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Gateway International Raceway
DESCRIPTION: Gateway International Raceway is one of the largest motorsports venues in the Midwest. It is the site of NASCAR events, drag races and other specialty events from April through October. The Raceway is owned by Dover Downs Entertainment Inc., one of the nation's largest motorsports companies. NASCAR's Busch and Craftsman Truck Series, NHRA Drag Racing, the Indy Racing League and a full schedule of special events and weekly drag racing competitions are held at Gateway International.
SLOGAN: Real Racing Real Close
ADDRESS: P. O. Box 200, 700 Raceway Boulevard, Madison, IL 62060
LOCATION: Six miles east of Downtown St. Louis
GETTING THERE: From downtown, take I-55/70 across the Mississippi River to Exit 4 (Illinois Route 203 North). Turn left onto the Gateway International Raceway site at the first light.
PHONE NUMBER: 618-482-2400
WEB SITE: www.gatewayraceway.com
HOURS: Hours vary depending on the events.
ADMISSION: Admission rates very depending on the event. Children's admission for major events is half price. On qualifying days children are free for major events.
ANNUAL ATTENDANCE: 400,000
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Gateway International Raceway has a 1.25 mile banked oval track for oval racing and drag racing, a 1.6 mile road course and a quarter-mile drag strip.
- Gateway International is the Midwest home to the Richard Petty experience; a hands-on, heart-pounding, high-speed adventure that puts the participant on the track behind the wheel or riding shotgun in a Winston Cup-style car like the one Richard Petty drives.
- Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals Drag Races are held in June.
- In July, the Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers Ram Tough 200 series is held.
- August brings the Gateway Indy 250 Indy Racing League to the track.
- A variety of other motor events including drag racing, Sports Car Club of America events, motorcycle races, test and tune events and the Gateway Pro Stock Shootout are held at Gateway International every year.
ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS: A special activity area with racing-related interactive activities for children is available during major events. Gateway International Raceway is also the site of a junior dragster program for children up to age 16. Go-cart organizations often use the raceway's drag strip for special activities.
ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENTS: Gateway International hosts several major racing events during the year including the NASCAR Busch and Craftsman Truck Series, NHRA Drag Racing and the Indy Racing League.
WHAT'S NEW: Some 15,000 new grandstand seats were added recently and a $1.4 million Firestone vehicle and pedestrian tunnel was built under the track at the head of the main straightaway replacing the bridge that blocked sightlines.
Parking in the blue and green lots is now free. The new extension of MetroLink, St. Louis' light rail system, brings visitors to Emerson Park just a mile and a half from the Raceway. A free shuttle bus service between the MetroLink stop and the Raceway runs every 20 minutes during qualifiers and every 10 minutes on race days.
HISTORY: The land where Gateway International Raceway now stands was at the bottom of the Mississippi River about two centuries ago. In 1811, a great earthquake centered along the New Madrid fault rang church bells as far away as Philadelphia. It also caused a change in the location of the river turning the land which had once been under water into a swamp.
In 1967, a man named Wayne Meinert built an eighth of a mile long drag strip called St. Louis Raceway Park on the site. In 1971, the strip was expanded to a quarter mile in length and renamed St. Louis International Raceway. A 2.6 mile track was added in 1985 and three years later, the name was changed to Gateway International Raceway.
In 1995, the track was bought by Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, CA. The next year a renovation and expansion project was announced and construction was begun in April of 1996. The drag strip was competed in September 1996, and the first major events were held at the new Gateway International Raceway in 1997.
HANDICAPPED ACCESS: Gateway International Raceway has a special area for handicapped parking. There are also ramps and elevators and special seating areas for the handicapped.
GIFT SHOP: There are souvenir vendors at the Raceway during major racing events.
WHERE TO GET LUNCH: Concession stands and vendors sell food at the Raceway during major events.
WHAT'S NEARBY: Downtown St. Louis is just minutes away from the Raceway and Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Our Lady of the Snows Shrine and Eckerts Orchards are nearby in southwestern Illinois.
PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT: Joe Zydlo, 618-482-2495, jzydlo@dovermotorsportsinc.com.
Readers should call 1-800-916-0040 to request a free copy of the Official St. Louis Visitor Guide or point, click and explore St. Louis at www.explorestlouis.com
