Chicagoland 2026, help me do this right

Hawaii808

Hawaii808

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As my name on here says, I've lived in Hawaii for 40+ years. Been a NASCAR fan all this time but have only attended one race, a O'Reilley's race at Vegas in the early 2000's. I'll be in Wisconsin 4th of July week and plan on going to the Chicagoland race. I haven't found many details past a 5pm start time. We'll be driving a couple hours to the race, but want to be there early for ALL the festivities. How early should we arrive? Any thoughts on parking? I know ear protection is a must from my one race. Any and all feedback is appreciated.
 
Hawaii808 said:
As my name on here says, I've lived in Hawaii for 40+ years. Been a NASCAR fan all this time but have only attended one race, a O'Reilley's race at Vegas in the early 2000's. I'll be in Wisconsin 4th of July week and plan on going to the Chicagoland race. I haven't found many details past a 5pm start time. We'll be driving a couple hours to the race, but want to be there early for ALL the festivities. How early should we arrive? Any thoughts on parking? I know ear protection is a must from my one race. Any and all feedback is appreciated.
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I think @Jorge De Guzman would be the best help here.

Also, you attended a Busch Series race if it was the early 2000s. We aren't media or in NASCAR, we ain't gotta call it by it's current name.
 
If you haven't already planned on it, I recommend renting a scanner. Check Racing Electronics web page for information. Do this well in advance to be sure they're not all booked.

racingelectronics.com

Chicagoland Rental

All rentals must be secured in advance online by 7/2/26 at 5:00 p.m. EST. If you are attending multiple races, you can keep your rental and return it at the end of the weekend. With a scanner from Racing Electronics you can listen to uncensored audio between your favorite driver and their team...
racingelectronics.com racingelectronics.com
 
Tailgating starts early. We were drinking Bloody Marys in the parking lot by 8 AM. Parking was free and lots of it. I enjoyed the two years I went but have no desire to do it again. First year Tony wrecked Gordon for the win and the second year MY driver won on fuel mileage Dale Jr.
 
I've been at tracks at 8:00 am for 5:00 pm races and never had a problem finding ways to fill the day. Taking a folding table and chairs, and a deck of cards or a board game.
 
Blaze said:
I think @Jorge De Guzman would be the best help here.

Also, you attended a Busch Series race if it was the early 2000s. We aren't media or in NASCAR, we ain't gotta call it by it's current name.
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Okay a few things.

IMG_0144.jpeg

We parked there at the track. Schweitzer road had easy access to get in and easier to get out. Try to stay away from Laraway, it’s essentially the “front door of the track” as traffic is flowed to route 53 and into the main parking areas. Don’t go all the way to the main gates,it’s tough to get in and out there, think of it as parking at the exit of turn 2. We literally have stayed till the end of the race, sprinted back to our parking in turn 2 and beat most everybody out using Schweitzer.

Second, tailgating. We did it all there, we got there as early as parking lots opened and spent the day there grilling. We also have gotten there with only like 1hr till green. It really depends on what your mood is. Parking WAS free so we’ll see if that changes with the speedways return.

Third, if you do decide to spend the bulk of the day there, get pit passes. It’s a cool way to see teams set up for the race, see drivers go to the drivers meeting and see media do their jobs. It’s great way to spend pre race especially if you have kids with you. We always got pit passes and would exit the tail gate with about 1hr 45 before green flag to experience the pits. It’s about a 20 min walk. The entrance into pit road is also very user friendly at Chicagoland as its a spacious tunnel and easy to navigate.

Fourth, do not use 80 when you’re driving in. Get off at the New Lenox exit at 80(there’s also a few bar/grills and chain restaurants that you can eat at on your way bask up to Wisconsin after the race) to take side streets into the track. Navigation on your phone will help with this. 80 traffic is flowed into 53, not good. However if you are getting there early enough, like when parking lots open it could be painless.

Thanks for coming to Chicagoland, it’s a nice facility. Great place to catch a race and there’s no bad seat in the house.
 
Jorge De Guzman said:
Okay a few things.


Third, if you do decide to spend the bulk of the day there, get pit passes. It’s a cool way to see teams set up for the race, see drivers go to the drivers meeting and see media do their jobs. It’s great way to spend pre race especially if you have kids with you. We always got pit passes and would exit the tail gate with about 1hr 45 before green flag to experience the pits. It’s about a 20 min walk. The entrance into pit road is also very user friendly at Chicagoland as its a spacious tunnel and easy to navigate.
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I am curious how do you get a pit pass? I think a long time ago a sponsor we were involved with got us one. I didn't know this was something you can buy.
 
DIDIT said:
I am curious how do you get a pit pass? I think a long time ago a sponsor we were involved with got us one. I didn't know this was something you can buy.
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Just the regular fan pit passes that are sold on the website. They’re not hot
 
Jorge De Guzman said:
Okay a few things.

View attachment 90644
We parked there at the track. Schweitzer road had easy access to get in and easier to get out. Try to stay away from Laraway, it’s essentially the “front door of the track” as traffic is flowed to route 53 and into the main parking areas. Don’t go all the way to the main gates,it’s tough to get in and out there, think of it as parking at the exit of turn 2. We literally have stayed till the end of the race, sprinted back to our parking in turn 2 and beat most everybody out using Schweitzer.

