Photos by Brad Plant
May 18, 2022, ST. LOUIS — World Wide Technology Raceway will serve as promoter of a major dirt racing event at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Illinois, on Friday, June 3. The event, named the #CupTimeSTL Short Track Classic, will feature dirt Late Models, winged Sprint Cars, winged Outlaw Karts and other special classes and will serve as an added feature of WWTR’s inaugural Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series weekend. Several NASCAR drivers are expected to compete in dirt cars at Tri-City, including defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman and Christopher Bell.
“Kevin and Tammy Gundaker at Tri-City Speedway have a beautiful venue. It’s a short drive from our facility, and we have long worked together to cross-promote the sport,” said Chris Blair, WWTR’s Executive Vice President and General Manager. “As soon as we were informed the NASCAR Cup Series was coming to the St. Louis region, we put the wheels in motion to work with the team at Tri-City to showcase the tremendous short-track racing in the area. Fans traveling from across the nation will be a part of our biggest weekend ever. In addition, it provides another convenient opportunity for many of the NASCAR Cup and Truck Series drivers and their families who compete in dirt racing events to race on an incredible track.”
Located just seven miles from WWTR, Tri-City Speedway hosts many of the top traveling Late Model, Sprint Car, Modified and Midget series. The track also boasts one of the strongest weekly racing programs in the nation. Tri-City’s loyal fan base, convenient location to major interstates and well-manicured venue are key parts of the success of racing in the St. Louis region.
“It’s a great privilege to be partners with World Wide Technology Raceway for this historic event,” said Tri-City Speedway owner and promoter Kevin Gundaker, who has operated the Granite City facility with his wife, Tammy, since 2005. “Since Curtis Francois purchased the speedway, his foundation for the facility has been built on including the grassroots racing fan. His decision to promote a dirt race in conjunction with their NASCAR Cup Series weekend is spot on with his mission. It’s going to be a tremendous week of racing in our area, and we all are working together to make the show spectacular. Our fans and our racers are already excited, and the buzz around the area is incredible.”
Tickets for the #CupTimeSTL Short Track Classic will be sold through the WWTRaceway.com ticket office and offered in convenient packages for purchasers of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200 and NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter tickets.
Inaugural NASCAR Cup Series Weekend at WWTR
The Enjoy Illinois 300 Presented By TicketSmarter entries are the stars and cars of the Daytona 500 and will include NASCAR Cup Series champions Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr. The race will be the region’s first look at NASCAR’s new Next Gen cars.
The 240-lap, 300-mile Cup race is scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. Central on June 5. Leading up to the main event will be a NASCAR hauler parade through downtown St. Louis and the Ballpark Village Fan Fest presented by Enterprise on Thursday, Richard Petty Day presented by Bommarito Automotive Group on June 3, the #CupTimeSTL Short Track Classic presented by Ranken Technical College at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Illinois, and the June 4 Toyota 200 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Fans are invited to enjoy the pre-race pageantry and concerts, the Enterprise Infield Fan Zone Experience, the Rumble Before the Roar pre-race party and the new GEICO Campgrounds.
For tickets and additional information, please call (618) 215-8888 or visit WWTRaceway.com. Follow WWTR on social media (@wwtraceway).
2022 WWTR NASCAR WEEKEND FAN SCHEDULE
Tuesday, May 31
4-6 p.m. – Special beer release at Annheuser-Busch Biergarten (1127 Pestalozzi Street, St. Louis).
6:45 p.m. – St. Louis Cardinals racing-themed evening (Busch Stadium, downtown St. Louis).
Wednesday, June 1
Noon-8 p.m. – GEICO Campground open.
Thursday, June 2
Noon-8 p.m. – GEICO Campground open.
4-8 p.m. – WWTR Ballpark Village Fan Fest presented by Enterprise (601 Clark Ave., across from Busch Stadium, downtown St. Louis).
6 p.m. – NASCAR haulers depart WWTR staging lot.
