Other sports and events seem dull in comparison to NASCAR events that are a family-friendly experience, that spans the weekend. At Chicagoland Speedway’s Champions Park outside the front stretch, there are a variety of activities offering fan interaction and fun with the Toyota Racing Activation Area prominently situated at the main entrance. On Saturday, a very enthusiastic Toyota Racing representative shared an in-depth tour of the manufacturer’s display, broken into different sections.
One section is the Toyota Owners Club, a spot for fans to come to cool off, rest a little while they grab a snack and/or refreshment. The ‘key’ element is that if you are a Toyota owner, your car key is your ticket inside.
Next is the Toyota PitPass area which includes Outfitters, a souvenir shop where you will find all your apparel needs to proudly show yourself as a Toyota Racing fan. Also in this section is a variety of Toyota show vehicles where you can learn about the latest technology and advancements from the auto manufacturer and become informed for when you make your next decision on buying a new vehicle.
The PitPass area includes a chance for fans to experience the pit crew perspective with a Virtual Reality Pit Stop. Find out who among your family or friends can change a tire the fastest.
Scheduled throughout the day are driver appearances including the 2018 Cup Series champion, Martin Truex Jr who will visit the display at 10:30 am local time on Sunday while fans can sit inside his No. 78 car of last year’s Cup Champion, Martin Truex Jr. Fans Nancy, Taylor, and Ashley from Chicago Heights, IL identified this as one of their top reasons for being at the track and shared their enthusiasm about getting to meet and interact with their favorite, Toyota Racing Development driver Todd Gilliland on Saturday.
Last is a very unique opportunity every fan will want to experience. The Toyota Thrill Ride gives fans the chance to ride in a Toyota on a closed circuit course with an experienced driver, who expertly displays all the vehicles capabilities from acceleration power to steering and handling, ending with a spectacular braking performance. While waiting in line for the Toyota Thrill Ride, Tony from Carrollton, IL says he came alone for one race last year. But, this year, he’s back at the track for two days of racing along with his son Patrick.
Other fun fan activities in Champion Park include a wakeboarding demo, the Soundtrack Stage for concerts, refreshment stands, a Kid’s Club, the Chicagoland Speedway Fan Pit Stop and NASCAR’s Fanatics store with so many more options from various sponsors to cover the entire spectrum of fan interest.
A point made by Canadian fans Adam from Winnipeg and Eric from Windsor, both with a young child is that it’s just a great atmosphere for the family, to interact with drivers, sponsors, and other race fans. Another point commonly expressed by fans is they found themselves hooked on racing after attending their first race and are sharing their enthusiasm for the sport by bringing friends or family to experience their first race. And so it goes one fan at a time attracting more new fans.
If you haven’t visited Chicagoland Speedway, now is the perfect time to grab a friend and say “Let’s Go Places” and head to the track and take on the Toyota Thrill Ride in Champion’s Park before taking in the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday.