There have been some bizarre moments in NASCAR, right, especially when it comes to qualifying. We’re talking about the kind of weird that turns into instant folklore. Remember Juan Pablo Montoya’s collision with a jet dryer? Or the time when a man stole a pace car in Talladega and completed three laps on the co Every once in a while, a new oddity resurfaces. Sometimes it’s an old race clip going viral again. Sometimes it’s a bizarre radio exchange making the rounds. And every now and then, someone digs up a piece of history that feels too strange to be true. This week, NASCAR X got just that. A blast from the past that left longtime fans grinning and newer ones scrambling for context, especially since it involves an orange!
It’s one of those moments that slipped through the cracks. But thanks to a few photos and one very curious post, an old mystery is suddenly back in the spotlight.
The day a giant Orange stole the show at NASCAR’s Chicagoland
A recent post from the popular X account Historic Racing Aerials reignited the conversation. “These pictures were sent to me a few days ago by my dad,” the tweet read. “The famous orange incident at Chicagoland Speedway. I’m not sure if these pictures have ever been seen before.” The photos told the story: A rogue orange flying through the infield during a race against the backdrop of dark, stormy skies.
These pictures were sent to me a few days ago by my dad. The famous orange incident at Chicagoland Speedway. I’m not sure if these pictures have ever been seen before, but I can’t be sure. Chicagoland always had a wicked storm it seemed like. pic.twitter.com/ix7G8L0twZ
— Historic Racetrack Aerials (@RacingAerials) May 28, 2025
There’s weird, and then there’s NASCAR weird. But nothing quite compares to what happened during qualifying for the 2004 Tropicana Twister 300 at Chicagoland Speedway. Drivers and fans came expecting the usual high-speed drama, but no one was ready for a runaway fruit to become the main event.
It was a windy afternoon, and the infamous Tropicana inflatable oranges were strapped down near the track. As Todd Szegedy prepared for his qualifying run, a sudden gust broke the straps holding the big orange balloons. One orange was ripped apart and landed on an RV in the infield, covering four unsuspecting fans. The other orange had a more adventurous journey. It rolled right onto the track, just as Szegedy was barreling through Turns 3 and 4.
Szegedy later joked, “I used to like orange juice. Now it almost killed me.” He managed to avoid the giant fruit, but the bizarre sight startled everyone watching. NASCAR officials immediately stopped qualifying. Track crews tried to blow the 30-foot diameter orange weighing 60 pounds off the track with a powerful blower. But the balloon tore again and got stuck on the turn 1 catch fence. The cleanup became a spectacle of its own, with a truck eventually pinning it against the fence and deflating it.
The photos made it clear that high-speed winds were the culprit behind the flying orange. Gusts ripped through the infield, lifting debris and apparently fruit into the air. Ironically, those same winds helped dry the racing surface quicker than expected. After a two-hour rain delay, qualifying resumed, with the stormy chaos leaving behind one of the weirdest visuals NASCAR fans had ever seen.
New photos shared online have brought this surreal moment back into the spotlight, reminding everyone that in NASCAR, you never know what’s coming next. Chicagoland’s “big orange” moment remains one of the sport’s most bizarre and beloved stories. A perfect blend of unpredictability, humor, and pure racing luck.
Can the Chicagoland Speedway get its NASCAR return?
Chicagoland Speedway once stood as one of NASCAR’s most modern and promising venues. It quickly became a staple on the NASCAR calendar, hosting Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series races, and it certainly had its moments. Kevin Harvick won the inaugural Cup race in 2001, and the speedway soon earned a reputation for thrilling side-by-side action. In 2004, the infamous “big orange” incident brought a dose of humor and chaos, but Chicagoland also delivered plenty of classic racing. The venue hosted the first-ever playoff race in the Cup Series’ Chase era in 2011, making it a critical battleground for championship contenders.
But despite its strong start, Chicagoland’s fortunes began to fade in the late 2010s. Changes to the NASCAR schedule, declining attendance, and shifting interests led to its removal from the Cup Series calendar after 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 sealed its fate, with the track left unused for national NASCAR events. That might just change with NASCAR’s last major update.
As you may know, NASCAR heard fan pleas to move the Championship race away from Phoenix and back to Homestead-Miami. They accepted the idea, but made it so that the race kept going from track to track. Well, some think this might be the Chicago Speedway’s ticket to a Cup Series return.
Why so? The Chicagoland Speedway now has an updated website, similar to how active tracks on the Cup Series calendar do. Add to that a small note that says, “Check back soon for new events,” made fans believe there’s something brewing. Moreover, there was the mention of a Turn 4 Club, an addition to the speedway. And most importantly, Chicagoland was on the list of options on a poll NASCAR put out that asked fans about the Championship Race.
Do you think the track will return?
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