NASCAR Xfinity - Gateway

The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Gateway represents a significant entry on the circuit schedule. World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, located in Madison, Illinois, hosts this event as part of the series' first season under its new branding. Previously known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series continues to showcase developing talent and veteran competitors at this challenging oval. The CW Network broadcasts this twilight race, which takes place on the track's distinctive 1.25-mile egg-shaped oval near St. Louis, Missouri.

World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway

World Wide Technology Raceway operates as the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The venue covers more than 600 acres and sits just east of St. Louis in Madison, Illinois. Fans can reach the track within five minutes from downtown St. Louis. The facility functions as a multi-motorsport complex with several distinct areas. The main oval measures 1.25 miles in length. A quarter-mile NHRA-sanctioned drag strip runs alongside the oval. The property also includes 1.6-mile and 2.0-mile infield road courses, a modern karting facility called the Kartplex, and Gateway National Golf Links, which the track acquired.

Track Configuration and Characteristics

The oval at Gateway features an egg-shaped design that challenges drivers throughout each lap. Turns 1 and 2 have 11 degrees of banking, while Turns 3 and 4 feature 9 degrees of banking. This asymmetric banking creates unique handling demands on the cars. Racing experts often compare Gateway to a blend of New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Phoenix Raceway, with some characteristics similar to Darlington Raceway. The track falls into the short-to-medium length category for oval circuits. The facility can accommodate 78,000 spectators for major events.

NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Competition

The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series serves as a development platform for drivers advancing through NASCAR's competitive structure. The series fields a diverse mix of competitors. Up-and-coming drivers use the series to build experience and demonstrate their skills for potential Cup Series opportunities. Full-time series veterans compete for the championship throughout the season. Some drivers from the NASCAR Cup Series also participate in select O'Reilly Auto Parts Series races to gain additional track time or assist with team development programs.

Technical Specifications

NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series cars are purpose-built stock cars that meet specific technical regulations. Each car uses a 5,860 cc (358 cubic inch) pushrod V8 engine. These engines produce approximately 650-700 horsepower in unrestricted form, or around 450 horsepower with restrictor plates. The engines generate roughly 700 N⋅m (520 ft⋅lb) of torque. The cars weigh a minimum of 3,200 pounds without the driver and 3,400 pounds with the driver, making them about 100 pounds lighter than Cup Series cars.

The series uses Sunoco unleaded gasoline with 15% ethanol (E15), rated at 90 MON, 98 RON, and 94 AKI. The cars still utilize carburetors for fuel delivery. Each vehicle has a four-speed manual transmission and a 110-inch wheelbase. The series runs on 15-inch steel wheels with five lug nuts, different from the 18-inch aluminum wheels with a single lug nut used in the Cup Series.

Three manufacturers compete in the series: Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota. Each manufacturer uses distinct body designs—Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, and Toyota Supra—built within strict aerodynamic guidelines. The chassis shares common elements with earlier NASCAR designs while maintaining unique body and aerodynamic packages specific to the series.

Gateway's Motorsports Heritage

World Wide Technology Raceway began its history in 1967 as St. Louis International Raceway, originally built as a drag racing facility on former swampland. This origin earned the track its early nickname "the swamp." A road course was added to the property during the 1980s. Promoter Chris Pook purchased the facility in 1995 and completely reconfigured the complex, demolishing the existing tracks to construct a new oval, an infield road course, and a dedicated NHRA drag strip. The current oval opened in May 1997.

NASCAR's Xfinity Series ran its first race at Gateway on July 26, 1997. The series competed at the track through 2010. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (formerly Camping World Truck Series) began racing at Gateway in 1998, returned in 2014, and has remained a permanent fixture on the schedule. Financial difficulties led to the track's closure in 2010, but St. Louis businessman Curtis Francois purchased and reopened the facility in 2011, renaming it Gateway Motorsports Park and investing in substantial renovations.

World Wide Technology acquired naming rights in 2019, establishing the track's current identity as World Wide Technology Raceway. The venue reached a major milestone by hosting its first NASCAR Cup Series race in 2022, the Enjoy Illinois 300, which sold out completely. The Cup Series continues to race at the track.

What Defines Gateway

Several factors distinguish World Wide Technology Raceway from other NASCAR venues. The 1.25-mile egg-shaped oval creates a technical challenge due to its varying banking in the turns. This design requires drivers to adjust their approach and car setup compared to symmetrical ovals. The track's twilight race format provides a different racing dynamic as temperatures cool and track conditions change throughout the event.

Gateway serves as a major regional motorsports hub beyond NASCAR. The facility hosts NTT IndyCar Series races and NHRA drag racing events throughout the season. This multi-series approach brings diverse racing disciplines to the St. Louis area. The track's revival under Curtis Francois's ownership brought the venue back from closure and earned recognition, including the 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year award. The facility has undergone several name changes throughout its existence, from St. Louis International Raceway to Gateway International Raceway, Gateway Motorsports Park, and finally World Wide Technology Raceway.

The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Gateway offers competitive action on a demanding oval circuit. The track's technical nature and varied banking test both driver skill and mechanical setup. The venue's position near a major metropolitan area provides access for fans throughout the Midwest region. This race combines the series' competitive depth with Gateway's unique track characteristics to deliver quality stock car racing.