The Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series race took place Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis, Illinois, presenting a rare challenge for drivers due to its unusual oval layout. Cody Ware, driving the No. 51 Parts Plus Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Rick Ware Racing, emphasized how the 1.25-mile oval in Madison, Illinois, features characteristics more commonly associated with a road course given its demanding configuration.
Cody Ware Describes the Oval’s Road Course-Like Features
Gateway Raceway’s unique shape forces drivers to handle two distinct types of corners: turns one and two feature a tight radius with 11 degrees of banking, while turns three and four create a broad, flatter arc with only 9 degrees of banking. Separating these corners are long straightaways—the frontstretch measuring 1,922 feet and the backstretch 1,976 feet. Ware highlighted the difficulty of racing here, noting the extensive downshifting required in a way uncommon for traditional oval tracks.
Gateway is like a road course on an oval,
Ware explained.
You have a lot of downshifting going on. You’re in fifth gear down the frontstretch and turn one is a really heavy braking zone. You have banking there, but it’s still a very tight corner. So, you’re downshifting from fifth to third, which is something we don’t do anywhere else, at least on an oval. At Martinsville, we’re going between fourth and third (gear), and at Pocono, we’re going between fifth and fourth. To be downshifting twice into a corner on an oval is definitely unique.
—Cody Ware, NASCAR driver
Ware’s Road Racing Background Adds to His Oval Experience
Although Ware has competed in 133 Cup Series races, mostly on oval tracks, he brings considerable road course expertise to the table. He was the 2019-2020 LMP2 champion in the Asian Le Mans Series alongside co-driver Gustas Grinbergas. Earlier, Ware earned the 2014 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Rookie of the Year title. Most recently, in January 2024 at Daytona International Speedway, Ware secured a podium finish in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge LMP3 class driving a Ligier JS P320.
Road racing is where I did a lot of my growing up and learning how to race,
Ware said.
There was a lot of back and forth between stock cars and GT cars and sportscars over the years as I found my place in NASCAR.
—Cody Ware, NASCAR driver
Gateway Raceway Continues to Grow as a Cup Series Venue
Since joining the NASCAR Cup Series calendar in 2022, World Wide Technology Raceway has quickly established itself as a favored stop. The Enjoy Illinois 300 marked the fourth Cup Series event hosted at the track, drawing attention for its demanding layout and racing opportunities.
You need to find a rhythm at Gateway and then stay in that rhythm,
Ware noted.
Being consistent is key. You’re doing two wildly different things on each side of the racetrack because the corners are so different. You can’t attack each end of the racetrack the same way. It’s a one-of-a-kind place.
—Cody Ware, NASCAR driver
Race Weekend Schedule and Broadcast Details
Cody Ware prepared to begin his track work with practice scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. CDT, followed by qualifying at 4:40 p.m. CDT. Both sessions were broadcast by TruTV and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The Enjoy Illinois 300 itself was set to start Sunday at 2 p.m. CDT, with USA Network and SiriusXM providing live flag-to-flag coverage.
Significance of the Gateway Raceway in NASCAR‘s Landscape
The Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway showcases the challenge and complexity that an unconventional oval track can bring to the NASCAR Cup Series. Cody Ware’s blend of road racing experience and oval competition positions him uniquely to tackle these demands. As the track continues to develop its reputation, the race will likely grow in prestige and provide ongoing tests of driver skill and strategy within the series.
