The Winning Formula Chili Cookoff at Putnam Park Road Course
Get ready for a one-of-a-kind weekend that combines the thrill of motorsports with the smoky, savory excitement of a world-class chili cookoff! The Winning Formula Chili Cookoff is coming to the legendary Putnam Park Road Course in Spencer, Indiana on October 17–18, 2026, offering sports car racing fans and food lovers alike an unforgettable two-day experience. This unique event blends the raw energy of track action with the laid-back, community spirit of a classic cookoff competition, creating an atmosphere that’s hard to find anywhere else on the motorsports calendar.
Putnam Park Road Course is one of the Midwest’s most beloved and technically demanding road courses, and it serves as the perfect backdrop for this festival-style event. Whether you’re a die-hard racing enthusiast who can’t get enough of sports cars attacking corners at speed or someone who simply loves a great bowl of chili and a fun outdoor atmosphere, this weekend has something to offer everyone. The combination of competition on and off the track makes for an energy-packed environment that keeps the excitement running all day long.
Attendees can expect to soak in the sights and sounds of sports car racing while sampling incredible chili recipes crafted by passionate competitors who take their cookoff game just as seriously as any race team takes its lap times. The mid-October timing means the Indiana weather sets the perfect mood — crisp autumn air, the smell of burning rubber mixed with simmering spices, and the vibrant colors of fall surrounding the circuit. It’s a sensory experience unlike anything else in the region.
Whether you’re coming out to cheer on your favorite racers, enter your secret-recipe chili into the competition, or simply enjoy a fantastic autumn weekend at a premier motorsports facility, The Winning Formula Chili Cookoff is an event you won’t want to miss. Mark your calendars for October 17–18, 2026, head out to Putnam Park Road Course in Spencer, Indiana, and get ready for a weekend where everyone — on the track and in the cookoff tent — is chasing their own winning formula.
Putnam Park Road Course
5251 S County Road 550 E Greencastle, IN
