JOLIET, Ill. (February 27, 2019) – Chicagoland Speedway announced today that it will host the inaugural Chicagoland Speedway Pit Bike National during the 2019 NASCAR Summer Festival weekend June 27-30. The race will feature some of the most accomplished motocross and supercross racers, like seven-time AMA National Champion Ryan Villopoto.
The conversation started when Villopoto sent a message via Twitter and Instagram to seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson to get his thoughts on bringing a pit bike race to Chicagoland Speedway during its NASCAR weekend.
Johnson, who has ties with the supercross/motocross community, quickly responded with the suggestion to include some of the sport‘s top racers, like Ricky Carmichael, Chad Reed, Jeremy McGrath and more to enter the race.
Chicagoland Speedway President Scott Paddock followed the conversation and made the decision to green light the race.
“There is strong crossover appeal between NASCAR and motocross,” said Chicagoland Speedway President Scott Paddock. “Our goal is to provide our fans with a truly exhilarating experience during our race weekend and adding compelling content like the Chicagoland Speedway Pit Bike National will certainly deliver upon that objective.”
“My best-retired-guy-ever tour rolls on; this time to Chicagoland Speedway‘s NASCAR weekend,” said Villopoto. “I know Jimmie (Johnson) is a huge motocross fan and figured he would help make some noise, and it certainly did. I will see you guys at the Magnificent Mile and a Half this summer for what is guaranteed to be the biggest party of the summer.”
Competitors will race equally prepared Yamaha TTR 110cc motocross bikes throughout the weekend. The complete schedule and rider entry list will be announced at a later date.
Event organizer Rob Buydos said: “This is an invasion of a legendary supercross/motocross rider at Chicagoland Speedway for the first-ever Pit Bike National. This is unprecedented and we can‘t wait to bring this form of racing to Chicagoland Speedway.”
Stay tuned for additional information as the event begins to take shape and a complete rider line up.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway will take place in June as part of the four-race weekend June 27 — June 30. The weekend will kick off on Thursday, June 27 with the ARCA Racing Series followed by NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Camping World 225 under the lights on Friday night. On Saturday, the NASCAR Xfinity Series Camping World 300 will hit the track as the precursor to Sunday‘s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 400 showdown.
To purchase tickets to any 2019 Chicagoland Speedway event, visit us online at www.ChicagolandSpeedway.com, call 888-629-RACE (7223), download the Chicagoland Speedway mobile app, visit the Chicagoland Speedway Administrative office or stop by the box office on the day of the event.
For the most current information about Chicagoland Speedway, follow us on Facebook along with Twitter and Instagram @chicagolndspdwy.
About Chicagoland Speedway & Route 66 Raceway
Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway — Illinois‘ largest sporting facility — is located in Joliet, Ill., approximately 30 miles south of downtown Chicago on Old Historic Route 66. The multi-purpose sports and entertainment complex annually hosts a broad array of programming encompassing more than 100 events, including major motorsports entertainment, endurance events, musical concerts and festivals, corporate training seminars, industry trade shows, and much more.
Chicagoland Speedway, a 1.5 mile paved oval, hosts racing events of the major U.S. racing series, and currently conducts races in all three NASCAR national series, including the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Along with Route 66 Raceway, a multimillion-dollar complex that includes a ¼ mile stadium-style drag strip and a ½ mile dirt oval track, Chicagoland Speedway is wholly-owned by International Speedway Corporation (ISC), a major promoter of motorsports activities. ISC owns and/or operates 13 of the nation‘s major racing venues, including Daytona International Speedway.
In 2019, Chicagoland Speedway will host NBC‘s first broadcast of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, one of the region‘s leading economic engines attracting a world-wide television audience and more than 125,000 guests from across the U.S. For more information, log onto: https://www.chicagolandspeedway.com and http://www.route66raceway.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Chicagoland Speedway & Route 66 Raceway
Denny Hartwig: (815) 722-4180
[email protected]
Sarah Palya: (815) 722-4166
[email protected]
