JOLIET – As Route 66 Raceway prepares for its 20th anniversary season, the 2018 schedule has been announced.
The schedule is filled with exhilarating content, including long-standing favorites such as the NHRA Route 66 Nationals, the Burndown at Sundown and the Route 66 Classic. The Dirt Oval at Route 66 also will provide a lineup of events ensuring that fans of all forms of racing are entertained and engaged.
“To commemorate Route 66 Raceway’s 20th anniversary season, we will expand on the success we witnessed in 2017, which was marked by ideal summer weather, exciting racing action and new and improved fan components,” said Scott Paddock, president of Route 66 Raceway.
The season opens April 14 with the first of a season-long Race Your Ride schedule of events presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts. Everyone has the opportunity to enter the stadium and put their vehicle to the ultimate test during these events. Then on April 22, local racers from all different backgrounds, and with varying types of vehicles, will compete during the Rockett Brand Racing Fuel ET Bracket Series races. The Junior Drag Racing League, which features the stars of tomorrow, makes its first appearance June 9.
The two award programs offered in 2017 for the Rockett Brand Racing Fuel ET Bracket Series will return this season. Racers are eligible to win prizes presented by Hollywood Casino Joliet with the Lucky Light and Perfect Pass challenges.
Posting a perfect reaction time or “Lucky Light” during eliminations for all Rockett Brand Racing Fuel ET Bracket Series Races (high school and juniors not included) will earn racers a $50 gift card redeemable at Hollywood Casino Joliet and can be used at Final Cut, Epic Buffet or 99 Hops House. Bracket racers who are able to achieve a reaction time of .000 and run their dial-in to 1,000th of a second also will be rewarded for their “Perfect Pass” with a similar gift certificate for $100.
The Import Face-Off returns
May 6, bringing quarter-mile drag racing, a car, truck and bike show, sound-system contests, burnout contests, DJs, vendors and more. This import event is hailed as one of the most innovative in the U.S..
With a new spot on the Route 66 Raceway calendar, the NHRA Route 66 Nationals begin May 31 with Dialed-In Thursday. Qualifying starts under the lights during Friday Night on Fire before All-Star Saturday strikes
June 2. Fans can witness the world's fastest form of motorsports under both the sun and stars.
Final eliminations will occur on Championship Sunday, June 3. Fans also will have the opportunity to interact with the stars of today as well as those from the NHRA’s storied past as key members of the motorsports community assist in the celebration of the Route 66 anniversary season.
The raceway will welcome the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series on July 13 to 15. The event will showcase the best of six sportsman racing classes, where many of today’s NHRA stars honed their skills. For the eighth consecutive season, Route 66 will present the Four Seasons Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing Burndown at Sundown on Saturday evening under the lights. Included will be a full pyrotechnic show new to this year’s event.
On July 26 to 29, the National Mustang Racers Association (NMRA) and the National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) roll into town for the 13th annual Nitto Tire Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing. This is the only event of its kind where the NMRA and NMCA go head-to-head in a competition for the ultimate bragging rights. In addition, the event features a car show, swap meet and manufacturer’s midway.
Fans were treated to a revamped D'Arcy Buick GMC Route 66 Classic, and 2018 promises to build upon that momentum as the event returns
Aug. 18 to pay homage to the early days of drag racing and hot rod culture.
To close out the season, Route 66 Raceway also will host its 10th annual stand-alone swap meet
Oct. 7. Buyers and sellers from all over the Midwest are invited to exchange items and display their cars in a Show 'n Shine.
In addition to the dragstrip’s schedule, the dirt oval at Route 66 will feature mudslinging events guaranteed to intrigue racing enthusiasts. New to this year’s lineup is the Summer Slash on June 30 featuring 410 Sprint Cars, the Winged All Star Circuit of Champions, and three-time Chicagoland Cup Series race winner Tony Stewart. Team Demo Association, the World of Outlaws Late Models and Sprint Cars and the Chi-Town Showdown all return.
Tickets for events at Route 66 Raceway are on sale and available by visiting www.Route66Raceway.com or by calling 888-629-RACE.