Waste watch: Illinois gives $12M to NASCAR
Illinois’ opaque budget process handed $12 million to NASCAR. Fast and furious is no way to treat taxpayers’ money.
Illinois’ 2026 budget included $12 million for NASCAR, but the cash was handed out too fast for anyone to see exactly where it was going.
A $5 million grant to NASCAR from the general revenue fund is for “costs associated with operating expenses.” Another $5 million grant is from the Build Illinois Bond Fund for “costs associated with capital improvements, including prior year costs.” No details were provided about those costs.
Another $2 million grant to Enjoy Illinois Tourism for NASCAR is also for unspecified “operating expenses.” It is possibly for its sponsorship of the Enjoy Illinois 300, held in September in Madison, Illinois, where the title sponsor is the state tourism department.
NASCAR is a private organization that runs high-end stock car racing events and owns the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. In past years, they have held events in Chicago, converting city streets for use in large-scale events. The event is not taking place in 2026, which raises more questions about why NASCAR needs millions from taxpayers.
Lawmakers claimed the 2026 budget contained no pork, but a closer look shows 2,815 items over $200,000 lawmakers decided to fund in the final hours of the legislative session – rushed, harmful to taxpayers and with no time for public scrutiny. They included $40 million for a high school sports complex at the alma mater of Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch.
The justification commonly given for using state funds to fund activities and events is they help generate tourism and could potentially break even depending on the contract. However, such a method of spurring tourism often ignores substantial hidden costs such as increased police presence.
It also uses the heavy hand of government to pick winners and losers. A better way to increase tourism would be making it cheaper to visit the state, such as eliminating hotel taxes.
NASCAR generated $102.6 million in profit in 2024. They are financially able to cover the costs of events themselves. Plus, the key infrastructure of racetracks already has been built in most locations.
Competitive grants with objective evaluation criteria and reporting requirements should be scored and tracked by a state agency. This ensures the funds are allocated and used properly.
By contrast, earmarks such as NASCAR grants are problematic because they lack transparency. Taxpayers do not know why the appropriations were made or how the funds will be spent.
Illinois’ opaque budgeting process enables this kind of spending to slip through without public review. Lawmakers pass the budget in a rush, with limited time for open debate and no requirement to justify or audit earmarks.
Illinois faces low economic growth, high debt and ballooning pensions – all because state lawmakers are taking ever-more from taxpayers and driving out jobs and working families.
Illinois doesn’t need to funnel $12 million in taxpayer dollars to giant sports associations. It needs to fix its broken budget process.
Reforms such as spending caps, mandatory public review periods and requiring detailed grant disclosures would help restore transparency and trust in Springfield.
Want to see the 2,815 earmarks and questionable spending state lawmakers put in this year’s budget? Use our look-up tool below.