Springfield,IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Springfield is gearing up for one of the biggest weekends of the summer as the city serves as the starting point for the 2026 Great Race, a nine-day, 2,300-mile journey for vintage automobiles traveling along Route 66 to Pasadena, California.
Visit Springfield Executive Director Scott Dahl said the city has spent years preparing for a tourism season fueled by the Route 66 Centennial, new attractions and increased international travel.
“We’ve been preparing for this year for the last eight years,” Dahl said. “We have over 20 co-branded Route 66 events this year, and we’re seeing the leisure visitor show up. Our conventions have been strong all year.”
Dahl said Springfield is already seeing visitors from around the world, with many using Chicago as a gateway before traveling the 300 miles of Illinois Route 66. Some international travelers are combining Route 66 celebrations with trips to cities hosting FIFA World Cup matches.
“We’re seeing international travelers this summer already because of the FIFA World Cup,” Dahl said.
The busy weekend kicked off with a downtown drone show celebrating Juneteenth and the arrival of the Great Race. Dahl called the event a success and credited cooperation among city, state and federal partners.
The centerpiece of the weekend is the Great Race, which will officially begin Saturday. Springfield hosted an overnight stop for the race last year but secured the starting line for 2026 after working on the effort for three years.
“We locked it in early,” Dahl said. “It’s been so nice having our city on all their marketing materials for the past year.”
The race features 125 vehicles built between 1913 and 1974. Competitors are not racing for speed, but rather for precision and endurance as they navigate checkpoints along the route. A $50,000 first-place prize is awarded to the winner.
“There are some 1915 or 1920-ish cars, several open-air cars,” Dahl said. “These are people that have a passion for vintage cars and want an experience.”
Participants have already arrived downtown and are preparing their vehicles ahead of Saturday’s start. The public can view the cars Friday as drivers make final adjustments.
Festivities begin Saturday morning, with music and displays featuring the Cool Cruisers car club. Vehicles will line Sixth Street between Jefferson and Capitol avenues, with the first car scheduled to leave at 11 a.m. The race start will coincide with the Old Capitol Farmers Market.
“The public is invited, it’s free,” Dahl said. “It’ll be an atmosphere that you want to be part of.”
Dahl said the Great Race is not expected to start in Springfield again, making this year’s event a unique opportunity for residents and visitors alike.
“This is it,” he said. “If you want to get downtown and see those cars, this is your chance.”
