Gateway Motorsports Park Explained
| World Wide Technology Raceway |
| Nicknames: | "WWT Raceway"
"Gateway" |
| Time: | UTC-6 (UTC-5 DST) |
| Location: | 700 Raceway Blvd,
Madison, Illinois, 62060 |
| Capacity: | 57,000 |
| Owner: | Curtis Francois (September 2011–present)
Dover Motorsports (1998–November 2010)
Chris Pook (1994–1998)
Jody Trover (1985–1994) |
| Broke Ground: | 1967 (former dragstrip)
1985 (former road course)
1995–1996 (oval / dragstrip)
2013 (kartplex) |
| Opened: | As a road course:
As oval: |
| Former Names: | St. Louis International Raceway (1967–1988)
Gateway International Raceway (1988–2011)
Gateway Motorsports Park (2012–2018) |
| Events: | Current:
NASCAR Cup Series
Enjoy Illinois 300 (2022–present)
IndyCar Series
Bommarito Automotive Group 500 (2001–2003, 2017–present)
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Toyota 200 presented by CK Power (1998–2010, 2014–present)
Trans-Am Series (1985, 2023–present)
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series
NHRA Midwest Nationals (1997–2010, 2012–present)
Former:
NASCAR Xfinity Series
5-Hour Energy 250 (1997–2010)
ARCA Menards Series
Dutch Boy 150 (1986, 1997, 2001, 2004–2007, 2018–2020)
Monaco Cocktails Gateway Classic 125 (2018–2019)
AMA Superbike Championship (1995)
Can-Am (1985–1986) |
| Miles First: | True |
| Layout1: | Oval (1997–present) |
| Surface: | Asphalt |
| Length Km: | 2.012 |
| Length Mi: | 1.250 |
| Turns: | 4 |
| Banking: | Turn 1 & 2: 11°
Turn 3 & 4: 9° |
| Record Time: | 0:24.6317 |
| Record Driver: |  Josef Newgarden |
| Record Car: | Dallara DW12 |
| Record Year: | 2017 |
| Record Class: | IndyCar |
| Layout2: | Infield Road Course 1 (1997–present) |
| Surface2: | Asphalt |
| Length Km2: | 2.575 |
| Length Mi2: | 1.600 |
| Turns2: | 10 |
| Record Time2: | 0:58.729 |
| Record Driver2: | Chris Dyson |
| Record Car2: | Ford Mustang Trans-Am |
| Record Year2: | 2023 |
| Record Class2: | TA1 |
| Layout3: | Infield Road Course 2 (2019–present) |
| Surface3: | Asphalt |
| Length Km3: | 3.219 |
| Length Mi3: | 2.000 |
| Turns3: | 14 |
| Layout4: | Dragway |
| Surface4: | Asphalt |
| Miles First4: | False |
| Length Mi4: | 0.250 |
| Length Km4: | 0.400 |
| Layout5: | Kartplex |
| Surface5: | Asphalt |
| Length Mi5: | 0.55 |
| Turns5: | 11 |
| Layout6: | Original Road Course (1985–1995) |
| Length Km6: | 4.184 |
| Length Mi6: | 2.600 |
| Turns6: | 14 |
| Record Time6: | 1:23.090 |
| Record Driver6: | Bill Tempero |
| Record Car6: | March 84C |
| Record Year6: | 1986 |
| Record Class6: | Can-Am |
Gateway Motorsports Park (now known as World Wide Technology Raceway) is a motorsport racing facility in Madison, Illinois, just east of St. Louis, close to the Gateway Arch. It features a oval that hosts the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the NTT IndyCar Series, a 2miles infield road course used by SpeedTour TransAm, SCCA, and Porsche Club of America, a quarter-mile NHRA-sanctioned drag strip that hosts the annual NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Midwest Nationals event, and the Kartplex, a state-of-the-art karting facility.
The first major event held at the facility was the CART Series on Saturday May 24, 1997, the day before the Indy Racing League's Indianapolis 500. Rather than scheduling a race directly opposite the Indy 500 (as they had done in 1996 with the U.S. 500), CART scheduled Gateway the day before to serve as their Memorial Day weekend open-wheel alternative without direct conflict. For 2000, the race was moved to the fall. In 2001, it was dropped from the CART series schedule, and switched alliances to the Indy Racing League. After mediocre attendance, the event was dropped altogether after 2003. It was later re-added to the schedule for 2017.
