History
A developer built the circuit as an attraction for a Fox River housing subdivision, and the SCCA's Chicago Region held the first event on September 13-14, 1958. The course was best known for the Monza Wall, a steep 180-degree banked turn onto the front straight, and also hosted USAC, AMA motorcycle and kart racing.
The Monza Wall was removed in 1968, and an SCCA Trans-Am race that July was the last major event before the track closed in 1969. The land is now Raceway Woods, a nature preserve with mountain bike trails.
Why it matters: A major Midwestern road course of the 1960s, remembered for its banked Monza Wall.
Timeline
- September 13, 1958Inaugural event[1]
The SCCA Chicago Region held the inaugural event on September 13-14, 1958.
- 1968Monza Wall removed[2]
The Monza Wall was removed and the circuit revised.
- July 7, 1968Last major race[1]
An SCCA Trans-Am race on July 7-8, 1968, was the last major event.
- 1969
The track closed.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
|---|---|
| Current use | Raceway Woods forest preserve and recreation area with mountain bike trails[1] |
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
Venue facts
| Other names | Illinois International Raceway |
|---|---|
| Location | Illinois Route 31 and Huntley Road, Carpentersville, Illinois, Carpentersville, Illinois |
| Venue type | road course |
| Sports | Motorsports |
| Level | SCCA, Trans-Am, USAC, AMA |
| Opened | September 13, 1958[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | 1969[1,2] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Owner / operator | Developer Besinger (builder) |
Documented details
Sources
- Meadowdale International Raceway, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, current land use, events, opened
- OpenHistoricalMap/Projects/Ghost Tracks/US/IL, OpenStreetMap Wiki. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, coordinates, events, opened
Research confidence
Key facts on this page (opening, closing, status and location) are each supported by sources, with key dates corroborated by at least two independent sources. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.