Information
Landmark: Chicagoland SpeedwayCity: Joliet
Country: USA Illinois
Continent: North America
Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet, USA Illinois, North America
Overview
About 30 miles southwest of downtown Chicago, in Joliet, Illinois, the Chicagoland Speedway buzzes with engines as one of the region’s premier motorsports venues.Opened in 2001, it quickly became a go‑to track for NASCAR and IndyCar, celebrated for sleek, modern facilities, blistering speeds, and its big presence in American motorsports.Chicagoland Speedway’s 1.5‑mile (2.41 km) D‑shaped tri‑oval was built for fierce, high‑speed battles, with sweeping turns that keep engines roaring and fans on edge.The track’s laid out with four tight turns, each banked at 18 degrees, letting cars roar through the corners without losing speed.The frontstretch-the main straightaway-tilts up at an 11-degree bank, like a long ramp under the sun.The backstretch slopes gently at just five degrees, like a subtle tilt you barely feel under your feet.The track’s smooth surface invites tight battles and offers several racing lines, letting drivers slip past each other and chase thrilling, wheel-to-wheel finishes.Built with modern safety features and top-tier infrastructure, the track meets the strict standards for elite racing-whether it’s the roar of NASCAR Cup cars, the speed of Xfinity, or the grit of the Truck Series.The speedway seats around 47,000 fans, with grandstands soaring 15 stories high so you can see every curve of the track, right down to the shimmer of heat on the asphalt.The complex spans about 930 acres, with a broad infield that holds media centers, medical stations, team garages, and rows of RVs tucked side by side.More than 500 acres of free parking can hold over 30,000 cars, making it easy for fans to roll in and find a spot without the long hunt.The venue packs in modern perks-concession stands with sizzling hotdogs, sleek hospitality suites, and buzzing fan zones-that make race day feel electric.Since opening, Chicagoland Speedway quickly became a must-stop on the NASCAR circuit, hosting the roar and dust of the Camping World 400 from 2001 through 2019.Often kicking off the NASCAR playoffs, this race carried major weight in the championship season-fans could feel the tension in the roar of the engines.During that stretch, the NASCAR Xfinity Series held the Chicagoland 300 at the track every year, engines roaring under the summer sun.The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rolled into town for the Camping World 225, engines rumbling through the warm night air.From 2001 to 2010, the IndyCar Series ran the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 at the speedway, engines roaring under the grandstand lights.At Chicagoland, IndyCar delivered some of the tightest, heart-pounding finishes the series has ever seen-cars crossing the line with barely a blur between them.One of IndyCar’s most unforgettable moments unfolded at Chicagoland Speedway during the 2002 Peak Antifreeze Indy 300, as engines roared and the crowd buzzed under the late-summer sun.Sam Hornish Jr.crossed the line ahead by a razor-thin 0.0024 seconds-the closest finish in IndyCar history.Throughout NASCAR’s history, the speedway has hosted some big moments-like Kevin Harvick’s first victory at the 2002 Tropicana 400, when the crowd roared loud enough to rattle the grandstands.International Speedway Corporation built and ran Chicagoland Speedway, but after merging with ISC in 2019, NASCAR added the track-its grandstands still smelling faintly of hot asphalt-to its portfolio.NASCAR owns and runs the track, keeping money flowing in and locking it into the national racing schedule.You’ll find it at 500 Speedway Boulevard in Joliet, Illinois 60433-right where the faint smell of gasoline drifts from the track.Fans from Chicago and nearby towns can reach the speedway easily-it sits just outside Joliet, right off Interstate 55 and other main highways.There’s plenty of parking and space for tailgating, so fans flock here not just for the roar of the races but for cookouts, music, and lively gatherings.Though it’s best known for racing, Chicagoland Speedway sometimes switches gears, welcoming driving experiences, car expos, and local gatherings where you might catch the smell of fresh popcorn drifting from a nearby stand.With wide, airy rooms and well-equipped facilities, it works as a venue for almost anything.For more than twenty years, Chicagoland Speedway has anchored American auto racing, its sleek grandstands and roaring track earning a place as one of the sport’s premier venues.With its quick 1.5-mile tri-oval, sleek modern facilities, and a history packed with thrilling finishes, it’s a place drivers love and fans flock to.With easy access, plenty of seats, and the roar of engines echoing through the stands, the speedway has become a go-to spot for motorsports fans from Chicago and far beyond.
