Nascar and Indy Racing League Speed Toward Chicago; Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet Announces Race Schedule, Initial Ticket Program

Business Wire, May 8, 2000

Helton, along with NASCAR Busch Series drivers Andy Santerre and Matt Kenseth, announced that the popular series would run as part of a combined NASCAR Winston Cup/Busch Series weekend with the junior circuit running on July 14, 2001. The NASCAR Busch Series features 32 races on 26 tracks in 20 states and is considered the second most popular race series in the United States. Stars of the series include Adam Petty, Randy LaJoie, Hornaday and Jeff Green. This fastest growing division of NASCAR features modified stock cars with 358 cubic-inch V-8 engines equipped with a four-barrel carburetor and race at more than 195 miles-per-hour. Last year, some 2.3 million fans attended Busch Series races.

"Chicago is our kind of town," said Helton. "We are proud to bring our sport to such an enthusiastic sports market like Chicago. This market has shown tremendous support of our sport with thousands of area fans traveling to NASCAR events across the country, strong television ratings and the many corporations that proudly use our sport to promote their brands."

Helton was joined by NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers Kyle Petty, Jeff Burton, Tony Stewart and Kenny Wallace to announce the long-anticipated NASCAR Winston Cup event. NASCAR Winston Cup is the fastest-growing spectator sport and offers some of the most competitive racing in the world.

The NASCAR Winston Cup race date has been scheduled for July 15, 2001, and is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans to the region.

The NASCAR Winston Cup Series is the number one spectator sport in the country. The series' major races attract larger crowds than the Super Bowl, World Series and the NBA Finals combined. Forty-three drivers race in Ford Taurus, Cheverolet Monte Carlo and Pontiac Grand Prix stock cars, with the Dodge Intrepid R/T joining the competition in 2001. The cars, which have more than 700 horsepower engines, run at speeds of more than 200 miles-per-hour. Last year, NASCAR Winston Cup events attracted more than 6.3 million fans and its television ratings ranked second only to the National Football League.

New Name Symbolizes Entire Region

The soon-to-be-famous racetrack in Joliet was officially named today, as well. As the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, the track name reflects the broad appeal of motorsports events it will host while paying respects to the community it calls home.

"We wanted a name that communicated the excitement of having major league auto racing in Chicago and provided visibility for our hometown," said Chitwood. "The people of Joliet and Will County have welcomed us to their community, and we want to make sure every race fan - whether in the stands or watching on television - knows we are racing in Joliet."

The Chicago region has a population of more than eight million, and Will County, where the track is located, is the fastest growing county in the state of Illinois. More than 230 racing facilities and raceways dot the state, offering one of the strongest networks of race fans in the country.