Rock Island, Illinois — The Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s most prestigious karting street race, has announced dates for its 31st annual race weekend, Sept. 5-6, 2026. Once again, it will feature race classes for 2 cycle, 4 cycle, shifter and Vintage racers.
Plans again call for racing on the original downtown street course, a portion of which was completely renovated as part of an $8 million downtown improvement project in Rock Island. The result will be smooth concrete and no broken water pipes in the winter that result in street patches in the Spring.
“In all of the years I have raced here, this is the first time I have not been sore after a weekend of racing,” said driver Joseph Rapp after the 2025 race, praising the new streets. Registration will again be through Race Select.
A recent Motorsports Economic Impact Study by the Performance Racing Industry shows that motorsports has a $69.2 billion impact on the national economy and creates $3.2 billion in local and state taxes.
“The cultural impact of motorsports has been well known for some time, but the economic impact can help drive a community, and we’re happy to play a small part in that,” said Roger Ruthhart, president of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix. “In Iowa, motorsports amount to $1.64 billion in economic impact and 8,399 jobs. In Illinois, it is even bigger -- $3.3 billion in economic impact, 14,545 jobs and $451.11 million in local and state taxes.”
“Even closer to home, in western Illinois’ 17th Congressional District, motorsports generate an economic impact of $145.84 million, 743 jobs and $52.27 million in wages and benefits, according to the study,” Ruthhart said. “We aren’t just a free, fun, family event. We fill hotel rooms, restaurants and bars, shops, Schwiebert Riverfront Park and fill up gas tanks. We’ve been showing off our historic, yet progressive, city for three decades, and people leave town with good things to say about Rock Island and the Quad-Cities,” he said.
In the weeks to come, staff will be working with sponsors in an effort to welcome partners, share the Grand Prix’s awesome racing and social media contacts and exposure, and secure funding for the event to keep costs to racers as low as possible. Interested companies can contact RIGP officials at rockislandgrandprix@gmail.com.
As always, race organizers are also looking at opportunities to improve the race weekend experience, make the track safer and update the Supplemental Rules. Early plans are to offer a class lineup and schedule similar to 2025. They will also be working with the Rock Island Park Board, Mississippi Valley Blues Society and local sponsors for another memorable Come for The Race, Stay for The Party experience after hosting The Blooze Brothers, an 11-piece blues and rock tribute band, in 2025.
“Your entire community shines from the hosting of this World Class Event,” said Chuck Little (Elwood Blooze). “Looking forward to working with you and making 2026 even better.”
Racers who haven’t been to Rock Island, and who wonder what this race is like will find the 30-minute local TV feature by Mediacom 22 interesting and very unique to kart racing. Organizers are looking for more great video storytelling in 2026. This year’s show can be seen here:
Inside Sports Episode 9.25 - Inside Sports - Mediacom MC22
Classes and rules will be released early in 2026. For the latest information, follow the Grand Prix on social media or visit racerockisland.info.
The room block for the Grand Prix at the Holiday Inn is waiting, and it’s easy to get here. More than 159,000 passengers passed through the Quad Cities International Airport in Moline last year with direct flights from Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Orlando, Phoenix-Mesa, St. Pete-Clearwater, Charlotte, Atlanta and Las Vegas. Interstate highways 80, 88, 280 and 74 all pass through the area.
Rock Island is located in an area known as the Quad-Cities, equally divided between Illinois and Iowa, with a metropolitan population of 350,000. It is home to the Rock Island Arsenal military base and corporate headquarters for John Deere in Moline, Ill. The race has featured competitive teams from 39 states, as well as 11 foreign teams and 14 foreign winners.
Sponsors for the event include: Mediacom, Simpson Motorsports, Bally’s Quad-Cities Casino & Hotel, National Karting Alliance, Margay Racing and Hoosier Kartsport, Group O, 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, Unified Scale, Duncalf Racing, Fastenal, Hughes Tire, RIGP Corner Workers and 61 Kartway.