MADISON, Ill. (WAND) - Racing action will heat up at World Wide Technology Raceway in 2025.
The track and NASCAR Cup Series announced Thursday that WWTR's usual spring race is moving next season to Sept. 7. That makes the Madison, Illinois short oval an opening-round playoff host.
The Enjoy Illinois 300 will be the second race of the 10-event Cup Series Playoffs. It is the only Cup event to be contested on a 1.25-mile oval next season. It will be a 240-lap, 300-mile race.
“We can’t thank NASCAR enough for rewarding this tremendous sports market with a race of this magnitude,” World Wide Technology Raceway owner and CEO Curtis Francois said in a statement. “The St. Louis region is accustomed to great playoff event memories with the Blues, Cardinals and other sports teams over the years and now we can finally add NASCAR to that esteemed list. NASCAR selecting us for a prized Cup Series Playoff race is a tribute to all the support, especially from our dedicated fans, that they witnessed the first three years we hosted sold-out races. The continued evolution of World Wide Technology Raceway could not be possible without the unwavering support and commitment from David Steward and his entire family.”
This past June, the Cup Series at WWTR attracted fans from 48 states and 20 countries.
“We are thrilled to extend our partnership with the World Wide Technology Raceway as the title sponsor of the Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series race for the fourth consecutive year,” said Daniel Thomas, deputy director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism. “This event has become a significant platform for Illinois tourism, attracting thousands of NASCAR fans from more than 20 countries and 48 states and generating $60 million in economic impact to Illinois' Metro East region. Now as a playoff race, we expect the Enjoy Illinois 300 to draw even more visitors to discover Southern Illinois’ small businesses, outdoor adventures and iconic attractions.”
“This exciting news is possible only with the vision and energy of Curtis Francois and his team,” said David L. Steward, Founder and Chairman, World Wide Technology. “When Curtis and I discussed the naming rights opportunity in 2019, we had every confidence that we would bring NASCAR Cup Series racing to the Gateway Region and change the future of motorsports. World Wide Technology and the Steward family are blessed to be a partner in making this new world happen.”
The Cup Series is made up of four rounds. Each of the first three rounds consist of three races, the opening Round of 16, Round of 12, Round of 8 and finally the Championship 4 Round. The World Wide Technology Raceway will host the second race in the Round of 16.
Sixteen drivers will qualify for the Cup Series Playoffs through the first 26 regular-season races and compete for the crown in the final ten races. The Playoff races will continue to have full fields, with the other drivers contending for race wins but ineligible to compete for the championship.
Four drivers will be eliminated following each of those rounds. The four remaining will contend for the title in the Championship 4 Round. That final round consists of only the season-ending race and the top finisher among that group being awarded The Bill France Cup as the Cup Series champion.
The Enjoy Illinois 300 race start time and full weekend schedule will be announced at a later date.
WWTR also announced it join the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule starting in 2025. The track will host the national series event on Saturday, Sept. 6 before the Cup race on Sunday.
The announcement signals the return of the Xfinity Series to World Wide Technology Raceway after a 14-year absence. The facility hosted 15 Xfinity Series races from 1997-2010.
The return in 2025 will be a 200-lap, 250-mile event from the second tier of NASCAR's three-level national series.
WWTR said the return to the St. Louis region is welcomed particularly by Xfinity Series veteran driver Justin Allgaier, who was born in Spaulding, Ill., and raised in Riverton. Allgaier is in his 15th season and owns 25 career victories along with ten poles, including one at World Wide Technology Raceway in 2010.
“It’s great to know that we are going back to World Wide Technology Raceway with the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” said Allgaier, a four-time NXS Most Popular Driver. “To be able to race so close to home is incredibly special to not only myself, but to my family, friends and to BRANDT Professional Agriculture. This place is right in our backyards and I can’t wait to get there next year.”
World Wide Technology Raceway’s ticket office is now accepting ticket deposits and renewals for NASCAR weekend packages. For additional information, visit www.wwtraceway.com or contact the ticket office at (618) 215-8888.
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