Iowa Speedway is a 7/8-mile (1.4 km) paved
oval motor racing track in
Newton, Iowa
Newton is the county seat of, and most populous city in, Jasper County, Iowa, United States. Located east of Des Moines, Newton is in Central Iowa. As of the 2020 Census, the city population was 15,760. It is the home of Iowa Speedway, Maytag Da ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, approximately east of
Des Moines
Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, ...
. It has over 25,000 permanent seats as well as a unique multi-tiered
RV viewing area along the backstretch. The premiere event of the track is the
Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend held yearly in July since its
inaugural running in
2007.
History
The track opened in September 2006 with the Soy
Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a form of diesel fuel derived from plants or animals and consisting of long-chain fatty acid esters. It is typically made by chemically reacting lipids such as animal fat (tallow), soybean oil, or some other vegetable oil with ...
250, won by Woody Howard, for the
USAR Hooters Pro Cup
The CARS Solid Rock Carriers Tour (formerly known as the USARacing Pro Cup Series, USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, CARS Pro Cup Series, Rev-Oil Pro Cup Series, CARS X1-R Pro Cup Series) is a stock car auto racing series in the United States. It is s ...
Four Champions playoff. The
Indy Racing League
The IndyCar Series, currently known as the NTT IndyCar Series under sponsorship, is the highest class of regional North American open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars in the United States, which has been conducted under the auspices of ...
announced a race there on
June 24
Events Pre-1600
* 1312 BC – Mursili II launches a campaign against the Kingdom of Azzi-Hayasa.
* 109 – Roman emperor Trajan inaugurates the Aqua Traiana, an aqueduct that channels water from Lake Bracciano, northwest of Rome.
* ...
,
2007, the
Iowa Corn Indy 250, which was won by
Dario Franchitti, who barely nipped
Marco Andretti
Marco Michael Andretti (born March 13, 1987) is an American auto racing driver who drives the No. 98 car for Bryan Herta Autosport, Andretti Herta Autosport part-time in the IndyCar Series. He is the third generation of the famous Andretti racin ...
at the finish line. The track also secured a combined NASCAR Camping World
East
East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth.
Etymology
As in other languages, the word is formed from the fa ...
-
West
West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sunset, Sun sets on the Earth.
Etymology
The word "west" is a Germanic languages, German ...
race where results counted towards both series' championships.
That race delivered a dramatic battle between 17-year-old
Joey Logano
Joseph Thomas Logano (born May 24, 1990), is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 22 Ford Mustang for Team Penske, and part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Seri ...
from the Busch East Series, who defeated
Daytona 500 champion
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick (born December 8, 1975) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 4 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing.
Harvick is the 2014 Cup Series champio ...
, 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
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, and is the only series in NASCAR to race production pickup truck based stock cars. The series is one of th ...
race and a
NASCAR Xfinity Series
The NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) is a stock car racing series organized by NASCAR. It is promoted as NASCAR's second-tier circuit to the organization's top level Cup Series. NXS events are frequently held as a support race on the day prior to a ...
race in 2009.
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. "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
Featherlite Trailers is an all-aluminum trailer manufacturer, located in Cresco, Iowa. It is the oldest all-aluminum trailer brand in the United States, and today manufactures horse trailers and a range of specialty trailers.
History
The co ...
and
Featherlite Coaches Featherlite Coaches is a luxury motor coach manufacturer based in Suffolk, Virginia. It sells through dealers in the United States.
Featherlite has produced some of the most expensive motor coaches ever made. The company debuted the $2.5 million ...
for the transport of cars and staff. Rusty Wallace will remain a minority owner in the track.
Following news of financial issues at the track, the facility was purchased by
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and hi ...
by November 2013.
The track has periodically been rumored as a candidate for a
NASCAR Cup Series
The NASCAR Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). The series began in 1949 as the Strictly Stock Division, and from 1950 to 1970 it was known as the Grand National Division. In 1971, ...
race; in 2013, a bill to allow $8 million in upgrades to the speedway toward that goal began circulating in the Iowa Legislature.
In April 2020, the NASCAR-sanctioned races at Iowa for the
2020 Xfinity and
Truck seasons were canceled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
. Only the
ARCA Menards Series
The ARCA Menards Series is an American stock car series, the premier division of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). It is considered a minor, semi-professional league of stock car racing, used as a feeder series into the three nation ...
and
IndyCar
INDYCAR, LLC, is an American-based auto racing sanctioning body for Indy car racing and other disciplines of open wheel car racing. The organization sanctions five racing series: the premier IndyCar Series with its centerpiece the Indianapolis ...
races were held in July, with an extremely reduced number of spectators. After the races, it was reported that the track is for sale following the 2020 season. Iowa Speedway did not host an
IndyCar
INDYCAR, LLC, is an American-based auto racing sanctioning body for Indy car racing and other disciplines of open wheel car racing. The organization sanctions five racing series: the premier IndyCar Series with its centerpiece the Indianapolis ...
,
NASCAR Xfinity Series
The NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) is a stock car racing series organized by NASCAR. It is promoted as NASCAR's second-tier circuit to the organization's top level Cup Series. NXS events are frequently held as a support race on the day prior to a ...
or
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, and is the only series in NASCAR to race production pickup truck based stock cars. The series is one of th ...
race in their 2021 seasons, but did
host
A host is a person responsible for guests at an event or for providing hospitality during it.
Host may also refer to:
Places
* Host, Pennsylvania, a village in Berks County
People
*Jim Host (born 1937), American businessman
* Michel Host ...
the
ARCA Menards Series
The ARCA Menards Series is an American stock car series, the premier division of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). It is considered a minor, semi-professional league of stock car racing, used as a feeder series into the three nation ...
