Open to children ages 7-17 years old (minimum 50” tall) the Junior Racing School is a two day school held between 9am and 2pm. Through a series of exercises taught across both days, the young driver's first learn how to drive their karts and eventually race against their peers. The school not only teaches children how to drive and race, but also the importance of self-confidence, coordination and discipline.

To encourage the students to explore their limits, they are told from the outset that they will make plenty of mistakes and that those mistakes are part of the learning process. It is essential to remove the fear of failure from a student's mind if they are to succeed. The children put on their racing suit, helmet and neck brace, which are provided by CIR, and are then broken into groups.

Once familiar with their karts, they participate in follow-the-leader sessions behind a CIR instructor. At controlled speeds, the children learn how to brake, accelerate, turn and focus on what they are doing. While lapping the track, safety flags are displayed as a test to ensure the students understand what each flag signifies in preparation for an actual race. After successfully passing their flag tests, each group competes in a number of practice races.

Upon completion of the two day school, drivers are presented with a Certificate of Completion and a Junior License that is valid until they are 18. Graduates are also eligible to take part in Junior Practice Sessions, Junior Racing Leagues and Junior Team Endurance Races, as-well-as other junior activities.

Through practice and competition, children will continue to develop the skills they learned during the two days spent in the Junior Racing School which will prove invaluable regardless of whether they're behind the wheel of a race car or just dealing with the ups and downs of daily life.

To register or view the upcoming dates, please follow the Entry Form link. Siblings are able to enter the same school at the reduced rate.

I wanted to send a brief note on behalf of my son and I to thank you and the great staff at Chicago Indoor Racing for the exhilarating go-kart racing experience! It was everything it promised to be and more. Your professionalism helped make what could have been a highly stressful experience very enjoyable and your ability to connect with the youth group, hold their attention and teach some rather complicated concepts of physics is commendable. Great instructors!

Personally, I enjoyed the training session and the "value lessons" introduced by way of go-cart driving analogies.

I think my son learned a thing or two about healthy competition, good sportsmanship, not giving up, and learning how to appreciate his strengths while acknowledging his need for improvement. He was frustrated about not "winning" and it was good for him to know that the joy is often found in the ride and not always at the finish line and that there's always something to look forward to.

Many thanks. We hope to be back soon. – Patricia V. and Miles A.


I just wanted to say how much my daughter enjoyed her experience at the Junior Kart Racing School. Although she has been watching and attending racing events since she was old enough to remember, including lots of stints involving unloading and loading trailers, timing and polishing wheels her first experience "in the seat and behind the wheel" gave her first hand knowledge of the excitement, thrills and tremendous satisfaction that comes from racing. I am certain she will continue indoor karting in some capacity and that the experience will enhance her driving awareness as she begins the process for her driver's permit.

As a teaching experience I am very impressed with the manner in which the program uses racing as a metaphor for some of life's lessons that need to be imparted at a young age. The program clearly builds upon reinforcement, strengths and building upon experience. It was very interesting to see how the students quickly found a "comfort zone" in the unfamiliar and unrestricted karts.

Please extend my thanks and compliments to the staff for their outstanding work. – Peter R.


Just wanted to say thanks for the excellent experience my boys had going through the Junior Novice Racing program with you this weekend. It's something we should of done years ago. Although they've ridden in so called "go-karts" before, safety and actual driving instruction weren't as strongly emphasized as the program they completed today.

My boy's had a great time learning the safety and mechanics parts of racing. They actually came home and were able to identify all the flags, braking points, etc. during the Champ Car race. – Vince Z.

Chicago Tribune - WomanNews
The New Speed Racers
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
By: Anne E. Stein

Guess who's behind the wheel on the kart track? Girls, and their numbers are growing.

The Stewart siblings are among the 150,000 U.S. adults and children who participate in karting. About 25 percent of that number is female, according to the Concord, N.C.- based World Karting Association.

"Ten years ago that would have been 10 percent, and 20 years ago it would have been about 1 percent," says Tony Stewart, who sees females' increased involvement as a natural progression of motorsports. "It's just taken time to break down walls."

Initially boys and girls approach kart racing differently he says.

"What you typically see [in race school] is that most of the girls don't have as much a desire or need to beat other people," Stewart says. "When the boys start, they want to go as fast as they can. But the girls often turn out to be better drivers and better learners - they pick up on strategy and tactics."

The girls who go on to race in leagues after taking the track's two-day race school, he says, are very competitive and often beat the boys.



Daily Herald - Big Picture Northwest Focus
Wednesday, November 6, 2006
By: Nadia Malik

Kids learn life lessons on the racetrack

"While circling a race track at speeds between 30 and 65 mph certainly has its appeal, the six pre-teens and teenagers who make up the Chicago Indoor Racing Team also take away some loftier lessons from their time on the track.

Tony Stewart, a former racer who runs the Buffalo Grove-based racing center, said he formed the team almost two years ago because there's no racing outlet for this age range.

The six members race at his indoor facility, at 301 Hastings Drive, and also make weekend trips to South Bend, Ind., for their outdoor training and competition.

"While they have fun, the real purpose", Stewart said, "is to teach the young racers some real life lessons."

"Responsibility, Math and Physics, Failure and Teamwork"