The Great Race - Collinsville, Illinois
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The Great Race - Collinsville, Illinois
The 2026 Great Race traveled along historic Route 66, starting in Springfield, Illinois, and heading west with around 140 teams competing. Each day, teams left one by one, navigated checkpoints, and met for lunch at predetermined spots along the route. From there, they continued on to the day’s final destination, where crowds usually gathered to welcome the cars.
The first overnight stop was Collinsville, Illinois. Located less than 100 miles from Springfield, it was one of the shortest travel days of the race. Sitting just east of St. Louis, Collinsville gave the racers a great welcome, with people pouring in to check out the huge variety of cars.
Not only is Collinsville home to the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, but the World’s Largest Potato was also on display for the event. The Boss 429 has been performing flawlessly, and the weather was excellent. Here is a look at the first stop along the Great Race.