ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS — The 30th running of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest and most prestigious karting street race, this year will feature 20 races on the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend, August 30-31. Admission is free to this family-oriented event.
Racing is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday with morning practice and afternoon heat races and two Features on Saturday, followed by practice, opening ceremonies and Feature races Sunday. Joining the historic King of the Streets shifter race, one of the most iconic races in karting, will be King of the Rock races for 100cc engines and for the Briggs & Stratton 206cc 4-cycle engine as premier events. Three classes of Vintage karts are being featured again this year.
Last year, due to downtown street construction, the race was moved to an alternate course but this year it will return to the same course used in the first 28 Grand Prix races. Several No Spectator Areas will be strictly enforced. A study by Datafy done for Visit Quad-Cities has shown as many as 20,000 spectators from a variety of states and municipal areas attended last year.
New this year is an exciting partnership between the Grand Prix organization and the Rock Island Downtown Alliance. The alliance is handling all food and merchandise vendors and will again host its QC Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday on 1800 block of 2nd Avenue where local vendors will sell fresh food and refreshments.
Also, a pedicab (bicycle taxi) will be offering complimentary rides around the racetrack on both Saturday and Sunday. The service is sponsored by 1st General Companies. Also visit DowntownRockIsland.org to see a full directory of downtown businesses.
The team of Jay Kidwell, sports director at WHBF-TV, and long-time racer Carter Pease, bring excitement, information and energy to the race as track announcers. The double-team effort has proven very popular in the past and the entire downtown is wired for sound. Race fans can expect more information, more explanations, great interviews and lively banter from the pair. The racing will also be webcast on ekartingnews.com and a wealth of information is available through the Online Event Guide at racerockisland.info as well as on social media.
Street closures: Many downtown streets including portions of Second, Third and Fourth avenues and 17th to 20th streets, will be closed after 5 p.m. Friday. 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.
Fun returns in downtown Rock Island
Concert kickoff: The fun starts Thursday evening when Fair Warning performs 7- 9 p.m. at Schwiebert Riverfront Park as part of the Thursday Night Groove Concert Series. There is no admission charge.
Welcome home Bloozes Brothers: Saturday night’s FREE concert at Schwiebert Riverfront Park 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 as well as the Mississippi Valley Blues Society 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 on hand to sell beer.
If free admission and a chance to mingle, meet and welcome racers from across the country isn’t enough, the music will be outstanding. Around 1980 the original Blues Brothers band established the fictional tale that the brothers had been raised in an orphanage in Rock Island and learned the blues from its janitor. For the first time, Rock Island will welcome the Blooze Brothers, an 11-piece tribute band from Chicago that for more than three decades has been one of that regions most popular and in-demand show bands, featuring some of that region’s top musicians. They not only honor the music made by the original Blues Brothers in movies, TV, and recordings, but the spirit in which they played – from Dan Aykroyd’s love of traditional blues and soul to John Belushi’s love of classic rock. Like Aykroyd and Belushi, they fuse those great musical traditions into a stage show that energizes and delights hundreds of thousands of music fans every year.
Car fans welcome: From Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, the Grand Prix will host a Cruise-In Car Show in the main city parking lot between 17th and 16th streets. Cruise-In cars should enter from 16th Street and must feature cruise-in type vehicles. It’s a great diversion from racing for car fans.
Motorports careers: The annual Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix offers an inside look into STEM careers, especially in motorsports. Also, the Bradley University Society of Automotive Engineers will be at the races with one of their race cars on display and would be happy to talk with fans about the program. On display will be their Eco Marathon car, a lightweight vehicle designed to travel long distances using the least amount of fuel consumption. The materials and electronic components are meticulously selected and built to ensure the car is using the least amount of weight while still having the power to drive. Super Mileage is one of three teams that compete through Bradley’s SAE Club. Students, both male and female, have told the Grand Prix that their exposure at the karts help them better understand and apply what they have learned in the classroom.
Opening ceremonies: Opening ceremonies at 10 am Sunday will feature Derek Grant on bagpipes, and 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.
2025 Race Weekend Schedule
Thursday, August 28
7-9 p.m. Free Grand Prix kickoff concert at Schwiebert Riverfront Park featuring Fair Warning. Vendors on site.
Friday, August 29
2-9 p.m.: Competitor sign-in at Holiday Inn, Rock Island.
8-5 p.m.: All teams arriving before 5 p.m. should stage at the parking lot at Bally’s Casino & Hotel, Rock Island. From there, follow directions for pitting.
5 p.m.: Streets close in downtown Rock Island.
5 p.m. to the next morning: Track construction
6-11 p.m.: Pits open.
Saturday, August 30
7 a.m.: Pits open.
6:30-8 a.m.: Driver sign-in at Holiday Inn, Rock Island.
7 a.m.: Mandatory Driver’s Meeting at Pre-Grid in the pits.
8 a.m.-10 a.m.: Practice rounds. Six-minute sessions.
8 a.m.- Noon: QC Farmers Market open on 2nd Avenue
10 a.m.-Noon: Practice/qualifying rounds. Six-minute sessions.
12:45-4:00 p.m.: Heat races.
4:15-5:10 p.m.: Briggs Medium and Heavy Feature races
5:10 p.m.: Track closes at conclusion of racing.
7:30-9:30 p.m.: Free concert at Schwiebert Riverfront Park featuring The Blooze Brothers, an 11-piece tribute band, sponsored by Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, Rock Island Parks and Rec Dept. and Mississippi Valley Blues Society. Food and drinks are available.
Sunday, August 31
8 – 9:47 a.m.: Final practice rounds.
10 a.m.: Opening Ceremonies.
10:30 a.m.: Kid’s Autograph Session. Start/Finish line.
10:45 a.m.-3:40 p.m.: Feature races.
Noon to 3 p.m.: Car Cruise-In at the main city parking lot off 16th Street.
4 p.m.: Track Closes / Track deconstruction begins
6 p.m.: Awards Ceremony, Holiday Inn, Rock Island
6 p.m.: The Quad Cities Ballet Folklorico students will be showcase traditional Mexican dances in a FREE event at Schwiebert Riverfront Park
Note: All times are tentative and subject to change.