Race Fan Rally returned to downtown Joliet on Thursday, attracting visitors as far away as Ohio and Colorado and others close to home.
The event, bringing racing close to the people, was interrupted for seven years with NASCAR’s absence from Chicagoland Speedway.
The return of racing to the Joliet track this weekend brought back Race Fan Rally, too.
“We know we have people coming in from all over the country,” Mayor Terry D’Arcy said as he greeted people at Race Fan Rally. “It’s an exciting weekend, and we’re all looking forward to it.”
Jill Prindle of Bolingbrook was at the last Race Fan Rally in 2019 and missed NASCAR when it stopped racing in Joliet.
“It was really cool to have a race locally,” she said.
“I’m a car person,” Prinde said, adding she enjoyed being among racing fans, classic cars on display, and the other attractions that are part of Race Fan Rally.
[ Photos: Joliet Race Fan Rally 2026 ]
Vince Gutierrez of Frankfort took photos of family and friends in front of a souped-up Chevy Bel Air dragster.
“I have a daughter who has Down syndrome,” Gutierrez said. “She plays with race cars every day. We’re here so she can see real race cars. She loves it.”
Another big attraction was retired NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace, who started his 900th race at Chicagoland Speedway.
Jim St. Clair and his family came from Brighton, Colorado for NASCAR weekend in part to spend time with Wallace.
“When we saw he was coming here, we said, ‘We got to go,’” St. Clair said. “He takes all the time in the world with fans.”
Originally from the Chicago area and a one-time regular at the Joliet track, St. Clair also wanted to see racing return to Chicagoland Speedway.
Wallace talking with the fans who lined up to spend time with them could be heard agreeing that it was good to have racing back at Chicagoland Speedway.
“It’s always a good race track,” he said to one fan. “I don’t know why the hell NASCAR left here.”
Among those in line to meet Wallace was Theodore Hale of Dayton, Ohio., who stopped in Joliet during an Amtrak train vacation on his way back home.
“I have extra time until my train leaves,” Hale said. “I heard that NASCAR was in town.”
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