The Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois announced today, following the release of the revised NHRA Mello Yello Series tour that does not include its national event date, that it will not open in 2020. The track, owned by NASCAR Holdings LLC, issued the following formal statement:
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and extenuating uncertainties regarding the current situation, all NHRA sanctioned drag racing events scheduled for the remainder of 2020 at Route 66 Raceway have been cancelled. This includes the NHRA Nationals, originally slated for July 9-12.
The safety and well-being of our fans, competitors and community is our top priority during these challenging times. As we worked in concert with the promoters, our partners, and the competitors, it became clear that the cancellation of all remaining NHRA sanctioned drag racing events was the most prudent course of action for everyone involved. Concerns of operating in the current environment on the part of other touring event producers played a part in the overall decision as well.
Any paid admission, including but not limited to, grandstand seating, camping and fan hospitality that were purchased in advance on the ticketholders account will be eligible for a refund. Refunds will be processed back to the credit card used on the original order. If tickets were paid using another method of payment, a refund check will be issued and mailed to the ticketholder on file. Refunds could take up to 60 days. Every effort will be made to expedite your refund.
We appreciate the patience and patronage of our loyal fan base, as we have all had to navigate through this difficult period. Route 66 Raceway will continue to support the greater Chicagoland region through use of its facilities, volunteerism, and philanthropic efforts.