Gateway International Raceway

About the Venue

View Larger

Gateway International Raceway is equipped to host almost any form of major league motorsports on its various tracks at the facility. From the egg-shaped 1.25-mile oval with two unique sets of turns, a tight 1-2 banked at 11 degrees with a sweeping 3-4 that has nine-degree banking, to the 1.6-mile road course and a quarter-mile drag strip, the complex can handle just about anything.

Auto racing has a rich history in the St. Louis area, and the area has produced some of NASCAR's brightest stars, including the Wallace brothers. Finally, they have a brand new facility to come home to at Gateway International Raceway.

Feedback

Add your feedback

Venue Pictures

City Guide

St. Louis

St. Louis is a vibrant Midwestern city that is always on the move. The St. Louis metropolitan area has a population of nearly 2.5 million people, spaning eight counties in Missouri and Illinois. These include the City of St. Louis, Jefferson, Franklin, St. Charles and St. Louis counties in Missouri; Madison (Gateway International Raceway), Monroe, and St. Clair counties in Illinois. A mix of Old World charm and modern life continues to be a hallmark of the city, in which each neighborhood has its own history and unique character.

The city was originally established in 1764 as a trading post on the banks of the Mississippi River and later became a launching point for westward exploration. It experienced a population boom during the late 1800s when German and Italian immigrants settled in large numbers.

Downtown

Downtown is packed with attractions and landmarks including; the Gateway Arch, historic Union Station, the Old Courthouse and Busch Stadium, where the St. Louis Cardinals play. The once industrial area of Laclede's Landing is now home to some of the city's favorite restaurants and finest hotels, as well as an entertainment district that features live music ranging from pop to jazz.

Soulard

This old neighborhood is situated south of Downtown. Here you will find a fine selection of jazz and blues clubs as well as the large outdoor Soulard Farmer's Market, which sells fresh produce, flowers and fresh baked goods. Homes in this area date from the mid-1800s, and many Victorian row houses have been lovingly restored.

Grand South Grand

A large Asian community resides in the Grand South Grand area, offering a great selection of Asian restaurants. This neighborhood also contains Tower Grove Park and the expansive Missouri Botanical Gardens.

The Hill

Settled by Italian immigrants in the late 1800s, this area still has some of the best traditional Italian restaurants this side of the Atlantic. Pride runs deep in this old neighborhood with well-tended lawns, where even the fireplugs sport the red, green and white of the Italian flag.

Central West End

The heart of the Central West End is Forest Park, which is larger than Central Park in New York City and is home to several free attractions, including the St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Art Museum and the St. Louis Science Center. Treed neighborhoods here feature stately homes from the early 1900s as well as bookshops, art galleries and coffee houses. Central West End is home to a large segment of St. Louis' gay community.

North Side St. Louis

This neighborhood, also known as "The Ville," is rich in African-American history and culture.

St. Charles

The quaint historic town of St. Charles, which borders St. Louis proper, includes the restored First Missouri State Capitol as well as the Frenchtown district, with its antique and gift shops, tearooms and restaurants. The entire downtown area of St. Charles—all 26 blocks—is on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors will be charmed by its gaslights, brick streets and colonial ambience.

Race fans will find Gateway International Raceway across the Mississippi River in Illinois.  The raceway, situated 10 minutes from downtown in Madison, plays host to NASCAR and NHRA events.

Getting to St. Louis

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (www.lambert-stlouis.com) is the 33rd busiest airport in the U.S. and serves more than 15 million passengers a year with 342 daily departures to 72 national and international destinations.  It has all the major airlines and car rental agencies.

What to Do

Gateway Arch Riverfront (www.gatewayarch.com)

The Arch is the tallest national monument in the United States at 630 feet and is St. Louis’ best known landmark. Construction on The Arch began in 1963 and was finished in 1965. In order to ensure that the constructed legs would meet, the margin of error for failure was 1/64th of an inch. All survey work was done at night to eliminate distortion caused by the sun's rays. The Arch sways a maximum of 18 inches (9" each way) in a 150 mph wind. The usual sway is ½ inch. Each year, approximately a million visitors ride the trams to the top of the Arch. The top of the Gateway Arch is just one of the amazing sights to see while at the Gateway Arch Riverfront. Other activities include browsing the Museum of Westward Expansion and Historic Old Courthouse, or just taking a sightseeing cruise. For more information: (877) 982-1410.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (www.cahokiamounds.com)

Cahokia Mounds is named for a subtribe of the Illiniwek - the Cahokia - who moved into this area in the 1600s and lived nearby when the French arrived about 1699. According to archaeological finds, the city of Cahokia was inhabited from about A.D. 700 to 1400. Over 120 mounds were built through time, and most mounds were enlarged several times. Houses were arranged in rows and around open plazas, and the main agricultural fields lay outside the city.

Cahokia Mounds has been recognized as a U. S. National Historic Landmark, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, in 1982, designated Cahokia Mounds a World Heritage Site for its importance to our understanding of the prehistory of North America. Open Wed-Sun 9-5pm (Grounds: 8-dusk). Free, although a donation of $2 for adults and $1 for children is suggested. Located at 30 Ramey Street, Collinsville, IL 62234; (618) 346-5160.