In 1998, the then named Gateway International Raceway was purchased by Dover Motorsports, a group that also owned what is now Memphis International Raceway, along with the Nashville Superspeedway and Dover International Speedway. On November 3, 2010, Dover Motorsports closed the facility. On September 8, 2011, the facility was re-opened by local St. Louis real estate developer and former Indy Lights driver Curtis Francois and renamed Gateway Motorsports Park, saving the facility days before being scrapped. Under its new leadership, World Wide Technology Raceway went from the brink of demolition to one of the very few tracks in the United States to host the NASCAR Cup Series, NTT IndyCar Series, and NHRA Drag Racing Series all during the same year. The track also hosts Formula Drift, the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the Confluence Music Festival.
Track history
Former tracks
St. Louis International Raceway was built in 1967 as a drag racing facility by Wayne and Ruth Meinert on property originally purchased by David Bergfield.[1] Initially conceived as a drag strip, the track was extended to a full in 1971. Having been developed on dormant swampland that was long ago buried by the Mississippi River, the track soon adapted the nickname of "The Swamp".
Throughout the 1970s, the raceway primarily held regional drag racing events. However, entering the early 1980s, the interest of adding a road racing circuit to the grounds began to mount, and in 1985 a road course was constructed by then-owner Jody Trover, featuring 2.6miles and 1.01miles configurations.[2] The asphalt circuit had a 30feet track width, 55 pit boxes within the 880feet pit lane, and could officially hold 52,000 spectators. Parts of the existing drag strip were incorporated into the road course build. Coming into Turn 4 was a slight left-hander onto the drag strip's shutdown portion, and after snaking around the back half of the dragway, Turn 12 turned left onto the drag strip back towards the starting line to complete the lap. The course would welcome ARCA, IMSA, and the Trans-Am Series in its inaugural year.[3]
Also in 1985, a quarter midget dirt track was established at the back right corner of the property when pulling into the facility.[4]
In 1994, Chris Pook, promoter of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, acquired the facility for $21.5 million. The existing tracks were demolished over the course of 1995–1996 and a new oval speedway and drag strip were constructed at a cost of $25 million.[5]
Current tracks
The 1.25miles oval is a favorite for many fans and racers alike due to the unique shape and different degrees of banking in each corner. The backstretch is confined to run parallel with Illinois Route 203, making Turns 1 & 2 a tighter radius than Turns 3 & 4. Turns 1 & 2 have similar characteristics to New Hampshire Motor Speedway while Turns 3 & 4 are similar to Phoenix Raceway. The track's egg shape mimics the legendary Darlington Raceway and Mobility Resort Motegi race tracks.The infield of the oval track includes a road course that features a 2miles configuration.
Timeline of notable events
- On June 24 and June 25, 1972, Evel Knievel made a stop at the then-named St. Louis International Raceway for two motorcycle jumps. Arriving via his private plane that used the drag strip as a runway, he successfully jumped his Harley-Davidson XR-750 over 10 cars on both days.[6]
- One of the last major events held on the original road course was Round 8 of the AMA Superbike Championship in 1995. Canadian Miguel Duhamel won the class in blistering hot conditions. The near triple-digit heat wave triggered local heat advisories which majorly impacted attendance.[7]
- In 1997, CART, the NASCAR Busch Series, and the NHRA would all be newcomers to the revitalized Gateway International Raceway.
- Before the 1999 racing season, Gateway installed the now-named Wallace Grandstand in turns 1 & 2 of the oval track to increase seating capacity. The grandstand is named in honor of the Wallace family's trio of racing brothers who were born and raised in the St. Louis region—Rusty, Mike, and Kenny.
- Metallica's Summer Sanitarium Tour made a stop at Gateway on July 3, 2000. Other artists featured at the concert were Korn, Kid Rock, Powerman 5000 & System of a Down.
- In early January 2008, it was announced that the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers would move their sponsorship from the NASCAR Craftsman Truck race to the NASCAR Nationwide Series race, and was called the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250. At the 2008 event, Carl Edwards became the fourth driver to win two NASCAR Nationwide Series events at Gateway.
- 2008 marked a big year for the NHRA Midwest Nationals event at Gateway as legendary 16-time Funny Car Champion John Force secured his 1,000th competitive round win by defeating Ron Capps in the first round. Force accomplished the feat on his 59th birthday, making the milestone doubly special.
- The 2008 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Gateway was sponsored by Camping World, becoming the Camping World 200. Coincidentally, the race was won by defending Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. driving the No. 33 Camping World-sponsored truck for Kevin Harvick Inc.
