Oval
★★★★☆
Dirt Oval at Route 66 is an oval racing venue in Joliet, Illinois. Expect short-track oval racing: tight, side-by-side battles around a continuous loop, where a clean line and patience win more races than horsepower alone. It's one of roughly 41 tracks within about 75 miles of Joliet, so a visit can anchor a full weekend of racing in the area. Reach the track at (815) 740-8000 to confirm what's running before you drive out — directions are on the map above. New to this kind of racing? Our guides walk through what to expect, what to bring, and how a typical event runs.
Dirt TrackRacing EventsFamily Friendly
Watch: Dirt Oval at Route 66
Know Before You Go
- Race nights
- Most short tracks run Friday or Saturday night events from April through October. Always check the season calendar — many venues take rain dates or holiday breaks.
- Ticket pricing
- General admission is typically $15-40 for adults, pit passes $50-100. Children are often free or half-price. Bigger sanctioned events (touring series) cost more.
- What's racing
- Local oval classes commonly include late models, modifieds, sprint cars, hobby stock, and street stock. Bigger ovals also host NASCAR Weekly Series feature races.
- Bring earplugs
- Open-exhaust race cars push 130-145 dB at the fence — well above the threshold for hearing damage. Bring foam plugs or over-ear protection for kids.
- Schedule rhythm
- Race nights follow a consistent flow: hot laps and qualifying, heat races, then feature events. Plan for a 4-5 hour evening from gates open to checkered flag.