NASCAR travels to the "Windy City" area this weekend for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series USG Sheetrock 400. This time of the year baseball rules the area and NASCAR fans can get in on the action as well. Fans that will be in the Joliet area on Thursday, July 12 can enjoy a night at the ballpark, as they have the opportunity to attend the fourth annual "Racin' the Bases" Celebrity Softball Challenge. The event will take place at Silver Cross Field, home to the Joliet JackHammers. The game itself is just one part of a meaningful charity event to benefit the Victory Junction Gang Camp. The "Racin' the Bases" event has helped to raise more than $150,000 during its previous three years to support the Victory Junction Gang Camp.
Festivities kick off with an autograph session from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with the softball game beginning at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased for $10 for general admission or $15 for reserved seating. In addition to the game, fans will have the opportunity to bid on autographed memorabilia near the main entrance. A few of the celebrities scheduled to appear are Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, Brian Vickers, J.J. Yeley, Tony Raines, and former Chicago Bulls teammates, Will Purdue and Bill Wennington.
At the track, fans will see a difference in the appearance of the Chicagoland Speedway. The track has not only changed the name of its Expo Village to Champions' Park, but it has given the 14.5-acre area a $1.5-million facelift. The interactive area, located outside the front stretch, houses championship plaques honoring champions from the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and the IndyCar Series. Current Nextel Cup Series points leader, Jeff Gordon, will be present in Champions' Park at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 13 to unveil a new monument highlighting his victory in 2006 at the Chicagoland Speedway. The victory was his first at the speedway and also the 75th overall of his career.
As is customary at most Nextel Cup events, a special guest will serve as the grand marshal for this weekend's Cup race. The special guest this weekend will be Chicago Bears head football coach, Lovie Smith. Smith, the 2005 Associated Press NFL Head Coach of the Year, accomplished a mighty feat by leading his Bears team to the Super Bowl last year. He'll have a slightly easier task this weekend to give the command for drivers to start their engines and help kick off the USG Sheetrock 400.
Chicagoland Speedway is teaming up with Miller Lite for another event in the Miller Lite Rock 'N Racing concert series. This weekend country music stars Montgomery Gentry will be headlining the show. Montgomery Gentry will be performing at the Miller Lite Oasis stage immediately following the USG FIBEROCK 100 USAC Silver Crown Series race on Friday, July 13. Admission into the concert is free with the purchase of a USG Pole Day ticket, which is also good to watch all on-track activities on Friday.
Chicagoland Speedway Quick Facts
- Chicago Lap Record: Jimmie Johnson (28.701 seconds and 188.147 mph), July 8, 2005
- Chicago Race Record: Kevin Harvick (2 hrs., 55 min., 37 sec/136.832 mph), July 14, 2002
- 2006 Nextel Cup Winner: Jeff Gordon
- Total Purse: $6,056,938