. IndyCar announced in August 2021 that they would be
returning
In retail, a product return is the process of a customer taking previously purchased merchandise back to the retailer, and in turn receiving a refund in the original form of payment, exchange for another item (identical or different), or a sto ...
in
2022
File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; 2022 Sri Lankan protests, Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretari ...
.
Other events
The facility also hosts a few driving schools, 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.
In August 2022, the facility will host the annual
Pyrotechnics Guild International The Pyrotechnics Guild International or PGI founded in 1969 is an independent worldwide nonprofit organization of amateur and professional fireworks enthusiasts. Its membership is the largest pyrotechnic community in the world.
The Guild has a yea ...
convention, a weeklong event featuring fireworks displays, educational seminars, pyrotechnic manufacturing, and other activities related to the pyrotechnic arts.
Track length and layout
![Iowa_Speedway_track_map](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Iowa_Speedway_track_map.png)
The track was designed with influence from
Rusty Wallace
Russell William "Rusty" Wallace Jr. (born August 14, 1956) is an American former NASCAR racing driver. He has won the 1984 NASCAR Cup series Rookie of the Year and the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. Over the course of his successful care ...
and patterned after
Richmond Raceway
Richmond Raceway (RR) is a , ''D''-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in unincorporated Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Known as ...
as a D-shaped oval, a short track where Wallace was very successful.
The track length is disputed by the two major series that run at Iowa. The NASCAR timing and scoring use a length of . The IndyCar Series timing and scoring use a length of .
2015 IndyCar race result at Indycar homepage
/ref>
Races
Current
* IndyCar Series
The IndyCar Series, currently known as the NTT IndyCar Series under sponsorship, is the highest class of regional North American open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars in the United States, which has been conducted under the auspices of ...
** Hy-Vee Salute to Farmers 300 presented by Google (July)
** Hy-VeeDeals.com 250 presented by DoorDash (July)
* Indy Lights
Indy NXT, previously Indy Lights, is an American developmental automobile racing series sanctioned by IndyCar, currently known as Firestone Indy NXT Series for sponsorship reasons. Indy Lights is the highest step on the Road to Indy, a program ...
(July)
* ARCA Racing Series
The ARCA Menards Series is an American stock car series, the premier division of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). It is considered a minor, semi-professional league of stock car racing, used as a feeder series into the three national ...
– Calypso Lemonade 150 (June)
Former
* NASCAR Xfinity Series
The NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) is a stock car racing series organized by NASCAR. It is promoted as NASCAR's second-tier circuit to the organization's top level Cup Series. NXS events are frequently held as a support race on the day prior to a ...
** CircuitCity.com 250
The CircuitCity.com 250 presented by Tamron was a 250-lap, 218.75-mile NASCAR Xfinity Series race which has been held every spring since 2011 at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa, in either May or June. It had different title sponsor almost every yea ...
(June)
** U.S. Cellular 250 (July)
* NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, and is the only series in NASCAR to race production pickup truck based stock cars. The series is one of t ...
–
** M&M's 200
The M&M's 200 presented by Casey's General Stores was a 200-lap NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race held at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. The race ran from 2009 to 2019 before being canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and re ...
(June)
** Fan Appreciation 200
The Fan Appreciation 200 was a 200 lap NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race held at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. The second race held at Iowa Speedway, it originally shared a name and title sponsor with its sister race, the American Ethanol 2 ...
(September)
* NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) (previously the NASCAR Winston Modified Tour and NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series from 1985 until 2005) is a modified stock car racing series owned and operated by NASCAR in the Modified Division. The Mod ...
(July)
* Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series
The Rolex Sports Car Series was the premier series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. It was a North American-based sports car series founded in 2000 under the name Grand American Road Racing Championship to replace the failed ...
* USAC Silver Crown
* USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Championship
* USAC NOS Energy National Midget Championship
* NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
The ARCA Menards Series East (formerly Busch East Series, Busch North Series, Camping World East Series, and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East) is a regional stock car racing series owned and operated by the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) and ...
and West
West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sunset, Sun sets on the Earth.
Etymology
The word "west" is a Germanic languages, German ...
(July)
* USAR Pro Cup
* Indy Pro 2000 Championship
The USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires, formerly known as the Star Mazda Championship, Pro Mazda Championship, and later Indy Pro 2000 Championship, is an open-wheel racing series serving as the third step on the Road to Indy l ...
* U.S. F2000 National Championship
The USF2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires is an American racing series using the American variation of the Formula Ford formula, "F2000", that resumed operation for the 2010 season. As of 2022, it is sanctioned by the United States Auto ...
Notes
References
Speedway website
*
Trackpedia guide to driving this track
{{Navboxes
, title=Articles and topics related to Iowa Speedway
, state=collapsed
, list1=
{{Indy Racing League
{{Indy Lights racetracks
{{ARCA tracks
{{NASCAR K&N Pro Series racetracks
{{NASCAR Nationwide Series racetracks
{{NASCAR Truck Series racetracks
{{USAC National Sprint Car Series race venues
{{Grand-Am circuits
{{Pro Mazda Championship race venues
ARCA Menards Series tracks
IndyCar Series tracks
Buildings and structures in Jasper County, Iowa
Motorsport venues in Iowa
NASCAR tracks
Tourist attractions in Jasper County, Iowa
NASCAR races at Iowa Speedway
2006 establishments in Iowa
Newton, Iowa