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Chicagoland
Speedway Timeline When the green flag signals the start of the Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway in just eight days, it will signal the culmination of more than two years of efforts to bring NASCAR racing to Joliet. Actually, the story of NASCAR's arrival in the Chicago area pre-dates Joliet's involvement by several years. Before Joliet paved the way for the motorsports complex, investors tried to woo officials in West Chicago, Plano and Kankakee. Here are some highlights of events that led up to the inaugural weekend of NASCAR racing at Chicagoland Speedway: Nov. 10, 1996: A group of investors confirms plans to build a drag racing complex in Jackson Township, near Joliet. January 1997: Motorsports Alliance, a consortium of big-time racing interests that includes Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corp. and International Speedway Corp., breaks off negotiations with the DuPage Airport Authority to lease 722 acres near West Chicago on which to build an Indy- and NASCAR-style racetrack. Feb. 19, 1997: Joliet's city council agrees to annex 773 acres along Illinois 53 and approves plans to build a drag strip and racing oval on 250 acres off Schweitzer Road. July 1997: Plano officials confirm that Motorsports Alliance is interested in buying land east of town and asking the city to consider annexing the property. September 1997: Plano farmers and other landowners sign a covenant promising to not sell their land to racetrack developers. Fall 1997: Supporters and opponents of the Plano proposal stage rallies and circulate petitions, and the issue sparks a series of legal maneuvers by both sides. Spring 1998: Motorsports Alliance confirms it is also considering the possibility of building its motor speedway near Kankakee. May 28, 1998: The $20 million Route 66 Raceway opens with qualifying runs for the National Hot Rod Association's Route 66 Nationals. December 1998: Owners of property ear Route 66 Raceway say they've been approached by developers interested in building a NASCAR and Indy-style speedway. Jan. 2, 1999: Motorsports Alliance announces plans to possibly build its $130 million, 1.5-mile track on 923 acres adjacent to the Route 66 Raceway in Joliet. Jan. 19, 1999: The Joliet City Council unanimously approves plans to develop a track north of the existing drag strip. Motorsports Alliance immediately agrees to drop its petition for annexation of the racetrack site near Plano. Feb. 18, 1999: The Will County Board votes to expand the Des Plaines River Valley Enterprise Zone in order to grant a 10-year tax break to developers of the NASCAR speedway. Later, it would be revealed that Will County Executive Chuck Adelman accepted a personal loan from George Barr, one of the speedway developers. The scandal about the state of Adelman's personal finances would cost him his reelection bid two years later. March 1999: Joliet High School District threatens to bail out of a local enterprise zone in a dispute over the proposed 10-year tax break for the racetrack. A compromise is reached later. May 1999: Raceway Associates, a new venture formed to develop the NASCAR racetrack and operate Route 66 Raceway, closes on its purchase of 930 acres. May 19, 1999: The Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs authorizes expansion of the enterprise zone. August, 1999: Crews begin excavating the site of Chicagoland Speedway. Sept 28. 1999: NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Jarrett and executives Bill France and Tony George attend the ceremonial groundbreaking for the speedway. May 8, 2000: The Joliet track's name, Chicagoland Speedway, is announced during a ceremony at Navy Pier. Also, NASCAR announces that Winston Cup and Busch Series events will be held at the facility in 2001. May 11, 2000: Fans line up for the opportunity to buy preferredseat licenses at the newly named speedway. Summer, 2000: Heavy rains cause flooding of homes near Chicagoland Speedway, due in part to excavation at the speedway site. Aug. 1, 2000: A concert by 'N Sync at Route 66 Raceway causes traffic jams. Many fans don't even make it to the show. To address the problems, speedway officials will spend a year developing a traffic plan for racing events. Oct. 27, 2000: Drivers John Andretti and Scott Sharp take the ceremonial first laps on the newly completed pavement at the 1.5-mile Dshaped oval. The speedway announces six founding corporate sponsors: Pepsi, Gatorade, Motorola, AT&T, Dodge and First Midwest Bank. Dec. 18, 2000: Workers discover that a beam used to support part of the grandstands shifted and fell. Speedway officials say the incident was minor and that track construction remains on schedule. Feb.1, 2001: A worker dies after falling from a skybox suite at Chicagoland Speedway. March 14, 2001: Tropicana announces its four-year deal to sponsor Winston Cup Series races at Chicagoland Speedway, including the inaugural event on July 15. May 3, 2001: Delphi Automotive Systems announces it will sponsor Chicagoland Speedway's first Indy Racing Northern Lights Series event Sept. 2. June 7, 2001: City, county, state and speedway officials unveil the traffic plan that advises motorists to stay on four major routes. June 13, 2001: Hills Bros. signs on as sponsor of the inaugural Busch Series Event. June 23, 2001: Founders PASS ticket-holders attend a "Meet Your Seat Day" as city officials ceremonially cut a ribbon opening the speedway for its first public event. |
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