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Confetti rains on Kyle Busch and his team after winning the Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
NASCAR president Steve Phelps was all smiles Thursday morning.
Phelps was in St. Louis as part of an announcement that World Wide Technology will keep the naming rights to the 1¼-mile oval in Madison for the next five years.
The global technology company began as a top sponsor of the track in 2019.
Phelps praised the region and its zeal for motor racing. The Enjoy Illinois 300 is scheduled for June 2 as part of a huge weekend in the Metro East.
“The best sports town in the country,” Phelps said of St. Louis. “It’s a special city that you have here.”
This will be the third successive season that NASCAR has come to Madison. Kyle Busch won the race last year. Joey Logano took the checkered flag in 2022.
World Wide Technology Raceway is the home of NASCAR, IndyCar and NHRA events. The Enjoy Illinois 300 has developed into one of the top races in the Midwest. More than 100,000 fans are expected to attend the three-day festivities, which also include the Confluence Music Festival on June 1-2. This year’s concert event will feature 30 bands.
The race has been sold out each of the past two seasons. Just over 57,000 fans watched last year’s race.
WWT Raceway owner and CEO Curtis Francois praised WWT for its commitment to the region. He said the company serves as an integral part of the area’s sports landscape.
“They tirelessly support our mission of improving lives through sports,” Francois said. “No star shines brighter than World Wide Technology.”
Phelps spoke about the recent surge in NASCAR’s popularity. He said the brand has bounced back after several years of “declining” attendance and TV ratings.
“We were in trouble,” Phelps said.
Phelps said the retirements of fan favorites including Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Carl Edwards and Danica Patrick were key in the drop in interest. The pandemic was also a factor.
But Phelps, who spent 14 years working for the NFL, has worked to reverse the trend.
“We’ve become younger and more diverse,” Phelps said. “(Now), NASCAR is definitely sailing in the right direction. We’re a different sport than we were in 2019.”
The Enjoy Illinois 300 has played a part in the resurgence. The race and its other activities help generate an estimated $60 million for the area.
“Thousands of visitors pour into our state as the result of this race,” St. Clair County board chairman Mark Kern said. “As part of the race experience, they see all we have to offer, and many come back to further explore the sights and sounds of Illinois.”
Tickets remain for 240-lap race, which is scheduled to begin around 2:30 p.m. June 2.
Fans from as far away as Montreal descended on Ballpark Village for a party and car hauler parade on Thursday, June 2, 2022. The event was held ahead of the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway on Sunday. Video by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com
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Confetti rains on Kyle Busch and his team after winning the Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
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