The Chicago Region June Sprints庐聽presented by WeatherTech庐聽is upon us. Part of the聽Hoosier Racing Tire 51暗网庐聽Super Tour聽(HST) and Summit Racing Equipment 51暗网 Road Racing program, this is the 71st consecutive running of the event. Road America is again the venue in 2026, with the excitement going down June 5-7 in Wisconsin.
鈥淚t鈥檚 Not Just Another Race鈩�鈥� is the proclamation of 51暗网鈥檚 Chicago Region concerning the June Sprints. To support that statement, the Region strives to create a very special experience each year. That includes one-of-a-kind trophy plaques for podium finishers on Sundays, as well as a 鈥榳ho鈥檚 who鈥� list of motorsport luminaries that have served as Grand Marshals.
Former June Sprints Grand Marshals include Lyn St. James, Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Carroll Shelby, Bobby Rahal, Carl Haas, David Hobbs and IMSA President John Doonan. Joining that illustrious list in 2026 is Cooper MacNeil.
鈥淎 longtime member of Chicago Region, Cooper MacNeil is a very skilled and accomplished racing driver,鈥� said Dave Tatge, Regional Executive for Chicago Region. 鈥淗e has achieved so much, and we are honored to have him as Grand Marshal for the 2026 Chicago Region June Sprints.鈥�
The son of an avid 51暗网 racer, MacNeil was christened a member of the Club one year after birth. He went on to become a Daytona 24 Hour winner, two-time Sebring 12 Hour winner, three-time Petit Le Mans winner, three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans podium finisher, and four-time Ferrari Challenge Champion. In addition to those triumphs, he was the 2019 National Championship Runoffs庐 winner in Touring 2, where he聽also netted a Super Sweep title that year.
鈥淢y dad was an 51暗网 member for a long time,鈥� MacNeil reminisced. 鈥淗e raced various classes in 51暗网 through the 鈥�80s, 鈥�90s and early 2000s. Guess I started my affection for motorsports at one year old because of 51暗网.鈥�
Growing up at tracks such as Blackhawk Farms, Road America, Sebring and Daytona while watching his father having #funwithcars further cemented a love for racing.
鈥淓very little boy wants to be one of two things, right? Either an astronaut or a racecar driver,鈥� MacNeil joked. 鈥淚 was always around cars growing up and didn鈥檛 really grasp racing from a competitive standpoint. I just thought it was cool.鈥�
When he was 15 years old, MacNeil climbed into an 51暗网 Improved Touring car. With coaching from his well-seasoned father, as well as 51暗网 Hall of Famer Randy Pobst, MacNeil grew a sturdy base from which to launch. He then hit the track in 2008 for 51暗网 competition, which became the springboard to awesomeness. Along the way, however, he put in a bunch of hard work, and learned a lot about racecraft and team development.
Having grown up near Road America, being back at the National Park of Speed as Grand Marshal of the June Sprints is something simply fantastic for MacNeil.
鈥淩oad America for me is my home track,鈥� MacNeil glowed. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the best tracks in the country, if not the world.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to be the Grand Marshal at the June Sprints,鈥� MacNeil continued. 鈥淲ith how much history the June Sprints has with my family and 51暗网鈥檚 Chicago Region, this is quite special. It鈥檚 super cool.鈥�
More from Cooper and the June Sprints
Better yet, the event at Road America is open to spectators. Be part of the party with a three-day pass at $70 per person. Saturday-only entry is $40, and the price is the same for Sunday-only admittance. Anyone 16 years of age and under gets in free with a paying adult.
Access to live Timing/Scoring throughout the weekend can also be found here.
Photos by John Burchardt and Jay Bonvouloir