- On the last lap of the July installment of the 2010 Nationwide Series race, during the height of their rivalry, Carl Edwards turned Brad Keselowski coming out of Turn 4 onto the front-stretch to take the checkered flag. Edwards was penalized 60 points and fined $25,000.[8]
- In 2010, Gateway received a second Nationwide Series race due to the closure of Memphis Motorsports Park. The date was the former late fall event at Memphis. This was the last NASCAR event held at Gateway until 2014, as Dover Motorsports announced it would not seek sanctioning for the three events held at the track in 2010. The facility made no announcements concerning any of the other track's events.[9] The former Nashville Superspeedway received Gateway's place on the schedule in July, while the race date for October would still be vacant. The NHRA also did not schedule any races at Gateway for its 2011 season.
- On November 3, 2010, Dover Motorsports announced that Gateway was officially closing and ceasing all racing operations.[10] On September 8, 2011, it was officially announced that Gateway would re-open in 2012 and host the 15th AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals from September 28–30, under the leadership of Curtis Francois.[11] On December 6, 2012, USAC announced that the track would have a USAC Traxxas Silver Crown Series date in 2013 on June 1.[12]
- In February 2013, Francois announced the hiring of Chris Blair as Executive Vice President and General Manager. Furthermore, plans were announced for the addition of a world class karting facility (which opened as the Gateway Kartplex in June 2014), an off-road venue (which opened in May 2015 with a TORC Series event) and a revitalization plan for the track's road course.
- On May 1, 2013, Curtis Francois finalized the purchase of Gateway Motorsports Park, officially making the facility locally owned and operated.
- On October 25, 2013, it was announced that the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series would be returning to Gateway on June 14, 2014 for the first time since 2010.[13] Bubba Wallace won the first NASCAR event under the track's new ownership.
- In October 2016, for the first time since the 2003 season, it was announced that the NTT IndyCar Series would be returning to Gateway on August 26, 2017 for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500. After IndyCar Series teams experienced issues with the surface during a May 2, 2017 open test on the oval, track officials undertook a multimillion-dollar renovation of the racing surface. The repaving project began June 19 and was completed in late July 2017.[14]
- On April 17, 2019, World Wide Technology announced it had acquired naming rights for the track, renaming it to World Wide Technology Raceway.[15]
- On June 26, 2019, a 2miles configuration of the road course was completed that utilizes Turns 1 & 2 of the oval track. This added stretch of track was constructed directly in front of the Wallace Grandstand and its inception was partially created as a new course for Formula Drift and the SpeedTour TransAm Series.
- In late December 2019, WWT Raceway purchased the adjacent Gateway National Golf Links, a 7,178-yard links-style golf course.[16]
- On August 21, 2021, due to the success of the event, it was announced before the green flag of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 that the NTT IndyCar Series would be returning to the track for a renewed five-year contract.[17] The 2021 edition also saw former F1 competitor Romain Grosjean make his first ever career oval track start. His debut attempt would result in a 14th place finish in the Dale Coyne Racing w/ Rick Ware Racing #51 Honda, respectively.
- On September 15, 2021, it was announced WWT Raceway would be added to the NASCAR Cup Series schedule for the very first time for the 2022 season.[18] Five thousand ticket deposits were placed within the first 24 hours of the announcement. The inaugural event was secured into the NASCAR Cup Series schedule for June 5, 2022. On March 14, 2022, the Illinois Office of Tourism was announced as the official sponsor of the event, naming the race the Enjoy Illinois 300.[19] On June 1, 2022, WWT Raceway officially announced a capacity crowd sellout for the event, a first in track history.[20]
- Soon after being awarded a NASCAR Cup Series date for the 2022 season, another $40 million worth of upgrades will be dedicated to the facility. One of the first enhancements was extending the Steel And Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) barriers down a large length of the oval track's backstretch wall. A request by NASCAR, this improvement meant the originally constructed "bump out" fencing down the back straightaway would be replaced with a swing gate, making the backstretch wall continuous. Other upgrades include a complete modernization of the oval track tower's rooftop and suites,[21] addition of infield camping sites, rejuvenated team areas, and remodeling of concession and midway spaces. The projects will occur in phases and are scheduled for completion by early 2025.[22]
- At the conclusion of qualifying for the 2022 edition of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500, Will Power earned his 67th IndyCar pole position, tying him for most all-time with Mario Andretti. Josef Newgarden won the main event for a third time in a row—fourth time overall.