6:30 p.m. – NASCAR hauler parade passes Ballpark Village Fan Fest presented by Enterprise and Busch Stadium.
7 p.m. – Haulers return to WWTR for parking in garage area.
Friday, June 3 – Richard Petty Day presented by Bommarito Automotive Group
6:30 a.m. – Parking lots open.
10 a.m. – Spectator gates, Enterprise Infield Fan Zone Experience and midway open.
Noon – Recommended arrival for best race day experience.
1 p.m. – NASCAR Speediatrics.
2:10 p.m. – Richard Petty Q&A on midway stage.
3:45 p.m. – Richard Petty ribbon-cutting ceremony on start-finish line.
3:50 p.m. – Ceremonial first NASCAR Cup Series car laps by Richard Petty.
4 p.m. – Inaugural NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 practice.
5 p.m. – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200 practice.
5:30 p.m. – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200 qualifying.
6:30 p.m. – WWTR track dog Gateway Stanley’s Paw Party, doggie meet-up for campers.
7 p.m. – NASCAR garages and Infield Fan Experience closed.
7:30 p.m. – #CupTimeSTL Short Track Classic Presented By Ranken Technical College at Tri-City Speedway (5100 Nameoki Road, Granite City, IL) featuring World of Outlaws Late Models, MOWA Sprint Cars and NASCAR drivers in competition.
Saturday, June 4 – NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 qualifying; NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200; music festival
6:30 a.m. – Parking lots open.
7 a.m. – Spectator gates, Enterprise Fan Zone and midway open.
8 a.m. – Recommended arrival time for best race day experience.
10 a.m. – NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 qualifying.
12:30 p.m. – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota 200 (160 laps, 200 miles).
2-4 p.m. – No inbound traffic permitted during this period.
2:30 p.m. – WWTR SpeedFreaks Live!
3 p.m. – Thrills & Throttles presented by Holman Motorcars (featuring St. Louis’ hottest 100 cars). Starts after the conclusion of the Toyota 200.
4-9 p.m. – Saturday Twi-Night Concerts (Turn 1 stage, free with Truck race admission).
Sunday, June 5 – Inaugural NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter
6:30 a.m. – Parking lots open.
7 a.m. – Spectator gates, Enterprise Fan Zone, midway open.
8:30 a.m. – Midway Music Stage opens.
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Rumble Before The Roar pre-race party.
9:30 a.m. – Recommended arrival time for maximum race day experience.
9:30 a.m. – WWTR Race Day Live! with Kenny Wallace (Midway Stage).
10:30 a.m. – Fans’ track walk, concert stage access begins (must have Enterprise Fan Zone and driver intro passes).
2 p.m. – NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 driver introductions.
2:30 p.m. – Inaugural NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter (240 laps, 300 miles).
All fans invited onto the track after the race.
Post-race track walk and scavenger hunt.
Schedule subject to change.
About World Wide Technology Raceway
World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) is the home of NASCAR, INDYCAR, and NHRA racing in the St. Louis region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering more than 600 acres, WWTR is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. WWTR’s facilities include a 1/4-mile drag strip, 1.25-mile superspeedway, recently expanded 2.0-mile road course, the Gateway Kartplex (a state-of-the-art karting facility), and the adjacent Gateway National Golf Links. WWTR and owner Curtis Francois have been recognized with several awards, including: 2021 Comcast Community Champion of the Year; 2021 Jack Buck Award; 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Track Award; 2018 Innovator Award from the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission; 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference; and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from the St. Louis Attractions Association.
Our mission: We are committed to making a difference in our community, while providing first-class entertainment and memories that last a lifetime.
About Tri-City Speedway
Tri-City Speedway is a high-banked, 3/8-mile oval dirt track, located at 5100 Nameoki Road in Granite City, Illinois. For more information, please visit www.tricityspeedway.net or call (618) 931-7836.
