Cars, stars, and drifting marked the first-ever Chicagoland FuelFest at Bridgeview’s SeatGeek Stadium. The spacious east lot played host to the Fast & Furious-inspired festival, and a variety of family-friendly activities kept crowds entertained throughout the full-day event.
Fans of racing lined up for the drifting ride-alongs with professional drifters who zoomed and skirted through the course as the smoke from burning rubber rose into the air. The high-speed action proved to be incredibly popular, and a multitude of unique cars drove through the winding track for nearly eight hours. For those who wanted to take the wheel themselves, Toyota’s GAZOO Racing go karts offered fun and excitement paired with tamer turns and drifts.
Outside of shifting gears, festival goers perused the grounds filled with unique vehicles. Themed cars celebrated the Power Rangers, Imagine Dragons, and more while cars from the Fast & Furious sat on display for fans to take photos with. Keeping crowds entertained with multiple shows, the Golden Riders motorcycle stunt group, contestants on America’s Got Talent, rode their bikes around each other in the tight-knit Globe of Death as onlookers watched in amazement. The riders weaved and circled the entirety of the spherical cage as they defied gravity amid thunderous applause.
Djs added to the entertainment with upbeat tracks leading up to the performance by Walshy Fire of Major Lazer who got the crowd jumping. The fired up crowd roared as Fast & Furious stars Tyrese Gibson and Cody Walker took the stage. Tyrese’s R&B performance and Cody’s update on the $1 million raised for the late Paul Walker’s Reach Out WorldWide disaster relief nonprofit gave fans all the exciting and heartfelt moments they could ask for because, at the end of the day, it’s all about family.