- On April 20, 2023, the Gateway Garage Experience was announced as the latest infield enhancement before the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series event. Directly located in-between the pit road and garage area, the Gateway Garage Experience provides fans an up-close look at teams with their drivers both in preparation and during the race.[23]
- At the conclusion of the 2023 Bommarito Automotive Group 500, Scott Dixon won the race by a 22.2256 second margin of victory, shattering the previous record held by Juan Pablo Montoya with an 11.804 second margin of victory in 2000.
- During round 1 of the 2024 Enjoy Illinois 300 qualifying session on June 1, 2024, Michael McDowell set a new NASCAR Cup Series track record with a 32.318s (139.241 mph) lap time.
Track records
Qualifying and race records
- NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying: Michael McDowell, 32.318s (139.241 mph), June 1, 2024
- NASCAR Cup Series Race: Austin Cindric, 2 h 48 min 3 s (97.965 mph), June 2, 2024
- NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying: Brad Keselowski and Reed Sorenson*, 33.158 s (135.714 mph), July 18, 2009
- NASCAR Xfinity Series Race: Carl Edwards, 2 h 5 min 54 s (119.142 mph), July 29, 2006
- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying: Grant Enfinger, 32.405 s (138.867 mph), 2018
- NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race: Jack Sprague, 1 h 45 min 31 s
- NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Fastest Speed: Brittany Force (Top Fuel, 338.43 mph) October 2, 2022
- SCCA Formula Atlantic Overall: Hans Peter, 53.635, March 29, 2008[24]
- CART Championship Auto Racing Teams Race:
Juan Pablo Montoya, 1 h 55 min 38 s (155.519 mph), September 17, 2000
- IndyCar Single-Lap Record:
Will Power (189.709 mph) August 25, 2017
- IndyCar Two-lap Qualifying Average: Will Power (189.642 mph) August 25, 2017
(*) Keselowski and Sorenson tied for the fastest lap time in qualifying, both setting a new identical track record. By virtue of being higher in owner's points, Keselowski was given the tiebreaker and credited with the pole.
Race lap records
As of May 2024, the fastest official race lap records at World Wide Technology Raceway (formerly St. Louis International Raceway) are listed as:
Race history
NASCAR Cup Series results
See main article: Enjoy Illinois 300.
NTT IndyCar Series results
See main article: Bommarito Automotive Group 500.
NASCAR Xfinity Series results
See main article: 5-Hour Energy 250.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
See main article: Toyota 200.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series results
The 2004 event was marked by tragedy as Top Fuel driver
Darrell Russell was killed in a second round crash. Russell had qualified at the No. 1 position for the second time in his career just the day before. One of the drag strip grandstands is named "The Darrell Russell Stand" in his memory.
Annual events
Current events
Confluence Music Festival
The Confluence Music Festival is an annual multi-day event during the NASCAR Cup Series race weekend, featuring both acclaimed and local artists.
!Year!Headlining Artists| 2022 | Nelly, Old Dominion, Cole Swindell, Jimmie Allen |
| 2023 | Dierks Bentley, Flo Rida, Brothers Osborne, Bailey Zimmerman |
| 2024 | Ludacris, T-Pain, Riley Green, Adam Wainwright, Big & Rich with Gretchen Wilson | |
Other events
During the winter months after the racing season concludes, World Wide Technology Raceway's oval track infield transforms into the WonderLight's drive-through Christmas light display.
Previous events
See also
References
- http://www.midiv.org/PDF/Track_Records/gir.pdf
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Cousins . Scott . 2022-05-21 . World Wide Technology Raceway has long history . 2022-06-02 . Alton Telegraph . en-US.
- Web site: Auto racing 'not a game; it's a business'. Mayes. Warren. May 2, 1985. UPI. 2016-12-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20161225234337/http://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/05/02/Business-TodayNEWLNAuto-racing-not-a-game-its-a-business/1599483854400/. 2016-12-25.
- Web site: SpeedCenter - Gateway 1997 . 2022-03-21 . www.speedcenter.com.
- Web site: World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway . 2022-03-18 . RacingCircuits.info . en.
- Web site: Gateway track may trade white flag for white flag. Gauen. Pat. August 5, 2010. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 2016-12-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20161225234552/http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/pat-gauen/gateway-track-may-trade-white-flag-for-white-flag/article_0e65075c-9316-5a1a-b9f3-19be982dde61.html. 2016-12-25. St. Louis, MO.
