On the June 28-29 weekend, a fantastic turnout of racers congregated at one of American karting’s most hallowed grounds – Quincy, Illinois’ South Park – for the annual Quincy Grand Prix. The race returned in 2024 after a one-year hiatus under the management of long-time racer Jeff Scott, and this year marked an extremely positive increase in numbers and excitement. A whopping 39 karts lined up for the Ignite Senior class and 30 machines thundered around the track in Pro Briggs. The race has momentum as karters are learning about the magic that is ‘The Park’. EKN’s Rob Howden circled back with Scott after the dust had settled and he’d caught up on his sleep.

eKartingNews.com: Jeff, thanks for taking the time to chat with us. I’m sure you’ve been trying to recover from the weeks of work that went in to putting on this year’s Quincy Grand Prix. How about just a quick recap of how this year went, starting with the fantastic turnout of racers.

Jeff Scott: Yes, our total entry count was 362! For me, that’s a big number for a one-off event and I’m glad to see that many racers here. I spoke with many ‘Park’ first timers and they all said that next year they’re bringing everyone with them. That lets me know we have a solid event that everyone can enjoy.

EKN: That’s a huge positive as I think one of the keys to the growth of the race is word-of-mouth promotion from karters who’ve come to the event for the first time. I’m sure you spoke with some elated Quincy rookies from this year who have already pledged to return in 2026. Care to share any stories?

He’s not only the promoter, he’s a racer too. Jeff Scott won his for his first time at the Quincy Grand Prix (Photo: Mark Schwigen)

JS: Yes, one was from a Facebook post. The mother of a young first time Park driver stated that she noticed the fear her son’s eyes in the morning, but that quickly transformed to “this is the best track ever”. The driver was having trouble with one of the corners and walked down to watch other classes drive it. When he got there, he was met with spectators and found the ‘magic’ that is the Park.  Also, some guys that took their first lap around South Park and said YouTube videos don’t do this place justice.

EKN: Great stuff. The race has always been a fixture on the city’s event calendar, through all the years of Gus and Terry Traeder. Your family is a big part of the city as well, so I have to expect that nothing has changed. Can you talk about the support you get from Quincy?

JS: The Quincy Grand Prix is something that has been in our community now for its 36th year. That is generational. I played on the grass hillside watching great racers like Terry Traeder and Scott Evans race. The businesses that support this event are huge and instrumental in making it a success. The City of Quincy and the Park District know the importance of this event and are a huge help.

Staff from the 2025 Quincy Grand Prix (Photo: QuincyGrandPrix.com)

EKN: Jeff, a one-off race like the Quincy takes a village of people to put together. You assembled a heck of a team for this year’s edition and, more often than not, it’s hard to find the time and place to acknowledge them. Feel free to give kudos where they’re deserved.

JS: To take a city park and turn it into a 1.1-mile racecourse is an undertaking. From my set up and safety crew – Cameron, Brandon, Remi, Justin, Dennis, Avery, and Riley – to Tammy in marketing and in the VIP taking care of the sponsors. I have an incredible race day crew of 75 workers for the weekend – from the corner workers to the announcers to the tech crew – they all do an amazing job. This was the first year for Chris Olds taking on the role of Race Director and he did an amazing job. Lastly, and most importantly, I want to thank my wife for not only supporting me in my desire to take this on, but also taking care of all the bookwork that comes with it.

EKN: Let’s wrap with a statement from you to any racers who’s been sitting on the fence or is now hearing from someone who raced Quincy this year. What would you like to say to them to entice them to be part of the 2026 edition.

JS: You’re right, a lot of people are on the fence. The track is truly one of a kind. For those that are unsure, we will continue to have the non-competitive class where you can go out and turn laps at your speed and take in this awesome event. I saw first time racers to the event end up on a podium by just being patient over the weekend. Make plans for June 27-28, 2026, we never know how long this will continue.

Race Report: HERE

Quincy Grand Prix Website: HERE

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