NASCAR Illinois Schedule: Practice, Qualifying, Line-Up, Tickets & Where to watch

The Coca-Cola 600 debacle may not be over, but the Cup Series has moved on to the World Wide Technology Raceway for the Enjoy Illinois 300. Heading into the third installment, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano are eager to one-up each other after facing off for overtime finishes in both 2022 and 2023. With Logano and Busch having one win at WWTR each, the 2024 edition could be the ultimate showdown.

But that’s not all. After two years of action-packed racing with overtime finishes, the track commonly known as Gateway Motorsports Park is eager to bring even more fanfare to the table. So with all that said, let’s take a look at all the action and festivities that NASCAR has planned for the Enjoy Illinois 300.

Everything you need to know about NASCAR’s trip to Illinois

On-track action at the World Wide Technology Raceway will begin on Friday at 6:05 EST with Truck Series practice and qualifying on Fox Sports 1. Moving on to Saturday, fans can expect Cup Series practice to begin at 9:30 AM EST, followed by qualifying 45 minutes later.

For the Xfinity Series, this weekend is unique, as the series shall compete at Portland International Raceway instead. As things stand, action for the Xfinity Series race will begin on Saturday, after the Truck Series race.  The Toyota 200 will kick off for 160 laps of Truck Series action at 1:30 PM on Saturday, followed by the Xfinity Series race at 4:30 PM. Moving on to Sunday, the Enjoy Illinois 300 will begin at 3:30 PM, with the weather forecast suggesting a mere 20% chance of rain. All the action can be caught on Fox Sports 1.

Those looking to witness the on-track action unfold from the grandstands can head over to the Speedway’s official ticket partner, MetroTix, and grab themselves tickets beginning at $67 up to $147 for the Checkered Flag pass. Speaking of passes, each Race Admission ticket will include access to the third annual Confluence Music Festival; a concert spread over three days of non-stop tunes.

With Kyle Larson eager to make his comeback, it’s also worth mentioning the most promising contenders for the win at WWTR. According to NBC, Chase Elliott could be a good bet owing to his resurgence at intermediate and short tracks as of late. With models predicting the odds for Elliott to be 15-1, HMS fans could take home a huge payday. But for that, previous WWTR winners, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano will first need to be dealt with.

Denny Hamlin, who just took the lead in the driver standings, could also pose a serious threat to those contending for victory. As the Cup Series nears the playoff territory with each race, this weekend at the World Wide Technology Raceway will be vital for drivers to secure their positions in the future. With that said, it’s safe to say we’re in for a thrilling weekend of racing in Illinois.

However, the on-track action is only half of the entertainment NASCAR has in store for eager fans visiting the speedway.

It’s fan festivities galore in Illinois!

Starting with Friday, NASCAR has planned a Fanfest event at Ballpark Village, that shall run from 11 a.m. to 4 pm local time. Along with appearances from NASCAR drivers, the event is set to consist of several activities. Out of these, the most exciting for petrolheads will be the  ‘Takeover Pit Party’ hosted by American tuning firm, IFO. The car show will feature a stereo competition, a limbo game for lowriders, and even a two-step rev battle between some age-old classics.

Not interested in automotive action other than Oval racing? Fret not, NASCAR has also arranged several musical extravaganzas throughout the weekend. The Confluence Music Festival is set to host sets all through Saturday evening. Ludacris is expected to open the floor with a performance at 5:30 pm followed by Tim Duggar & Friends at 6:30 pm. The musical shenanigans for Saturday will close off with a set from Campground Concert from 8 to 10 pm.

But that’s not all. Sunday will bring even more musical entertainment with Adam Wainwright’s performance at 10:30 AM, followed by T-Pain’s much-awaited concert from 12-1 pm. The regular Fan Zone activities will continue to operate throughout the weekend, with Kenny Wallace also set to host his interactive show with John Roberts on Sunday.

With a small glimpse into everything this weekend has prepared for fans, it’s safe to say that purchasing a ticket will definitely ‘Enjoy’ the Illinois 300.