Downtown Rock Island will be filled with thousands of race fans this Labor Day weekend as the 29th running of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix Presented by The Hemp Doctor takes to the streets on an alternative course.
Due to the city’s ongoing $8.7 million road construction project, event organizers said race fans and racers will notice big changes in the track and spectator areas. The massive road project includes some of the streets traditionally used for what is the world’s largest karting street race. Several No Spectator Areas will be strictly enforced.
This year’s Grand Prix will feature 19 races on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 31 and Sept 1. Admission is free for this family-oriented event. Racing is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day with morning practice and afternoon heat races on Saturday, followed by practice, opening ceremonies and Feature races Sunday.
Joining the historic King of the Streets shifter race will be King of the Rock races for 100cc engines and for the Briggs & Stratton 206cc 4-cycle engine as premier events paying $1,000 to win. Three classes of Vintage karts from prior to 1985 are being featured again this year.
Citing a study by Datafy, conducted for Visit Quad-Cities, organizers said as many as 17,000 spectators from a variety of states attended last year.
Since the race began, it has featured competitive teams from 39 states as well as 11 foreign teams and 13 foreign winners. This year’s race has teams been entered from California to Bermuda; Canada to Texas; and in between.
In April, the Grand Prix announced the addition of a national-level sponsor . The Presenting Sponsor is The Hemp Doctor from Mooresville, N.C., which provides a variety of legal hemp and CDB-based products. Besides sponsoring the race, The Hemp Doctor’s Southern High Seltzer is sponsoring a free concert from 4-10 p.m. Saturday at Schwiebert Riverfront Park.
In addition to The Hemp Doctor, other sponsors this year include: National Karting Alliance, Mediacom, Briggs & Stratton Racing, Simpson Motorsports, Bally’s Quad-Cities Casino & Hotel, Margay Racing and Hoosier Kartsport, O’Reilly Auto Parts, MG Tires, Modern Woodmen Financial/ Joe Schurr agent, Group O, Moon Print Shop, Illinois Casualty Co., Neilson Trucking, Shaw Electric, Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home, Hiland Toyota, Lincoln Electric, Speedway Fire & Rescue, RLV Tuned Exhaust, CBS TV4 / Fox 18 and CW, the local iHeart Radio stations (Big 106.5, Fox Sports QC, WOC and WLLR), QC Sports Net, Schurr Power Racing Engines and Tyler Schurr Racing, Sunbelt Rentals, Johannes Bus Service, C&W and Sons Trucking, Holiday Inn Rock Island, eKartingNews.com, Key Auto Mall Moline, Gas & Electric Credit Union, Rogan Scale, Triple E Sales, Duncalf Racing, Fastenal, Hughes Tire, RIGP Corner Workers and 61 Kartway.
Race schedule and fun facts
Here’s a look at some of the Grand Prix happenings this weekend:
- The team of Jay Kidwell, sports director at WHBF-TV, and long-time racer Carter Pease, will double team as track announcers. Race fans can expect more information, explanations, interviews and lively banter from the pair. The racing also will be webcast on ekartingnews.com and more information is available through the Online Event Guide at racerockisland.info as well as on social media.
- The Grand Prix has a history of promoting suicide prevention following the death of local kart racer Travis DeVriendt with a race in his memory. This year, with the support of The Hemp Doctor, the race is making a $1,000 donation in support of suicide education and prevention. Additionally, The Hemp Doctor made a contribution to support the efforts of an Augustana College film student who will be filming the event as part of an internship.
- Street closures: The race course this year runs around the city’s new downtown parking lot, making the lot inaccessible to vehicles after 5 p.m. Friday. Besides previous construction closures, Fourth and Fifth Avenues will be closed from 15th to 19th streets; 16th and 17th streets will be closed from Third to Fifth Avenue. In addition to construction closures, 18th Street will be closed south including Fifth Avenue. All impacted streets close as of 5 p.m. Friday.
- Spectator viewing: The City of Rock Island’s new parking lot offers great opportunities for watching the races with manned security crossings at Fifth Avenue and 17th Street as well as on the west side at 16th Street and east side on 17th Street just south of Third Avenue.
- Parking: Race fans are encouraged to park either in the large lot off of First Avenue; on the streets and neighborhoods south of the track at 17th and 18th streets; or to the east. Do not park in lots with Tow Away warnings posted.
- Concert kickoff: This year’s race and fun actually begin on Thursday, Aug. 29, when Fair Warning performs from 7-9 p.m. at Schwiebert Riverfront Park as part of the Thursday Night Groove Concert Series. There is no admission charge.
- Rock The Blues: Saturday night’s Rock The Blues concert offers a great evening of free fun with the catch phrase “Come for the Races, Stay for The Party.” The evening is sponsored by the Grand Prix and The Hemp Doctor’s Southern High Seltzer as well as the Mississippi Valley Blues Society (MVBS) and the Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department. The parks department will have the grill going to sell food. Bent River Brewing Co. will be selling beer and The Hemp Doctor crew will be on hand answering questions and introduce guests to their popular products.
While the concert admission is free, organizers are asking guests to consider a donation to the Blues Society. After being rained on the past two years, the MVBS had to cancel this year’s Mississippi Valley Blues Fest and is raising funds to help celebrate their 40th year in 2025.
- Other musical acts: Opening from 4-7:30 p.m. is the Sean McKee Band, which recently won the Chicago Blues Challenge in Buddy’s Guy’s Legends in Chicago. The band offers an electrifying fusion of blues, rock, jazz, funk and jam influences. Following them as headliner from 8-10 p.m. is the Kilborn Alley Blues Band. Formed in 2000, Kilborn Alley has earned their headliner status with several tours of both the United States and Europe. It has released seven albums, starting with the self-titled “Kilborn Alley Blues Band” album in 2003 up to “Takin Time” in 2022. The ban has been nominated or won awards 10 times from the Blues Blast.
- Car fans welcome: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, the Grand Prix will host a Cruise-In on 16th Street north of Third Avenue and Third Avenue west of 16th Street. Cruise-In cars should enter from 15th Street or Second Avenue.
- Vendors: Food vendors will be located in the city parking lot, coordinated by Bayside Grille in Rock Island. There will be Bent River Brewing Co. beer stands daily in the infield.
Opening ceremonies will be at 10:30 a.m. Sunday and will feature Radar the Quad City Storm mascot and Derek Grant on bagpipes. The National Anthem will be sung by Sydney Richardson of East Moline. Local dignitaries and sponsors will offer welcoming remarks. It is followed by a kids’ autograph session with racers.
For more race information, visit racerockisland.info or Facebook or Instagram pages.