- Web site: LivinginPeaceProject . 2012-08-13 . Evel Knievel: 70s Daredevil Icon . 2022-03-28 . The Rongolian Star . en.
- Web site: Archives: St. Louis Scorcher . 2022-05-04 . Cycle News . en-US.
- Web site: Pearce . Al . 2010-07-21 . NASCAR: Edwards and Keselowski penalized for Gateway incidents . 2022-03-17 . Autoweek . en-US.
- Web site: Gateway didn't host races during 2011 season NASCAR Nationwide Series . 2010-07-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101125071735/http://nationwide.nascar.com/nationwide-series/2010/news/headlines/bg/07/28/no.gateway.races.2011 . 2010-11-25 . dead .
- Web site: Dover Motorsports officially shuts down Gateway NASCAR Nationwide Series . 2010-11-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101105163013/http://nationwide.nascar.com/nationwide-series/2010/news/headlines/bg/11/03/gateway-ends-operations/ . 2010-11-05 . dead .
- Web site: Group aims to revive Gateway race track in Madison.
- http://www.usacracing.com/silvercrown_index/news_sc/5853.html 2013 USAC Traxxas Silver Crown schedule
- News: Gluck. Jeff. Trucks will return to Eldora, skip Rockingham in 2014. USA Today. October 25, 2013. October 26, 2013.
- Web site: Gateway's smooth new surface has drivers itching to race.
- Web site: Gateway announces venue naming rights agreement. Racer. April 17, 2019. April 17, 2019.
- Web site: 2020-01-02 . Gateway National Golf Links Purchased By Neighboring Raceway . 2022-06-02 . Club + Resort Business . en-US.
- Web site: Bommarito 500 5-Year Extension . 2021-09-30 . Twitter . en.
- Web site: 2021-09-15. Cup Series is St. Louis-bound with Gateway's debut in 2022 NASCAR. 2021-09-20. Official Site Of NASCAR. en-US.
- Web site: DeBrock . Ron . 2022-03-14 . NASCAR Cup Series named Enjoy Illinois 300 . 2022-03-16 . The Edwardsville Intelligencer . en-US.
- Web site: 2022-06-01 . Thank you race fans: Our inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race is SOLD OUT! . 2022-06-02 . World Wide Technology Raceway . en-US.
- Web site: 2022-03-09 . IMPACT Strategies Begins Hospitality Renovations at World Wide Technology Raceway IMPACT Strategies . 2022-05-03 . www.buildwithimpact.com . en-US.
- Web site: As it revs up for the NASCAR Cup Series, WWT Raceway eyes $40M in renovations . 2022-05-03 . www.bizjournals.com.
- Web site: April 20, 2023 . World Wide Technology Raceway reveals plans for 360° fan immersion infield experience . www.nascar.com.
- Web site: Archived copy . 2009-10-01 . 2011-07-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110727082447/http://www.midiv.org/PDF/Track_Records/gir.pdf . dead .
- Web site: World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway - Racing Circuits . RacingCircuits.info . 30 January 2023.
- Web site: St. Louis - Motorsport Magazine . . 30 January 2023.
- Web site: 2017 St. Louis Indycars - Round 15 . . 26 August 2017 . 30 January 2023.
- Web site: 1997 St. Louis Champ Cars . . 24 May 1997 . 30 January 2023.
- Web site: 2017 St. Louis Indy Lights . . 26 August 2017 . 30 January 2023.
- Web site: 2019 Cooper Tires Indy Pro 2000 Oval Challenge of St Louis - Race Report . 24 August 2019 . 12 May 2024.
- Web site: NASCAR Truck 2018 Gateway Race Fastest Laps . 23 June 2018 . 30 January 2023.
- Web site: 2023 Enjoy Illinois 300 Race Statistics . 4 June 2023 . 8 June 2023.
- Web site: Trans Am at World Wide Technology @ World Wide Technology 9/22/2023 - 9/24/2023 Race Result . 24 September 2023 . 24 September 2023.
- Web site: 2024 Trans Am Championship Presented by Pirelli - CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, presented by Pirelli - WorldWide Technologies Raceway May 10th - 11th - Round 4 - Official Race Results . 11 May 2024 . 12 May 2024.
- Web site: Can-Am St. Louis 1986 . 3 August 1986 . 30 January 2023.
- Web site: Trans-Am St. Louis 1985 . 15 September 1985 . 30 January 2023.
