Talladega Superspeedway has also been significantly updated with a state-of-the-art video booth, digital scoreboards, and a new seats and paddock area. Shocking News Revealed! Chicagoland Speedway President Scott Paddock declined comment. But fear not, racing fans! We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. In 2020, the track was closed amid the pandemic, and in 2021 remained closed to the drag racing community. BEST. Residents of Chicagoland have been left puzzled and unnerved ORLAND PARK, Ill. 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It's almost impossible to get through that area. We will continue to work with NASCAR on potential future opportunities beyond 2021 and will keep you updated. Will Chicagoland Speedway be Demolished for an Industrial Park? Summit Hill is now working with the Will County Sheriffs Office on plans for a drive-through graduation event May 29 in the parking lot of Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, Rains wrote. This year marks the 69th anniversary of Chicagoland Speedwaya track located in Chicagos Joliet area. 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. The same nostalgia may be felt towards this track as well, though perhaps not to the same extent as towards Daytona International Speedway. In 2013, many pot holes began to appear on the race track and in the pit area. 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. Ivan laughs and pans his phone's camera across the . Both are asphalt short tracks. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. CoPart USA is now the owner of the track. It's probably too late to turn back now anyway. While we share your disappointment around this news, we truly appreciate and value your commitment to the sport and to the track. 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. NASCAR will race . But on Friday, this years Chicago-area race was canceled. The Chicago Motor Speedway at Sportsman's Park was a motorsports race . Thats probably something that even the most die-hard of NASCAR fans will admit to. JOLIET - NASCAR will not be returning to Chicagoland Speedway in 2022. Als u uw keuzes wilt aanpassen, klik dan op 'Privacyinstellingen beheren'. 3 sportsman schedule with an event scheduled on the weekend of August 5 - 7, 2022. The 2019 Daytona 500 drew about 9 million viewers, The New York Times reported in February. Even more good news for NASCAR fans is that they will not have to look far for replacements. Location:San Antonio, Texas. 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. That's Rock Bottom. Posted March 11, 2021. The coronavirus pandemic has created uncertainty in many areas. The Fabtones. Playing a 1960s Dance Tribute. 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 . Great seating and the suites are outstanding. It's possible that professional motorsports returns to the oval. Route 66 Raceway, the lavish drag strip located outside of Chicago, Ill., will return to the NHRA's Div. Or both? 5. Once the tracks are leveled, new surfaces will be laid down and the buildings will be restored or replaced. COVID-friendly outdoor entertainment located near Chicago at the Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL. In 1999, Laton repaved the track, replaced the barriers and fencing. 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. 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. There are not a lot of details available on the record right now, except for one. Chicagoland Speedway 500 Speedway Blvd . That's sad. It wouldnt be surprising if some drivers start to feel a little nostalgic towards these familiar but aged structures. Chicagoland Speedway Deserves Another Chance with NASCAR. We have reached out to the City of Joliet for comment but have not received a response at the time of publication. 4 for Kevin Harvick commented, Saw this picture yesterday of them tearing down Concord Speedway. The CARS Tour did not return following a race in 2017. Quote Tweet. At the tie, no walls surrounded the speedway. Over its 19 year history at the track, there have been a total of 14 different Cup Series winners. The Chicagoland Speedway is a 1.5 miles tri-oval speedway which has 18 degrees banking in the turns and is located in Joliet, Illinois just southwest of Chicago. Problems with the hard surface led to several scratches by trainers and races being cancelled. The Speedway, a 1.5-mile oval, held its first Cup series race on July 15, 2001. View photos of the Concord Speedway construction below. International Speedway Corporation was purchased by NASCAR and merged in October of last year. The track was first established in 1939 and has been home to some of the sports biggest moments. The panel at the time tabled until July 16 consideration of a request to subdivide part of the track property to allow industrial development. In addition to running the blog, he is also a talented writer and photographer, with a particular talent for capturing the excitement of motorsports. NASCAR still is in Chicagoland, but it appears as if Chicagoland is not as thrilled as it used to be about NASCAR, Forbes said. But are we ready to say RIP Chicagoland Speedway? So many memories there. The NASCAR Cup Series changed up its schedule a bit this year, so instead of the Chicagoland Speedway race being the first of the 10-race playoffs in the fall, it's this weekend just shy of the . 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. RELATED:NASCAR to allow limited number of fans at upcoming races in Florida and Alabama. 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. As NASCAR returns to competition on Sunday, May 17 at Darlington Raceway (Darlington), Chicagoland Speedway's (Chicagoland) NASCAR Cup Series weekend has officially been canceled as part of the revised NASCAR schedule. 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The Magnificent Mile And A Half: Chicago's Home For Stock Car Racing. I'm just here for the ride. This year marks the 69th anniversary of Chicagoland Speedwaya track located in Chicago's Joliet area. Last weeks announcement that NASCAR was canceling this years race weekend at Chicagoland Speedway might also have contributed to doubt about the tracks future. On Tuesday, the Sports Business Journal broke the news on Twitter that Joliet's Chicagoland Speedway is being stripped . These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. However, the 1/4-mile track welcomed Legends machines on a weekly basis. Chicagoland Speedway has confirmed it will not host a NASCAR race in 2021. The good news for fans is that the new owners have vowed to keep the infield untouched, preserving the classic look of the place. News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday, By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. Talladega Superspeedway may not see the same level of action or excitement as its older counterparts. All of our fans have exhibited a tremendous amount of allegiance and patience over the past year, during which time we all have experienced significant challenges. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 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. They may not even know what a track is. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. we have road America just up the road, said NASCAR Vice President of Racing Development Ben Kennedy. 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. In the beginning, it was a dirt track. NASCAR, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, also pulled its Joliet NASCAR event from this year's schedule. The entire process is set to take around six months to complete. NASCAR and many other businesses that rely on crowds may be facing their toughest year of business. Chicagoland Was Originally on Another Schedule. That speedway contributed to the rapid growth of the county. 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. 17 - Atlanta Motor Speedway (Night) Race 18 - Sunday, Jun. 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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. 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 . I dont know, but I think it is not all doom and gloom. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. , Its a story that made headlines around the world: in 2019, motorsport mogul Roger Penske purchased the legendary Indianapolis Speedway for an undisclosed sum. Race 20 - Saturday . WJOL's story on the NASCAR shakeup that puts Joliet in bad shape can be read here. This new Daytona is expected to open in July 2022. It was on the originally published 2020 schedule but was moved to Darlington Raceway due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. Enjoy motorsports, demolition derbies, Monster Truck rallies, car shows, music, rodeos, and more. Smoke is pouring out of the rear window. The late Henry Lee Furr built the track in 1982. In a video sent via Facebook messenger in July, Ivan* can be seen standing next to his car, an early 2010s model Mitsubishi SUV. The coronavirus pandemic has created uncertainty in many areas. 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.