JOLIET, Ill. (June 12, 2019) – Chicagoland Speedway announced today that nine-time AMA Motocross/Supercross National Champion Ryan Villopoto will serve as the official pace car driver for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 400 on June 30.
“I am stoked about this opportunity to drive the pace car for this year‘s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 400 at Chicagoland Speedway,” said Villopoto. “I‘ve been a longtime fan of NASCAR, and I can‘t wait to take the boys around the track.”
Villopoto entered the NASCAR conversation back in January when he 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. The conversation took off in the social world, bringing Chicagoland Speedway President Scott Paddock to green light the event.
Last week Villopoto spent the afternoon at Chicagoland Speedway with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., getting pointers on navigating the Magnificent Mile and a Half, riding pit bikes and hitting golf balls from the top of the grandstands into the infield.
New to Chicagoland Speedway in 2019 will be the inaugural Pit Bike Nation, featuring motocross legends Ryan Villopoto, Jeff Stanton, Taylor Kinney, Damon Bradshaw Carson Brown, Mike Brown, Gary Semics, Kyle Vance, Willy Browning and a ride or two to be announced shortly.
For the first time ever, watch former professional supercross/motocross racers duke it out on Pit Bikes during the NASCAR Summer Festival Weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.
Access to the Chicagoland Speedway Pit Bike National is included with a NASCAR grandstand ticket. For admission to the Chicagoland Speedway Pit Bike National, fans must have a NASCAR ticket for that day, or a Sunday ticket. Tickets must be presented at the viewing area for admission.
Chicagoland Speedway Pit Bike National Upgrades:
-Saturday ticket package starts at $35, includes preferred viewing
-Sunday ticket package starts $50, includes preferred viewing and an autograph session
-Both packages include a grandstand ticket
Chicagoland Speedway will host the first race of NBC‘s broadcast of the second half of the season at 3:00 p.m. ET.
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 Menards Series Bounty 150 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]
