Route 66 Raceway to Hold Nitro School

Submitted by the Chicagoland Speedway

As seasoned drag racing fans know, viewing your first 10,000 horsepower pass as a spectator at an NHRA Nationals event is unforgettable. In order to enhance that experience, Route 66 Raceway and the NHRA are debuting “Nitro School in Nitro Alley” for rookie fans, featuring the voice of the NHRA, Alan Reinhart, along with Top Fuel driver and Illinois native, TJ Zizzo

This nitro rookie school is designed to educate first-time fans on what they’re experiencing at the races, from engine teardowns, to the sensations of nitromethane-powered dragsters, to the physical impact of going zero to 320 mph. Reinhart and Zizzo, who will be speaking to fans moments after making qualifying runs, will provide commentary between nitro sessions on both Friday and Saturday, beginning at 3 p.m. each day adjacent to TJ Zizzo’s pit in Nitro Alley.

Once a year, the biggest stars in drag racing roar down the drag strip at the Route 66 Raceway Nationals while reaching speeds of over 300 MPH. The NHRA is world-renowned for the access at its races, where every ticket serves as a pit pass. That means in addition to viewing races from the grandstands, race fans can also stand within feet of the crew chiefs to smell the nitro as they rebuild engines, or get an up-close look at their favorite driver for some autographs.

The Route 66 NHRA Nationals officially kicks off on Thursday, July 9 with Nitro Night in Downtown Joliet. Nitro Night is an exhilarating event that will give you the chance to meet NHRA drivers, enjoy vendors, hot food, live music by Soul Motion, and ice-cold beverages. The event is free of charge, and takes place on Chicago Street in Downtown Joliet from 5 to 10 p.m.

To purchase tickets to the Route 66 NHRA Nationals, visit Route66Raceway.com, call 888-629-RACE, download the Route 66 Raceway mobile app, visit the Route 66 Raceway Administrative office Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or stop by box office the day of the event.

The remaining 2015 schedule at Route 66 Raceway is as follows:

Date Event

July 9-12 Route 66 NHRA Nationals

July 17 Test & Tune/Friday Nights at 66

July 18 Rockett Brand Racing Fuel ET Bracket Series – Race 6

Junior Dragsters – 4

July 24 Test & Tune/Friday Nights at 66

July 30 – Aug 2 10th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing

August 7 Test & Tune/Friday Nights at 66

August 9 Rockett Brand Racing Fuel ET Bracket Series – Race 7

August 15 Route 66 Classic

August 16 Rockett Brand Racing Fuel ET Bracket Series – Race 8

August 21 Test & Tune/Friday Nights at 66

August 22 Junior Dragsters – 5

August 23 Rockett Brand Racing Fuel ET Bracket Series – Race 9

August 28 Test & Tune/Friday Nights at 66

September 11 Test & Tune/Friday Nights at 66

September 25 Test & Tune/Friday Nights at 66

October 4 Route 66 Raceway Swap Meet