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Gateway Motorsports Park

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 1.250 mi (2.012 km) oval that hosts the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the NTT IndyCar Series, a 2.000 mi (3.219 km) 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

The original road course built in 1985 was demolished by 1996 to make way for the oval track and drag strip used today.

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 0.125 mi (0.201 km) drag strip, the track was extended to a full 0.250 mi (0.402 km) 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 2.600 mi (4.184 km) and 1.010 mi (1.625 km) configurations.[2] The asphalt circuit had a 30 ft (9.1 m) track width, 55 pit boxes within the 880 ft (270 m) 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 0.05 mi (0.080 km) 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

IndyCar 3-wide salute before the start of the 2021 Bommarito Automotive Group 500.
The start of the 2022 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline.

The 1.250 mi (2.012 km) 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.

Five-time WWTR winner Antron Brown during nighttime qualifying at the 2021 NHRA Midwest Nationals.

The infield of the oval track includes a road course that features a 2.000 mi (3.219 km) configuration.

The start of the inaugural Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series race (June 5, 2022).
A sold-out crowd of 57,000 watched Joey Logano win WWTR's inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race. (June 5, 2022)

Timeline of notable events

Track records

Qualifying and race records

(*) 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

NTT IndyCar Series results

NASCAR Xfinity Series results

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results

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

Future events

Former 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.

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.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Cousins, Scott (2022-05-21). "World Wide Technology Raceway has long history". Alton Telegraph. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  2. ^ Mayes, Warren (May 2, 1985). "Auto racing 'not a game; it's a business'". UPI. Archived from the original on 2016-12-25. Retrieved 2016-12-25.
  3. ^ "SpeedCenter - Gateway 1997". www.speedcenter.com. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  4. ^ "World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway". RacingCircuits.info. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  5. ^ a b Gauen, Pat (August 5, 2010). "Gateway track may trade white flag for white flag". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, MO. Archived from the original on 2016-12-25. Retrieved 2016-12-25.
  6. ^ LivinginPeaceProject (2012-08-13). "Evel Knievel: 70s Daredevil Icon". The Rongolian Star. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  7. ^ "Archives: St. Louis Scorcher". Cycle News. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  8. ^ Pearce, Al (2010-07-21). "NASCAR: Edwards and Keselowski penalized for Gateway incidents". Autoweek. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  9. ^ "Gateway didn't host races during 2011 season | NASCAR Nationwide Series". Archived from the original on 2010-11-25. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  10. ^ "Dover Motorsports officially shuts down Gateway | NASCAR Nationwide Series". Archived from the original on 2010-11-05. Retrieved 2010-11-03.
  11. ^ "Group aims to revive Gateway race track in Madison".
  12. ^ 2013 USAC Traxxas Silver Crown schedule
  13. ^ Gluck, Jeff (October 25, 2013). "Trucks will return to Eldora, skip Rockingham in 2014". USA Today. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  14. ^ "Gateway's smooth new surface has drivers itching to race".
  15. ^ "Gateway announces venue naming rights agreement". Racer. April 17, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  16. ^ "Gateway National Golf Links Purchased By Neighboring Raceway". Club + Resort Business. 2020-01-02. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  17. ^ "Bommarito 500 5-Year Extension". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  18. ^ "Cup Series is St. Louis-bound with Gateway's debut in 2022 | NASCAR". Official Site Of NASCAR. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
  19. ^ DeBrock, Ron (2022-03-14). "NASCAR Cup Series named Enjoy Illinois 300". The Edwardsville Intelligencer. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  20. ^ "Thank you race fans: Our inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race is SOLD OUT!". World Wide Technology Raceway. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  21. ^ "IMPACT Strategies Begins Hospitality Renovations at World Wide Technology Raceway | IMPACT Strategies". www.buildwithimpact.com. 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  22. ^ "As it revs up for the NASCAR Cup Series, WWT Raceway eyes $40M in renovations". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  23. ^ "World Wide Technology Raceway reveals plans for 360° fan immersion infield experience". www.nascar.com. April 20, 2023.
  24. ^ Staff, First Alert 4 (2024-08-29). "World Wide Technology Raceway to host first NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race in September 2025". www.firstalert4.com. Retrieved 2024-10-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2009-10-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  26. ^ a b c "World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway - Racing Circuits". RacingCircuits.info. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  27. ^ "St. Louis - Motorsport Magazine". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  28. ^ "2017 St. Louis Indycars - Round 15". Motor Sport Magazine. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  29. ^ "1997 St. Louis Champ Cars". Motor Sport Magazine. 24 May 1997. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  30. ^ "2017 St. Louis Indy Lights". Motor Sport Magazine. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  31. ^ "2019 Cooper Tires Indy Pro 2000 Oval Challenge of St Louis - Race Report" (PDF). 24 August 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  32. ^ "NASCAR Truck 2018 Gateway Race Fastest Laps". 23 June 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  33. ^ "2023 Enjoy Illinois 300 Race Statistics". 4 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  34. ^ "Trans Am at World Wide Technology @ World Wide Technology 9/22/2023 - 9/24/2023 Race Result". 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  35. ^ "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" (PDF). 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  36. ^ "Can-Am St. Louis 1986". 3 August 1986. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  37. ^ "Trans-Am St. Louis 1985". 15 September 1985. Retrieved 30 January 2023.

References

External links