Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
World Wide Technology Raceway
Get ready to wave the green flag, St. Louis.
When NASCAR officially announced its 2022 Cup Series schedule this week, a new venue appeared on the docket: World Wide Technology Raceway. The 1.25-mile oval in Madison, Ill. will host a NASCAR Cup Series race for the first time next year when the nation’s premier stock car racing series makes a stop at the track for a yet-to-be-named event on Sunday, June 5, 2022.
World Wide Technology Raceway has previously hosted events on NASCAR’s Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series circuits, but next year will mark its first appearance on the Cup Series schedule. The Cup Series is watched by millions of fans each week, and track officials tout a study by Maryville University’s Rawlings Sports Business Management Department that projects the St. Louis race to have at least a $60 million economic impact on the region.
In a release, raceway owner Curtis Francois says landing a Cup Series race for St. Louis is on the same level as hosting an all-star game, Stanley Cup Final, and World Series. “I set some ambitious goals when I took over the racetrack and to see them come to fruition is a dream come true,” Francois says. “Thanks to the hard work of our team, corporate partners such as Dave Steward and World Wide Technology, and sponsors like Bommarito Automotive Group, I am proud to welcome the NASCAR Cup Series to the St. Louis region. I can’t wait to celebrate this incredible victory with our fans.”
In his decade of stewardship, Francois has overseen a number of renovations to turn the track into a major racing destination. The overhauls have included a repaved oval, a remapped road course, and a new grandstand, among other changes. Track officials say hosting NASCAR’s top series will make WWTR the only raceway in the country to play host to the premier series of North America’s three leading racing organizations: NASCAR, IndyCar, and NHRA.
In a release, driver Christopher Bell, who pilots the No. 20 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing and previously competed at WWTR in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, says he expects the layout of the raceway to make for an interesting competition for both drivers and fans. “This track is super difficult,” Bell says. “The long straights make you pay the price if you miss a corner, and both corners require different strategies, approaches and braking techniques.”
