The Chicagoland Speedway view is just fine looking back from Turn 1 to the grandstands and Turn 4.
Complete ESPN SportsTravel NASCAR Guide | 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule
Overview
Chicago is the Windy City, and the cars speeding around Chicagoland Speedway make it more so. A 1.5-mile track located west of the big city in Joliet, Ill., Chicagoland is one of the newest tracks in NASCAR.
It hosts one NASCAR race, on July 11, which is the 19th race of the Sprint Cup Series. Because of the track's late arrival on the scene, younger drivers tend to outperform many of the old favorites here, generally speaking.
Drivers like Chicagoland because it allows for a lot of passing and it's very fast for its size. Turn 2 is a bear; crashes tend to occur moreso there as it's where many racers try to make the pass.
Nearby gaming establishments and Chicago's Cubs (they play at Wrigley July 10-12) and White Sox (alas, they are out of town during race week) can offer fans Power Weekend potential.
Address
500 Speedway Blvd.
Joliet, IL 60433
chicagolandspeedway.com
More track news is available through jayski.com.
City Guide: Chicago
Notable Events
USG NASCAR Weekend
Thursday, July 9, 2009
• Pole Day
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying, 7:40 p.m.
Gates open at noon
Friday, July 10, 2009
NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying
• Dollar General 300, 7 p.m.
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Gates open at noon
Saturday, July 11, 2009
• LifeLock.com 400, 7 p.m.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Gates open at noon
Tickets
Ticket office: 888-629-RACE
Online: Buy tickets | Seating chart
Pit passes: Available to Track Pack holders. Call the track ticket office
for additional details.
Fan hospitality: Call the track ticket office for further information.
Special packages: Several different packages available, call the track
ticket office for further information.
Track Specs
Track length: 1.5 miles
Banking: Turns — 18 degrees; tri-oval — 11 degrees;
backstretch — 5 degrees
Frontstretch: 2,400 feet
Backstretch: 1,700 feet
Race length: 400 miles
Grandstand seating capacity: 75,000
Opened: 2001
Carry-In Items
Coolers: Not allowed.
Glass containers: Not allowed.
Alcoholic beverages: Not allowed.
Cameras/binoculars: Allowed.
Souvenirs and Displays
Merchandise: Driver and NASCAR merchandise haulers on-site.
Scanners: Scanners available for rent on-site.
Autographs
Check local newspapers, TV and chicagolandspeedway.com; drivers rarely available on race day.
Pit Area Rules
Shirts: Required. Sleeveless shirts not allowed.
Shoes: Required. Open-toed shoes not allowed.
Shorts/skirts: Not allowed.
Alcoholic beverages: Not allowed.
Camping
Infield RV spots: Sold out for 2009 season.
Speedway Ridge RV spots: Sold out for 2009 season.
Old Spice "Spice Things Up" Campground RV Spots: Available.
Old Spice "Keep You Cool" Campground RV Spots: Available.
Call the track ticket office for further information.
Associated Driving Schools
Richard Petty Driving Experience
800 BE-PETTY
Web site
Getting There
• Southbound:
East on I-80 to Illinois Route 53.
South on Illinois Route 53 to track.
• Northbound:
North on I-55 to North River Road, take exit 241.
East on River Road to Illinois Route 53.
North on Illinois Route 53 to speedway.
• I-80 Eastbound:
Continue east on I-80 to Illinois Route 53.
Drive south on Illinois Route 53 to the speedway.
• I-80 Westbound:
Follow directions on the electronic message boards on I-80 just west of I-355 to exit at either
U.S. Route 30 or Briggs Street.
Proceed southbound to Laraway Road.
Drive west on Laraway to the speedway.
• I-57 Northbound:
Drive north on I-57 to Wilmington-Peotone Road (Exit 327).
Travel west on Wilmington-Peotone Road to U.S. Route 45.
Go north on U.S. Route 45 to U.S. Route 52.
Follow U.S. Route 52 through the Village of Manhattan to Schweitzer Road.
Take Schweitzer Road west to the speedway.
Parking
Free parking: Available.
• Complete ESPN SportsTravel NASCAR Guide
• 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule
