World Wide Technology Raceway moves into the 10-race NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs next season after producing sellouts and thrilling finishes in the three races since the series arrived in 2022.
The Enjoy Illinois 300 will become the middle race of the opening Round of 16 three-race set and several NASCAR Cup Series drivers are looking forward to the challenges the 1.25-mile oval will present under playoff pressure in front of a packed venue. The 240-lap, 300-mile race is set for Sunday, Sept. 7.
The first two Cup races at World Wide Technology Raceway went into overtime, with Joey Logano (2022) and Kyle Busch (2023) earning their wins by less than .7 of a second. Team Penske provided the drama this season as leader Ryan Blaney ran out of fuel approaching the final lap and teammate Austin Cindric earned the upset victory.
Here’s a look at what Cup Series drivers, including all three previous winners, are saying about the racing at World Wide Technology and its shift into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs next season.
- Team Penske driver Austin Cindric, winner of this season’s Enjoy Illinois 300: “I think it’s really exciting to have World Wide Technology Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs next year. Not only because our team’s performance there over the last couple of seasons, and obviously being a past winner there, but I feel like the track and the promoters have done an awesome job getting the fans out to the track and it’s been well received every year since the Cup Series started visiting the track. It’s definitely a sports town and should be a fun way to get the playoffs started.”
- Richard Childress Racing driver Kyle Busch, 2023 race winner and polesitter, and ’22 runner-up: “It’s great that World Wide Technology Raceway now has a playoff race. I think it’s cool to have a different mix of tracks in the playoffs. NASCAR is looking for what’s best for the sport and I think WWTR fits that perfectly. There’s been a sellout crowd there every year since the first Cup race back in 2022. I think it’s going to be an awesome event and I’m really looking forward to it.”
- Team Penske driver Joey Logano, winner of the inaugural 2022 race:“We’re looking forward to bringing the opening round of the playoffs to WWTR in 2025. It’s a track that we still call a short track because you have to use the brakes so much, but you don’t drive it like a mile-and-a-quarter. You drive it like a short track, which will make this a must-see race on the Cup Series playoffs schedule. The fans have shown up in huge numbers since we started coming here in 2022 and we’ll be looking forward to them bringing more of that same energy next September.”
- Front Row Motorsports driver Michael McDowell, polesitter of this season’s Enjoy Illinois 300: “It’s great to see WWTR earn a spot in the Round of 16 for the 2025 playoffs. This track has truly become a fan favorite, the racing has been exciting, and it was great to win the pole this summer and set the new NASCAR track record. The commitment from (WWTR owner and CEO) Curtis Francois and the entire team to improve every aspect of the track shows they understand what makes a race weekend special. As a driver, I’m looking forward to being a part of such an electric atmosphere and showcasing the intensity of the NASCAR Playoffs to the St. Louis community. It’s a place where the fans, the track and the sport come together to create a fun weekend.”
- Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney, who has a pair of top-six finishes in three WWTR starts: “I was happy three years ago when NASCAR announced we were going to WWTR for a Cup race and to now see that evolve into a date in the playoffs is great. This area and its dedicated fans deserve it and WWTR has always been a place that wants to do something more for its fans. We’ve shown a lot of speed as a company in each of the first three Cup races here, so we have a lot to look forward to next September.”
- Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell, who has a pair of top-10 finishes in three WWTR starts: “There is not a place we go to that has a more electric crowd than WWTR. Every year when the playoffs start you can feel the pressure and intensity increase, and with the energetic crowd at WWTR it’s going to be one of the best atmospheres we see all year.”
- Trackhouse Racing driver Ross Chastain, who finished eighth in the inaugural 2022 event: “The fans in the area have continued to support Cup racing at World Wide Technology Raceway by filling the stands each race weekend. We want to race at tracks where there is strong attendance from our fans and now it will be the second race of the playoffs for the St. Louis market.”
World Wide Technology Raceway’s ticket office is now accepting ticket deposits and renewals for NASCAR weekend packages. For additional information, please visitwww.wwtraceway.com or contact the ticket office at (618) 215-8888.
World Wide Technology Raceway PR
