CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY TO HOST THE FIRST RACE IN THE CHASE 2016

CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY TO HOST THE FIRST RACE IN THE CHASE FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP FOR THE SIXTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN 2016

2016 Chicagoland Speedway NASCAR Race Weekend Set to Expand as Speedway Celebrates 15^th Anniversary

Joliet, Ill. — September 29, 2015 — Chicagoland Speedway today announced that they will once again host the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2016. The September 15-18 weekend will feature all three of NASCAR’s premier series, with the addition of the ARCA Racing Series on Thursday night.

For the sixth consecutive season, Chicagoland Speedway will kick off the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Sept. 15-18, with four consecutive days of action packed racing. As the entire “Chase Week” line up of activities in and around the Chicago area continues to grow year after year, the addition of the ARCA Racing Series on Thursday night under the lights will provide guests an even more action-packed, full week experience. 

The 2016 season will also mark the 15^th Anniversary celebration of Chicagoland Speedway. Plans are underway to deliver an amazing lineup of event content and year-round programming for our fans to enjoy as part of this special celebration. Details will be shared throughout the coming months on events and activities tied to this milestone anniversary event.

Tickets will go on-sale Monday, October 5 for the 2016 Season.  All 2015 ticket purchasers will be receiving their renewal information over the next two weeks.  Renewal customer seats are on-hold and guaranteed if renewed during the renewal period.  Only unsold grandstand seating inventory from 2015, as well as Fan Zone Pit Passes, will be on-sale Oct. 5, with the remaining inventory becoming available after the renewal deadline.

Starting Oct. 5, tickets can be purchased online at www.ChicagolandSpeedway.com, by calling 888-629-RACE, through the Chicagoland Speedway mobile app, or by visiting the Chicagoland Speedway Administrative office Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

For the most current information about Chicagoland Speedway, follow us on Facebook along with Twitter and Instagram @chicagolndspdwy.

The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, Sept. 15-18, will begin on Thursday, Sept. 15 with the ARCA Racing Series followed by American Ethanol E15 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series under the lights on Friday night. On Saturday, Sept. 17, the NASCAR XFINITY Series will hit the track as the precursor to Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series showdown, the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

The complete 2016 NASCAR schedule at Chicagoland Speedway is as follows:

Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Weekend

Thursday, Sept. 15        ARCA Racing Series

Friday, Sept. 16            American Ethanol E15 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Saturday, Sept. 17        NASCAR XFINITY Series

Sunday, Sept. 18          NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Chicago's standalone NXS race expected to move to Pocono:

Chicago's standalone NXS race expected to move to Pocono: There is expected to be at least one significant change in the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule next season. Chicagoland Speedway, which has hosted two Xfinity races since the 2011 season, will lose its standalone event in 2016, multiple sources confirmed to Motorsport.com. Officials with Chicagoland Speedway declined to comment. The standalone event at Chicagoland has typically been held during the summer. The track's second Xfinity race is held during its Sprint Cup Series weekend each September, which kicks off the championship Chase each season. Chicagoland's loss is expected to be Pocono Raceway's gain. Pocono is expected to add an Xfinity race to its compliment of NASCAR events, sources confirmed to Motorsport.com. The track currently hosts a weekend in June which includes Cup and ARCA races. Pocono's August race weekend already includes a Truck race along Cup and ARCA events. There are at least two important benefits for Pocono hosting an Xfinity race. First, the future of the track's IndyCar Series date remains uncertain and the race would serve to add another event to its calendar. Second, new series sponsor Xfinity is owned by Comcast Corp., whose headquarters is located in Philadelphia - less than a two-hour drive from Pocono.(Motorsport)(9-23-2015)

Dover International Speedway prepares to honor Jeff Gordon

Dover International Speedway prepares to honor Jeff Gordon

DOVER, Del. (Sept. 23, 2015) – At the dawn of the new millennium, as NASCAR was watching its national influence grow from country back roads to corporate board rooms, one driver stood alone as the face of the sport.

Through 92 victories, more than 225,000 laps completed, and four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships, Jeff Gordon has served as a shining star for more than two decades, combining raw racing talent with Madison Avenue charm.   

Now, as that era nears its close, Dover International Speedway plans to honor Gordon’s legendary career during activities surrounding the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “AAA 400” on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Gordon, 44, a five-time Dover NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race winner, announced earlier this year that 2015 would be his final full-time season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He is planning to join Fox Sports as an analyst during its 2016 NASCAR broadcasts.

A few special things are planned for Gordon, including a takeover of the 94-foot-tall scoring pylon, thanks to the help of Daktronics, the company that built and installed the pylon.

On Lap 24 of the “AAA 400,” the entire Daktronics scoring pylon will display the No. 24. Gordon has driven the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports in all 788 of his career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, including last September, when he earned his fifth career Dover victory.

Gordon’s connection with Monster Mile fans began early, as Delaware chemical giant DuPont served as the primary sponsor of his No. 24 car for several seasons. The iconic multi-colored paint job on both his Chevrolet and the fire suits of the No. 24 team’s pit crew led to their designation as the “Rainbow Warriors.”

“We still consider him our hometown favorite due to his longtime relationship with Delaware-based DuPont,” said Denis McGlynn, president and CEO of Dover Motorsports, Inc. “He was and is a great champion, and he’s earned every bit of the respect he enjoys today.”

Other events planned to honor Gordon during the upcoming race weekend include:

• On Friday, Oct. 2, track and elected officials will make a special presentation to Gordon during his appearance in the Infield Media Center, in recognition of his contributions to the track and sport.  

• A “Thanks Jeff!” billboard will be displayed at Turn 2 of the Monster Mile.

• The souvenir program and fan guide for the “AAA 400” will prominently feature Gordon on the cover.

In addition to those weekend activities, Gordon is set to be honored in 2016 with a permanent plaque on the Miles the Monster statue behind the frontstretch grandstands in Victory Plaza and a fan event.  The plaque will detail Gordon’s achievements at the Monster Mile, as well as his entire NASCAR career. More information on 2016 plans will be shared during the offseason.

The Oct. 4 “AAA 400” will feature the first eliminations of NASCAR’s 16-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff. Four drivers will be eliminated from title contention following the checkered flag. For more race information, or to purchase tickets, visit DoverSpeedway.com or call 800-441-RACE. You can also keep up with the Monster Mile at Facebook.com/DoverInternationalSpeedway, or on Twitter at @MonsterMile and Instagram at @MonsterMile.

JEFF GORDON CAREER STATISTICS

Birthday: Aug. 4, 1971

Hometown: Vallejo, Calif.

Rookie Year: 1992

Current Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

Sprint Cup Series Championships: 4 (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001)

Daytona 500 wins: 3 (1997, 1999, 2005)

Sprint All-Star Race wins: 3 (1995, 1997, 2001)

Gordon at Dover International Speedway

Starts: 45

Laps completed: 17,989 of 18,909

Laps led: 2,389

Wins: 5

Poles: 4

Average start: 11.9

Top 5 finishes: 18

Top 10 finishes: 26

DNFs: 5

Average finish: 11.4

Gordon’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Career

(through Sept. 20, Chicagoland)

Starts: 788

Laps Completed: 225,833

Laps Led: 24,860

Wins: 92

Poles: 80

Top 5 finishes: 323

Top 10 finishes: 467