Second, tailgating. We did it all there, we got there as early as parking lots opened and spent the day there grilling. We also have gotten there with only like 1hr till green. It really depends on what your mood is. Parking WAS free so we’ll see if that changes with the speedways return.

Third, if you do decide to spend the bulk of the day there, get pit passes. It’s a cool way to see teams set up for the race, see drivers go to the drivers meeting and see media do their jobs. It’s great way to spend pre race especially if you have kids with you. We always got pit passes and would exit the tail gate with about 1hr 45 before green flag to experience the pits. It’s about a 20 min walk. The entrance into pit road is also very user friendly at Chicagoland as its a spacious tunnel and easy to navigate.

Fourth, do not use 80 when you’re driving in. Get off at the New Lenox exit at 80(there’s also a few bar/grills and chain restaurants that you can eat at on your way bask up to Wisconsin after the race) to take side streets into the track. Navigation on your phone will help with this. 80 traffic is flowed into 53, not good. However if you are getting there early enough, like when parking lots open it could be painless.

Thanks for coming to Chicagoland, it’s a nice facility. Great place to catch a race and there’s no bad seat in the house.
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From my experience going to Chicagoland I'd say @Jorge De Guzman is spot on with his advice.

Not sure where in Wisconsin that you're coming from but if you're using I-294, take it to I-57 South and then to I-80 West.

Do not take I-80 to Illinois-53 as many will but instead, as recommended, look to get off at the New Lenox exit (US 30 West).

When getting off I-80 at US 30, be sure to follow the sign to Joliet, not New Lenox.

From there you'll take the back roads starting with Gougar Road south to Laraway Road West, yeah that Laraway Road.

Take Laraway Road but only to Cherry Hill Road South (if you miss that turn YOU MUST take US 52 South) to Schweitzer Road West.

Schweitzer Road will take you to the parking areas southwest of the track where you enter at what I believe is Gate 3.

I've used this route on numerous occasions and have found the traffic to be moving every time.

btw, I've heard that they might start charging for parking at the track but realistically there's no other practical place to park.

Finally, check out the track website where you'll find all sorts of info.
 
Got a follow up question about ear plugs. Anyone have a go to? My Son and I will be fine with regular plugs, but my girlfriend is very sensitive to loud noises ( yet she’s super excited to experience a race). Any suggestions?
 
Hawaii808 said:
Got a follow up question about ear plugs. Anyone have a go to? My Son and I will be fine with regular plugs, but my girlfriend is very sensitive to loud noises ( yet she’s super excited to experience a race). Any suggestions?
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More hearing protection devices than you can shake a stick at out there. I have three or 4 different kinds and have probably lost that many or more. I don't like wearing any of the styles I have, but I liked hearing better. I would imagine she doesn't want to muss up her hair when the cars are flying by at 180+. She might wear a hat, and the ear protection that goes over the top of the head and covers the ears completely won't work that well with a hat on. They are the most expensive but in most cases the most comfortable. Other styles you stick in your ear canal. Less noticeable, but they will feel funny pressing on the ear canal to hold themselves in. The problem there is that some are larger then others and you have no way of knowing until you buy them. Probably need to clue her in on that. Might remind her of some kind of eye protection if she is going to be down low in the stands or walking close to the track. Larger style sunglasses at least.
 
StandOnIt said:
More hearing protection devices than you can shake a stick at out there. I have three or 4 different kinds and have probably lost that many or more. I don't like wearing any of the styles I have, but I liked hearing better. I would imagine she doesn't want to muss up her hair when the cars are flying by at 180+. She might wear a hat, and the ear protection that goes over the top of the head and covers the ears completely won't work that well with a hat on. They are the most expensive but in most cases the most comfortable. Other styles you stick in your ear canal. Less noticeable, but they will feel funny pressing on the ear canal to hold themselves in. The problem there is that some are larger then others and you have no way of knowing until you buy them. Probably need to clue her in on that. Might remind her of some kind of eye protection if she is going to be down low in the stands or walking close to the track. Larger style sunglasses at least.
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She's a big hat and sunglasses girl...so I'm focusing on the in ear options. That and industrial strength sunscreen, with her complexion she'll go from fair to chestnut in hours.
 
Hawaii808 said:
She's a big hat and sunglasses girl...so I'm focusing on the in ear options. That and industrial strength sunscreen, with her complexion she'll go from fair to chestnut in hours.
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I like the kind that were attached to each other with a cord. Hard to lose, easy to take out and put in. If one fell out it didn't hit the ground because it's attached to the other. I'm starting to sound like an ear plug connoisseur. 😁
 
Blaney is great in the interview as usual.
Blaney said they tried out 9 different left side tires. Kyle said they were going to run the same tires as they have been running. :idunno:
1/3 of the Cup field have never raced at Chicagoland.
Both drivers said the track is bumpy and rough which they liked. The tar strips are higher, bumpy tracks mean more off throttle time and more racing lanes to race in.

 
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