World Wide Technology Raceway Delivers Back-to-Back Major Events, Welcomes Hot Rod Power Tour with Over 15,000 Attendees
Publish Date: 2026-06-10 18:13:00
Source Domain: wwtraceway.com
Last Updated on June 10, 2026 by WWTR
MADISON, Ill. (June 10, 2026) — Just two and a half days after hosting a major NTT INDYCAR SERIES weekend, World Wide Technology Raceway once again demonstrated its national prominence as a premier motorsports and live event destination by welcoming the legendary Hot Rod Power Tour, the world’s largest rolling car show.
The one-day stop in Madison drew an impressive 6,000+ show cars and more than 15,000 attendees, transforming the raceway into a hub of automotive culture, community and celebration.
The 2026 edition of the Hot Rod Power Tour carried additional significance as part of the Route 66 Centennial Celebration, honoring 100 years of the historic Mother Road. With Southwest Illinois deeply rooted in Route 66 heritage, WWT Raceway served as an ideal host location for this milestone event, further elevating its national visibility.
“This was an incredible week for our facility and our region,” said Chris Blair, WWT Raceway executive vice president and general manager. “To transition from INDYCAR to hosting one of the most recognizable car culture events in the world in just a couple of days speaks to the strength of our team, our partners and this community.”
Significant Economic Impact
Beyond the excitement on-site, the Hot Rod Power Tour generated a substantial economic impact across Madison and the greater Southwest Illinois region.
With more than 15,000 visitors traveling to the area—many from out of state and staying overnight—the event drove significant demand for lodging, dining, fuel and retail. Using more aggressive but still realistic tourism spending benchmarks of $300–$350 per visitor per day, the event is estimated to have produced $4.5 million to more than $5.5 million in direct economic impact in a single day.
When accounting for secondary effects—such as supplier purchases, employee wages, and continued local spending—the total regional economic…