Campbell House Museum (www.stlouis.missouri.org)

The Campbell House Museum is regarded at one of the most accurately restored 19th Century buildings in America, reflecting the high-Victorian opulence of the 1880s. Built in 1851, the first house in the elegant neighborhood Lucas Place, the Campbell House was the home of renowned fur trader and entrepreneur Robert Campbell and his family from 1854 until 1938. The museum contains hundreds of original Campbell possessions including furniture, paintings, clothing, letters, carriages and a unique set of interior photographs taken in the mid-1880s. The Museum not only preserves the Campbell’s house, but also their collection of original furniture, fixtures, paintings, objects and thousands of pages of family documents. Open Wed-Sat 10-4pm; Sun 12-4pm; closed Mon-Tue. Admission and a guided tour is $6 per person, children 12 and under are free. 1508 Locust Street, St. Louis, MO 63103; (314) 421-0325.

City Museum (www.citymuseum.org)

City Museum is an eclectic mixture of children's playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion, and architectural marvel made out of unique, found objects. The brainchild of internationally acclaimed artist Bob Cassilly, a classically trained sculptor and serial entrepreneur, the museum opened for visitors in 1997 to the riotous approval of young and old alike.

Cassilly and his longtime crew of 20 artisans have constructed the museum from the very stuff of the city; and, as a result, it has urban roots deeper than any other institutions'. The museum boasts features such as old chimneys, salvaged bridges, construction cranes, miles of tile, and even two abandoned planes! Wed-Thurs 9-5pm; Fri 9am-1am; Sat 10am-1am; Sun 11am-5pm; Mon-Tue, closed. General admission (ages 3+), $12; after 5pm Fri-Sat, $10. Located at 701 North 15th Street, St. Louis, MO 63103; (314) 231-CITY.

Grant’s Farm (www.grantsfarm.com)

The Farm is home to more than 1,000 animals representing more than 100 different species from six continents. Grant's Farm, operated by Anheuser-Busch, Inc., has been a St. Louis tradition for over five decades. The Farm takes its name from our 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. In the 1850s, Grant founded and farmed a portion of the 281 acres. Admission is free but you will pay for parking. Open April 19-May 4, Sat 9-3:30pm; Sun 9:30-3:30pm, only. May 6-Aug 10, Tue-Fri 9-3:30pm; Sat 9-4pm; Sun 9:30-4pm. Aug 13-Oct 26; Wed-Fri 9:30-2:30pm; Sat-Sun 9:30-3:30pm. Located at 10501 Gravois Rd, St. Louis, MO 63123; (314) 843-1700.

Missouri History Museum (www.mohistory.org)

Admission to the museum and library are free to the public. There is a fee for special museum exhibitions, but weekly free admission times are available. The Missouri History Museum, at Lindell and DeBaliviere, is a short walk from the Forest Park Metro Link station.  Open 10-5pm; Tues 10-8pm.

Saint Louis Art Museum (www.stlouis.art.museum)

The Saint Louis Art Museum is one of the nation's leading comprehensive art museums, containing more than 30,000 works of art. Our collections include works of exceptional quality from virtually every culture and time period. Areas of notable depth include Oceanic art, pre-Columbian art, ancient Chinese bronzes, and European and American art of the late 19th and 20th centuries, with particular strength in 20th century German painting. The Museum also offers a full range of featured exhibitions, a research library, a varied schedule of special events, and community and educational programming.

Through generations of public support and private benefaction, the Museum has assembled one of the finest comprehensive art collections in the country. With a per-capita attendance that is consistently among the highest of our nation's art museums, we are a national leader in making our collections and programs available to a broad public audience. Admission is free every day. Admission fees to featured exhibitions vary; admission to featured exhibitions is always free on Fridays. Located at One Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110; (314) 721-0072.

Shopping

Saint Louis Galleria and The Boulevard - Saint Louis

Saint Louis Galleria (www.saintlouisgalleria.com) has a great mix of shopping, entertainment and dining! Whether you enjoy a relaxing dinner at one of the mall's restaurants or spend the day shopping at all your favorite stores, Saint Louis Galleria offers a complete entertainment experience. Featuring 165 stores including; Anthropologie, MAC, Urban Outfitters and Z Gallerie. Open Mon-Sat 10-9:30pm; Sun 11-6pm. Located at 1155 Saint Louis Galleria, St. Louis, Missouri  63117; (314) 863-5500.

Located across the street from the Saint Louis Galleria, on Brentwood Blvd. in Richmond Heights is The Boulevard – Saint Louis (www.theboulevard.com). It is a vibrant village with a unique blend of upscale retail, fine dining, and luxury residences. Home to retailers and restaurants such as Soft Surroundings, Ann Taylor Loft, Crate & Barrel, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and Maggiano’s Little Italy, The Boulevard is the premier lifestyle development in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Take a stroll down main street and enjoy the bubbling fountains, immerse yourself in the European architecture and sit back and relax on the patio of our restaurants.

Plaza Frontenac (www.plazafrontenac.com)

Elegant surroundings. St. Louis' only Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and the largest Talbot's stores, J. Crew, Williams-Sonoma, The Pottery Barn and Tiffany & Co. Fine and casual dining, Plaza Frontenac Cinema and Stonewater Spa. Open Mon-Fri 10-8pm; Sat 10-7pm; Sun, noon-5pm. Located at 1701 S. Lindbergh, St. Louis, MO 63131; (314) 432.6760.