Race Fan Rally, NASCAR Hauler Parade Return to Downtown Joliet

This year’s Race Fan Rally, the annual kickoff of NASCAR’s Chase Weekend at Joliet’s Chicagoland Speedway, will be Sept. 11 in downtown Joliet.

The event runs from 4 to 10 p.m. on Chicago Street, between Jefferson and Webster streets, and features a mix of live music, food, kids games and activities, classic autos and, of course, NASCAR drivers and their race cars. The Sprint Cup will be on display during the rally at the Rialto Square Theatre.

For the fourth consecutive year, NASCAR and Chicagoland Speedway will team up to bring the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hauler Parade to Downtown Joliet, coinciding with the Race Fan Rally.

More than 30 haulers, from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Jimmie Johnson to Jeff Gordon, will thunder through the streets of Joliet for fans to enjoy as the first race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup returns to Chicagoland Speedway.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series haulers will depart from Route 66 Raceway at 4:45 p.m. to begin the parade. At 5 p.m., the parade will make its way into downtown Joliet, heading north on Route 53. After making a left on Scott Street, the Chicagoland Speedway pace car and fire safety vehicles will lead the parade north, before making a left onto Jackson, and then a left on Ottawa to head south en route to Chicagoland Speedway. To conclude the parade, the 30 haulers will do a lap around Chicagoland Speedway’s Loop Road for all guests in the campground to see. This is a great opportunity to take photos before the haulers head to the infield.

The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, Sept. 12 to 14, will begin with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Lucas Oil 225 race under the lights on Friday night. On Saturday, the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Jimmy John’s Freaky Fast 300 Powered by Coca-Cola will hit the track as the precursor to Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, MyAFibStory.com 400 showdown, this year’s first Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

The first race for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup from Chicagoland Speedway will air live on ESPN at2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 14. The race will also be broadcast on the WatchESPN app, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, with additional coverage on NASCAR.com.

Tickets are still available for the MyAFibStory.com 400 with kids 12 and under receiving $25 off adult ticket prices in each section. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ChicagolandSpeedway.com, by calling 888-629-RACE, through the Chicagoland Speedway mobile app, by visiting the Chicagoland Speedway Administrative office Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or day-of at the box office.

The complete 2014 NASCAR race schedule at Chicagoland Speedway is as follows:

• Friday, Sept. 12: Lucas Oil 225
• Saturday, Sept. 13: Jimmy John’s Freaky Fast 300 Powered by Coca-Cola
• Sunday, Sept. 14: MyAFibStory.com 400