JOLIET, Ill. (March 12, 2019) – Chicagoland Speedway announced today that the inaugural BBQ SmokeDown will take place during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 400 weekend June 27-30, featuring the Winningest Man in BBQ, Hall of Famer and NY Times best-selling author Myron Mixon, BBQ Hall of Famer, author and restaurateur “Dr. BBQ” Ray Lampe and BBQ Hall of Famer, author and restaurateur Chris Lilly as well as Champion BBQ Teams and leading brands like Big Green Egg, Treager Grills, Weber and many more.
BBQ SmokeDown will include a Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioned competition for chicken, ribs, pork and brisket, with additional categories featuring burgers, wings and bacon, assessed by certified judges alongside some favorite personalities of Food Network, BBQ, Chicago media, racing, sports and fans.
“This is literally the perfect pairing, NASCAR and BBQ,” said Chicagoland Speedway President Scott Paddock. “Set to the summer backdrop, this first-ever event has the who-is-who of the BBQ world, and we welcome these culinary geniuses.”
The BBQ SmokeDown at Chicagoland Speedway will also feature interactive BBQ and grilling classes, demos, games and fun for fans as well as activations and experiences highlighting the RowdyDow women in BBQ movement and charity support for Operation BBQ Relief (OBR).
“With the incredible backdrop of race weekend and combining KCBS competition, stars of NASCAR, absolute legends of BBQ and amazing food for a great cause the BBQ SmokeDown will be one of the best events this summer,” said Dane Neal, WGN 720 Radio.
“I can‘t wait for Chicagoland [Speedway], we’ll see who’s got what it takes to win, and I’ll share my new book “BBQ&A” and some of the secrets that made me the winningest man in BBQ,” said BBQ Hall of Famer, best-selling author and star of BBQ Pitmasters Myron Mixon.
“Chicago is my hometown and I love the Bears, Sox, and Chicagoland Speedway,” said BBQ Hall of Famer, Author and Restaurateur Ray Lampe, Dr. BBQ. “I can‘t wait to join in all the fun at this great event that brings great food to the track. The competition will be fierce on the track and on the pits but when the smoke is clear we‘ll be crowning the first ever Smokedown Champ.”
“NASCAR and BBQ go great together, and I’m excited to see old friends, fans, my favorite drivers and enjoy some food, friendly competition and racing at Chicagoland Speedway this summer,” said BBQ World Champion and Hall of Famer Chris Lilly.
BBQ SmokeDown at Chicagoland Speedway will feature:
– KCBS Contest and Additional Categories
– BBQ Star Demonstrations, Classes, Q and A
– Driver Grilling Challenges
– Celebrity Meet and Greet, Book Signings
– Samples, Bites and BBQ from Top Chefs and BBQ Greats!
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]
