route 66 joliet 2025

[mick]

well the scrappers thread is almost dead, so lets move on.
wish this race could somehow have additional importance; extra money, or something. the place is stunning and a shame they run
the event with the bleachers half empty. who'd of ever thought such a well placed venue would struggle with attendance, much less staying open.
always thought this race should be over memorial weekend annually. pump up the event; a summer bookend to the nationals over labor day.
12 categories. pro mod is there and alcohol cars are not. perfect. or vice versa. IMO too many classes messes everything up, unless 4 days, and even then
weather moves in. the double d in st. louis last weekend had cars showing up on monday/tuesday, and didn't leave till sunday.

 

[65 Goatboy]

One of three Nhra tracks I've been to, nice place. The oval track next door lost it's Nascar race due to lack of attendance, not sure if it's even still open.

 

[tb]

One of three Nhra tracks I've been to, nice place. The oval track next door lost it's Nascar race due to lack of attendance, not sure if it's even still open.

It is not open, NASCAR is selling part of the property they say they do not need for warehouses, but not the track itself.

 

[T.Smith]

It is not open, NASCAR is selling part of the property they say they do not need for warehouses, but not the track itself.

That was the original plan. Of course, everyone went ape shit, and said they were selling all the land and already ripping the stands down.

The City of Joliet shut that down because of the complaints from residents about the escalating warehouse traffic. The whole area is now going through a roadway expansion that will last into 2028.

From what I was told, a couple people inquired about purchasing the drag strip. One person from Indy Car world and the other from drag racing. They were told it wasn't for sale, and they weren't sure what they were going to do with it in the future.

There are plenty of other dragstrips to enjoy in the Chicagoland area. Let's enjoy RT66 Raceway while we can.

 

[T.Smith]

well the scrappers thread is almost dead, so lets move on.
wish this race could somehow have additional importance; extra money, or something. the place is stunning and a shame they run
the event with the bleachers half empty. who'd of ever thought such a well placed venue would struggle with attendance, much less staying open.
always thought this race should be over memorial weekend annually. pump up the event; a summer bookend to the nationals over labor day.
12 categories. pro mod is there and alcohol cars are not. perfect. or vice versa. IMO too many classes messes everything up, unless 4 days, and even then
weather moves in. the double d in st. louis last weekend had cars showing up on monday/tuesday, and didn't leave till sunday.

I know NASCAR had a time block on what events can be held at the track leading up to and after the NASCAR street race in downtown Chicago.

The rumor is it started off at 90-days pre & post Chicago street race. NHRA got them down to 45 days. This was 3 years ago. This is the last year for the contract for the Chicago street race. Maybe the NHRA race date will move for 2026.

 

[Gilles]

Haven't been there in quite a while. I remember back in the early 2000's when it was pretty much standing room only the whole weekend. One time, during a monsoon (typical every year there back then) Vigil and Rhonda Hartman let us in their pit area to stay dry. Had some great conversation. Great people Good times.

 

[Under_Pressure]

Yeah, we went for a few years when it was in early June and there would be some wild weather. Always managed to blow over though and they got the show in. Doesn't seem that long ago but just thinking back about the drivers and teams that were there and are now long gone, it was a different world for drag racing in those pre-recession times.

 

[Gilles]

Remember talking to Whit Bazemore there at the time of the Capps debacle. Good stuff

 

[Cliff]

Phx Intl Raceway will run one 2026 NASCAR race and that's it. News said that NASCAR is moving their races to different tracks on a rotating schedule. PIR said they will still have races, just not the big one. Heard that on Ch 3 news this morning.

 

[65 Goatboy]

If I remember correctly Rt. 66 was the first Nhra track with "stadium seating" ? Crazy that Chicago can't support a Nhra, Nascar and Indy car track. Took my brother to his first Nhra race there, he was impressed. Don't remember when the oval track closed but 17 years ago my wife bought me a 180 mph two seat indy car ride for my 50th birthday. Glad I lived to tell the story, holy s**t!

 

[vern]

Tony Stewart was in town last week doing his best to drum up some interest on the news and radio stations. I see ads about the race on social media but not a single billboard on any of the major expressways. And a few people said they are not attending because the track is not open for the entire season. That is kinda of silly.

 

[Under_Pressure]

Speaking of Tony Stewart made me wonder- does Route 66 still have the dirt oval? Looking at the website, it seems they do, but only have things like monster trucks and demolition derbies scheduled. A PPL tractor pull too, which is good, but otherwise not much in the way of actual motorsports. Point is, if the place were for sale, a drag strip-dirt track combo would seem right up Tony's alley these days.

 

[MM]

Speaking of Tony Stewart made me wonder- does Route 66 still have the dirt oval? Looking at the website, it seems they do, but only have things like monster trucks and demolition derbies scheduled. A PPL tractor pull too, which is good, but otherwise not much in the way of actual motorsports. Point is, if the place were for sale, a drag strip-dirt track combo would seem right up Tony's alley these days.

The lease on the dirt oval is held by a separate entity than the dragstrip and the asphalt oval, which is why it has never ceased operations the way the other two did. They had a World of Outlaws race last year, which I was told was pretty well attended, but they aren't returning this year.

 

[vern]

Speaking of Tony Stewart made me wonder- does Route 66 still have the dirt oval? Looking at the website, it seems they do, but only have things like monster trucks and demolition derbies scheduled. A PPL tractor pull too, which is good, but otherwise not much in the way of actual motorsports. Point is, if the place were for sale, a drag strip-dirt track combo would seem right up Tony's alley these days.

My friends family has the lease for the dirt oval. And they have a good spectator turnout for the events. Her staff helps the NHRA when the race is in town.

 

[tb]

Question, is the NHRA renting the drag strip or is it a third party. I think NHRA rented Heartland Park the first time it closed.

 

[T.Smith]

Question, is the NHRA renting the drag strip or is it a third party. I think NHRA rented Heartland Park the first time it closed.

I was told NHRA is renting it.

The Hot Rod Power Tour is there two weeks later.

 

[T.Smith]

Just a heads-up to those of you coming to the RT66 Nationals. There is highway expansion construction going on I80 East & West. From Minooka through Joliet to New Lenox. I work across the street from the track and it can be a pain in the ass sometimes. More so Monday through Friday as a lot of the locals are off work on Saturday & Sunday.

Rt66 Raceway - Map & Directions

 

[aakar]

Just a heads-up to those of you coming to the RT66 Nationals. There is highway expansion construction going on I80 East & West. From Minooka through Joliet to New Lenox. I work across the street from the track and it can be a pain in the ass sometimes. More so Monday through Friday as a lot of the locals are off work on Saturday & Sunday.

Rt66 Raceway - Map & Directions

Tony, Mike, Zizzos and crew- Good luck next weekend