ST. LOUIS — A must for new fans attending this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series is to rent a scanner to hear the action between drivers and their crews.
That’s some advice from St. Louis native and retired NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace. The Enjoy Illinois 300, a NASCAR Cup Series, is set for Sunday, June 5, at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois.
This is the first time a NASCAR Cup Series will take place in the St. Louis area, and is expected to bring 83,000 fans and $60 million to the region.
“I’m so excited for the city of St. Louis, (and) for everybody to experience the largest form of motor sports,” Wallace told Spectrum News. “I’m super excited to see my friends who have never experienced a NASCAR Cup Series. It’ll be a good time.”
[Read More: Traffic guide for this weekend's events at WWT Raceway]
He added people have recognized that St. Louis has a lot to offer with the Gateway Arch, zoo, parks and restaurants, and more.
Approximately $50 millions renovations have been made to the World Wide Technology Raceway so far, such as the expansion of the property to 700 acres that include an 18-hole golf course and 1,200 new campsites, as well as a renovated suite tower, a new fan zone and walkway, and an in-field area for concerts and other activities.
Additionally, competition improvements have been made, such as safety barriers, new pavement and other updates for drivers.
Having practiced on the raceway during his career and driving laps on it again recently, Wallace said he understands the racetrack well.
“It’s a very technical racetrack, meaning that both corners are way different,” he said. “The track is not symmetrical. Turns one and two are very tight — got a little banking — and turns three and four are very wide and very flat.”
Wallace added that he will look for drivers to downshift as they go around the first turn. Overall, “It is an exciting track,” he said.
As events leading up to the race kicked off Tuesday, Wallace will be on stage, behind the main grandstands, Sunday at 9:30 a.m. hosting Race Day Live with John Roberts. They will be interviewing current NASCAR drivers Kevin Harvick and Christopher Bell, as well Wallace’s brothers Mike and Rusty, who are both former NASCAR drivers.
Wallace retired from racing in 2015, and throughout his career, he competed in 905 NASCAR races.
“I had a wonderful career,” he said. “Everybody wants to be great. I don’t think I was great, I think I was good.”
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His nine NASCAR Xfinity wins in the second division were highlights of his career, Wallace said. Although he never won one, he added that he had “some really good” Cup Series runs.
Another highlight was finishing in second place alongside his brother Rusty who placed first in the 1998 Bud Shootout.
“Some exciting moments in my career and I’ll cherish them. Now, you can find me racing my dirt car throughout the United States,” Wallace said.