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* Press release…
With less than 100 days until the green flag waves at the start of the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) on June 5, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announce the race’s official name: Enjoy Illinois 300, sponsored by the Illinois Office of Tourism.
“The Enjoy Illinois 300 establishes Illinois’ own World Wide Technology Raceway as the country’s standout track for stock car, open-wheel, and drag racing alike,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I promised to be our state’s best Chief Marketing Officer, and with the return of NASCAR to Illinois, visitors from around the nation have yet another reason to come explore all that Metro East has to offer. This is an incredible opportunity to showcase Illinois and we look forward to welcoming NASCAR fans to our great state.”
The NASCAR Cup Series is enjoyed by millions of viewers across the globe nearly year-round – at the track, on television and through robust digital platforms. These events are credited with delivering millions of dollars annually to host communities. An economic impact study recently completed by The Rawlings Sports Business Management Department at Maryville University projects that this NASCAR Cup Series event will produce at least $60 million in economic impact for the region, attracting more than 83,000 fans.
“As we prepare to host the largest spectator event in the state, we are thrilled to partner with the Illinois Office of Tourism to deliver the best Illinois has to offer,” said Curtis Francois, Owner & CEO of WWTR. “We have worked in close collaboration with officials from the Metro East and St. Louis to create one of the nation’s premier destinations for the motorsports industry and its incredibly passionate fans, and I look forward to hosting them for this historic race weekend.”
“We are excited to partner with WWTR to become the title sponsor for the Enjoy Illinois 300, the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at this track,” said Sylvia I. Garcia, Acting Director of DCEO. “This is an incredible opportunity to drive economic development and tourism in the Metro East region and we look forward to attracting visitors from around the country who will travel to Illinois for race weekend and see all our great state has to offer.”
The week will feature several other events, such as: the World of Outlaws Late Model Series at nearby Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Illinois, on Friday, June 3; the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200 on Saturday, June 4 and conclude with the Enjoy Illinois 300 on Sunday, June 5. There will be live entertainment from local, regional, and national musicians all weekend at WWTR.
Race week will officially kick off on Thursday, June 2 with a NASCAR hauler parade through downtown St. Louis, which will cross the Mississippi River and arrive at the track, officially commencing the start of Cup Series race festivities – bringing together communities in both states to celebrate the arrival of the NASCAR Cup Series drivers and teams.
“From the minute the opportunity came on our radar, Governor Pritzker and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity joined me in making the case to NASCAR that St. Clair County would be the right place for a Cup Series Race” said Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville). “The fact that the race will be called ‘Enjoy Illinois 300’ is a testament to Illinois’ commitment and excellence when it comes to executing large-scale events. I look forward to welcoming tens of thousands of NASCAR fans to the Metro East as they come see everything we have to offer.”
“The more than 250 annual events at WWTR have been a tremendous tourism driver for the state,” said Karla Flannery, Deputy Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism. “As the only racetrack in the U.S. to host the elite series from each of the three major race sanctioning bodies – NASCAR, INDYCAR and NHRA – hundreds of thousands of visitors support this multipurpose venue each year. We are proud to support the continuing economic growth and development at WWTR as it evolves into a vibrant multi-faceted entertainment district.”
Good for them. And good for the region.
* Francois gave Gov. Pritzker a racing helmet during the event and I kept hoping he’d try it on for size, at one point yelling “Put it on, man!” at my computer screen. But alas, he apparently has more sense than Gov. Dukakis…
“You need a crash helmet when you’re governor,” Pritzker said.
Your turn.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:19 pm
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Never get off of the boat…and never (ever) put on the hat.
Comment by Dotnonymous Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:22 pm
If you’re not first, you’re last… or still worth a couple two-tree billion, give or take.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:23 pm
These are way better than masks. I decree that all school children shall wear them next year.
Comment by Franklin Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:25 pm
“… and we look forward to Powerade’s release of Mystic Mountain Blueberry.”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:26 pm
“This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient on the visor, but I do love Fig Newtons.”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:29 pm
“The religious right keeps quoting Psalm 68:21 to me, so I figured I’d have some fun with them.”
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:30 pm
“I’m the Magic Man now”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:31 pm
Hats. If I ever see a hat on a bed in this house, man, like you’ll never see me again. I’m gone.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:32 pm
“And now the matador shall dance with the blind shoemaker.”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:32 pm
Well, let me just quote the late, great Colonel Sanders, who said… ‘I’m too drunk to taste this chicken.’
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:34 pm
“Abracadabra, homes.”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:37 pm
J.B. “Will this thing hold soup?”
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:40 pm
“If I were the kind of governor who wears costumes–which I’m not–this would have gone great with them.”
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:41 pm
If the hat don’t fit, well you know what to do…
Comment by Cheswick Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:42 pm
JB: “And I’d like to add that every NASCAR vehicle that runs on this track will feature video gaming for the driver.”
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:45 pm
I kinda expected Daft Punk to look cooler.
Comment by Henry Francis Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:46 pm
JB: “Well, yes, it IS true my initials stand for Jay Bobby.”
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:47 pm
Francois: You can’t have two number ones.
Pritzker: Yeah, ’cause that would be eleven.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:48 pm
Enjoy Illinois 300. NASCAR’s only all electric race.
Comment by Blue Dog Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:50 pm
“I’d put it on, but I don’t want to get Brylcreem on it.”
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:51 pm
The live action remake of the ‘Goggles Piasano’ episode of The Flintstones looks interesting, but I don’t recall Barney wearing glasses.
Comment by Jocko Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:53 pm
Francois: “Does that mean only 300 people are enjoying Illinois?”
JB: “No, it means Illinois is 300 times more enjoyable than Alabama.”
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:54 pm
JB: “This is WAY cooler than Richard Irvin’s Darth Vader helmet.”
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:56 pm
Sorry, I know Rauner loved costumes and would have put this on, but thank God, I’m not Rauner.
Comment by New Day Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 12:57 pm
NASCAR and climate change the perfect partners.
Comment by Eric Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 1:02 pm
The only thing better is if it were made of Teflon
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 1:34 pm
This will look nice on the shelf next to my mask collection.
Comment by Huh? Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 1:48 pm
For an extra few million you can be a proud sponsor of the 13 car.
Comment by Huh? Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 1:50 pm
WWTR …. walking distance to Milam Landfill.
Comment by Vote Quimby Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 1:51 pm
Henry Francis wins. Lol.
Comment by ChicagoBars Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 1:53 pm
You can use this more than me. I’ve already got HelmetHead.
Comment by PublicServant Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 1:59 pm
Ya got one of these in “husky head?’
Comment by rabble Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 2:04 pm
This helmet is too small.
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 2:11 pm
How much is the sponsorship going to cost taxpayers?
Comment by bmcosti Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 2:18 pm
“Gov. JB Pritzker receives a helmet, and hearty handshake, from track official for sponsoring the Boredom 300…”
Comment by thisjustinagain Monday, Mar 14, 22 @ 3:01 pm
“shake and bake, Cal”
Comment by Eastern Bloc Gulag Tuesday, Mar 15, 22 @ 9:33 am