Iowa Speedway

Iowa Speedway is a 7/8-mile (1.4 km) paved oval motor racing track in Newton, Iowa, United States, approximately 30 miles (48 km) east of Des Moines. The track was designed with influence from Rusty Wallace and patterned after Richmond International Raceway, a short track where Wallace was very successful. It has over 25,000 permanent seats as well as a unique multi-tiered Recreational Vehicle viewing area along the backstretch. It is one of only three tracks on the NASCAR circuit to have a SAFER barrier installed around the entire circumference of the outer wall (with Martinsville Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway being the other).

History

Flagstand

The track opened in September 2006 with the Soy Biodiesel 250, won by Woody Howard, for the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Four Champions playoff. The Indy Racing League announced a race there on June 24, 2007, the Iowa Corn Indy 250, which was won by Dario Franchitti, who barely nipped Marco Andretti at the finish line. The track has secured a combined NASCAR Camping World East-West race where results will count towards both series' championships.^[3] That race delivered a dramatic battle between 17-year-old Joey Logano from the Busch East Series, who defeated Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick, 1998 West Series champion, who represented the West Series at the end of the race. The track was awarded a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and a Nationwide Series race in 2009.

The track has periodically been rumored as a candidate for a Monster Energy Cup Series race; in 2013 a bill to allow $8 million in upgrades to the speedway toward that goal began circulating in the Iowa legislature.^[4]

Ownership changes

On July 5, 2011 it was announced that the Manatt family, builders and primary owners of the Iowa Speedway through the holding company U.S. Motorsports Corporation, had sold their majority interest to the Clement family, owners of Featherlite Incorporated.^[5] "It was our privilege to help build the track five years ago, and like a proud parent, we've enjoyed watching it thrive and grow," said company president Brad Manatt. Featherlite Incorporated already has a long-standing relationship with NASCAR. Many race teams use Featherlite Trailers and Featherlite Coaches for the transport of cars and staff. Rusty Wallace will remain a minority owner in the track.^[6]

Following news of financial issues at the track, the facility was purchased by NASCAR by November 2013.^[7][8]

Other events

The facility also hosts several driving schools year-round, such as the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience and The Formula Experience, where visitors have the opportunity to experience the speedway from behind the wheel of a race car.

Track length

The track length is disputed by the two major series that run at Iowa. The NASCAR timing and scoring use a length of 0.875 miles (1.408 km).^[9] The IRL timing and scoring use a length of 0.894 miles (1.439 km).^[10]

Races

Current

• Verizon IndyCar Series – Iowa Corn Indy 300 (July)
• NASCAR Xfinity Series
  • American Ethanol E15 250 (June)
  • U.S. Cellular 250 (July)
• NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – M&M's 200 (June)
• Road to Indy (July)
  • Indy Lights
  • U.S. F2000 National Championship
• ARCA Racing Series – Prairie Meadows 150 (July)

Former

• NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – Fan Appreciation 200
• Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series
• USAC Silver Crown

Notes

References

• Speedway website
• Map and circuit history at RacingCircuits.info
• Iowa Speedway race results at Racing-Reference
• Trackpedia guide to driving this track

Coordinates: 41°40′40″N 93°0′52″W / 41.67778°N 93.01444°W / 41.67778; -93.01444