Matt Kenseth, driver of the No. 20 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing and the top seed in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, visited Chicago landmarks on Wednesday ahead of the GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedwayto get a feel for the city hosting the start of NASCAR’s playoffs.
Kenseth’s first stop was at Navy Pier, where he rode the historic 150-foot-high Ferris wheel. Modeled after the very first Ferris wheel which was built for Chicago’s World’s Fair, the Navy Pier Ferris wheel is one of Chicago’s iconic attractions, providing breathtaking views of the city’s skyline. Kenseth also autographed Chicagoland Speedway’s entry in the Great Chicago Fire Hydrants’ fundraiser, which supports the 100 Club of Chicago which provides for families of police officers, firefighters and paramedics who have lost their lives in the line-of-duty.
Next up was the Cloud Gate at Millennium Park, home to the famous “Bean.” The 110-ton sculpture is a collection of highly polished, stainless steel plates that are strikingly reflective. A 12-ft high arc provides the gate portion of the sculpture, which at 66-feet long and 33-feet high is the largest of its kind in the world.
Finally, Kenseth arrived at The Ledge at Skydeck Chicago, located in the Willis Tower. Situated 1,353 feet above the streets of Chicago, Skydeck Chicago invites visitors to step outside the third tallest building in the world into a glass box that sits 4-feet outside the rest of the structure. It was a challenging day for Kenseth, who battled through a fear of heights to complete the day.
“I did not stand on the glass (ledge) because I’m a big chicken, but I got to see a lot and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” said Kenseth. “Honestly, the whole day was fun, even though I’m scared of heights. We’re looking forward to getting out to Chicagoland Speedway to start the Chase this Sunday and competing for a championship.”
CLS PR
