Summertime in Downstate Illinois brings a vast assortment of activities to fill up the long, hot days ahead—one of the most popular being motorsports. From the largest stages to locally organized events, the Downstate region hosts a great variety of motorsports activities. Demolition derbies, tractor pulls, and stock car races can all be found scattered across the region on any given weekend throughout the summer months.

Nearly every weekend is filled with roaring engines and high-octane events in different corners of Downstate Illinois. Dirt track racing is extremely popular in the region, with three different clay speedways dotting the area. The next place you will find motorsports action is the numerous county fairs that take place this time of year, almost all of which include a combination of tractor pulls, truck pulls, mud bogs, demolition derbies, and motocross racing.

To aid your travels this summer, we included a comprehensive list of where to find the different types of motorsports Downstate has to offer!

Dirt Track Racing

Highland Speedway – Highland, Illinois – races across multiple divisions every Saturday night from April through September.

Red Hill Raceway – Sumner, Illinois – races across multiple divisions twice a month from April through October.

Wayne County Speedway – Wayne City, Illinois – open-wheel dirt track racing throughout the summer. Features national series periodically.

With such a wide variety of motorsports events being offered by the county fair lineup in Downstate this summer, we decided to make it easier for our readers to locate events that include their favorite kind of action. Consult the convenient list below when planning your schedule for the warmer months.

We would be amiss not to mention the pinnacle of motorsports action in Downstate Illinois, World Wide Technology Raceway. Between their blacktop speedway, road course, kart plex, and dragstrip, they keep their motors revved from June to November. To find out more information about specific events, visit their website.

Downstate Illinois is proving to be a motorsports lovers’ paradise. Pack your ear plugs, round up your friends and family, and get out to see some of the high-octane action in the region this summer. When you are at an event, tag us (@downstateil) in your social media posts for a chance at a shoutout!