(Words and photos by Jacob Marshall) – Chi-Town’s King of the Streets 2016 event, or KOTS, runs based on a simple philosophy: No prep, no problem. Running the baddest street cars in the country on the historic, although in this instance unprepped, surface of Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove Wisconsin. This grudge style event features multiple bike and car classes, that span from a small tire street car class, to a no holds barred unlimited class where tire traction is the only restriction.
Due to its street racing roots, KOTS is a lights out event. Meaning that no times are displayed at the big end of the track after a pass. And as a result of its street racing authenticity, KOTS XV attracted notable participants from all over the country. Famous racecars such as the Murder Nova and Boosted GT, made the trek north to try their luck at the thousands of dollars in cash available to the winners of each class. This year there was $15,000 up for grabs in the Senior class alone! This KOTS, like every KOTS I’ve attended before it, exceeded my expectations. The cars get quicker every year, and the crowds just keep growing. If you look in the background of these shots you can see that the stands were full the entire length of the track, not to mention the spectators lining the walls nearly to the 8th.
I’ll admit that the Grove is my home track, and that this at least my 5th year of this event. But with alcohol fed blower cars, twin turbo big blocks, and more nitrous cars than you can shake a stick at, it’s obvious why I come back each year to KOTS. If you need to feel the rush of big money street racing, but don’t want to spend your nights getting acquainted to a cellmate named Bubba, than you need to head up to KOTS and see what the fuss is all about.
