Chicago Motor Speedway

The Chicago Motor Speedway at Sportsman's Park located in Cicero, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, was built in 1999 by a group including Chip Ganassi, owner of Chip Ganassi Racing. In 2002 the 1.029 mile (1.656 km) oval shaped track suspended operations due to financial conditions in the motorsports industry. The track was also the site of horse races, when the track was called "Sportsman's Park". The track was one of two racetracks that hosted both auto and horse races (the other is Dover International Speedway).

Before 1999, the Sportsman's Park was one of the premier locations for horse racing in the area. Hawthorne Race Course, located right across the street to the south from the track, is the host of the Illinois Derby. The two tracks operated together for decades.

In 1999, after the final season of the old Sportsman's Park, the main grandstand and infield were completely demolished to make way for the massive grandstand that was to follow. It was regarded as one of Chicago's most fateful days, as the end of the once grand racetrack drew near.

The track held CART races from 1999–2002, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races in 2000 and 2001. Chicago Motor Speedway also held American Speed Association (ASA) races.

Portions of the motion picture Driven were shot at Chicago Motor Speedway.

In 2003 the town of Cicero purchased the track for $18 million. During 2005 the main grandstands were torn down but the track itself remained.

It's been reported that the site will be completely demolished and turned into a 11 acre outdoor festival park and 68 acre of retail stores and parking.

On October 31, 2008 it was reported that contracts for the demolition of the remaining structures and track had been awarded. Demolition of the remaining Sportsman's Park structures and the track itself began January 5, 2009.

Chicago Motor Speedway has often been known as one of the largest failures in auto racing history in the United States. Chip Ganassi spent over $70 million to build the track, but Cicero purchased it for just $18 million. The track was open for not quite four full racing seasons. The cost of building the track was a major factor. Sportsman's Park was smaller in size than Hawthorne, and Ganassi built a huge, two-level grandstand to go along with the racing box seats. In 2005, the new grandstands were taken down, but the horse racing boxes remained, standing hopelessly abandoned. Chicago has successful horse tracks near it: Arlington Park, which hosts the Arlington Million and hosted the Breeder's Cup in 2002; Balmoral Park in the south suburbs; and Hawthorne. The opening of the Chicagoland Speedway and the Route 66 Raceway in suburban Joliet directly affected the speedway, and is often credited for its short demise.

The western portion of the site is now a Walmart.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series history

 * 2000 Joe Ruttman
 * 2001 Scott Riggs