Iowa Speedway

Iowa Speedway is a 7/8-mile (1.4 km) paved oval motor racing track in Newton, Iowa, approximately 30-mile (48 km) east of 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.

Iowa Speedway
"The Fastest Short Track on The Planet"
Iowa Speedway layout
LocationNewton, Iowa
Time zoneUTC-06:00
Coordinates41°40′40″N 93°0′52″W
Capacity30,000[1]
OwnerIowa Speedway, LLC
(subsidiary of NASCAR)[2]
OperatorIowa Speedway, LLC
Broke ground21 June 2005 (2005-06-21)
Opened15 September 2006 (2006-09-15)
Construction cost$70 million
ArchitectPaxton Waters Architecture
Rusty Wallace
Former namesQuad Cities International Raceway Park (planning stages name)
Major eventsCurrent:
IndyCar Series
Hy-Vee Salute to Farmers 300 presented by Google & Hy-VeeDeals.com 250 presented by DoorDash (2007–2020, 2022–present)
Indy NXT (2007–2013, 2015–2018, 2022–present)
ARCA Menards Series
Calypso Lemonade 150 (2006–2013, 2015–present)
Future:
NASCAR Cup Series (2024)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
U.S. Cellular 250 (2009–2019, 2024)
CircuitCity.com 250 (2011–2019)
Former:
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
M&M's 200 (2009–2019)
Fan Appreciation 200 (2012–2013)
US F2000 (2010, 2017)
Pro Mazda (2009–2012, 2015)
Rolex Sports Car Series (2007)
Websitewww.iowaspeedway.com
D-shaped Oval (2006–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length0.875 miles (1.408 km)
Turns4
BankingTurns: 12–14° (Progressive)
Frontstretch: 10°
Backstretch:4°
Race lap record0:17.4908 (Australia Ryan Briscoe, Dallara IR-04, 2008, IndyCar)
Road Course (2006–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length1.300 miles (2.092 km)
Turns9
BankingTurns 1–2: 12–14°
Frontstretch: 10°
Backstretch: 4°
Race lap record0:41.624 (Canada Michael Valiante, Riley MkXI, 2007, DP)

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 also secured a combined NASCAR Camping World East-West race where results counted 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 NASCAR Xfinity Series 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.[4] "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.[5]

Following news of financial issues at the track, the facility was purchased by NASCAR by November 2013.[6][7]

View of the start/finish line and the pit lane

The track has periodically been rumored as a candidate for a NASCAR 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.[8]

In April 2020, the NASCAR-sanctioned races at Iowa for the 2020 Xfinity and Truck seasons were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Only the ARCA Menards Series and IndyCar 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.[9][10] Iowa Speedway did not host an IndyCar, NASCAR Xfinity Series or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in their 2021 seasons, but did host the ARCA Menards Series. IndyCar announced in August 2021 that they would be returning in 2022.[11]

On October 2, 2023, the Iowa Speedway website briefly listed a NASCAR Cup Series event on its website scheduled for June 16, 2024, before removing the listing. It was confirmed through NASCAR that a cup race will take place on June 16, 2024.[12]

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 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 layout

The track was designed with influence from Rusty Wallace and patterned after Richmond Raceway 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 0.875 mi (1.408 km).[13] The IndyCar Series timing and scoring use a length of 0.894 mi (1.439 km).[14]

Lap records

As of June 2019, the fastest official race lap records of the Iowa Speedway are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleDate
D-Shaped Oval: 1.408 km (2006–present)[15][16]
IndyCar0:17.4908[17]Australia Ryan BriscoeDallara IR-042008 Iowa Corn Indy 250
Indy Pro Series0:19.791[18]United Kingdom Alex LloydDallara IPS2007 Iowa 100
Star Mazda0:22.052[19]United States Sage KaramStar Formula Mazda 'Pro'2012 Iowa Star Mazda round
NASCAR Truck0:23.747[20]United States Chandler SmithToyota Tundra2019 M&M's 200
US F20000:23.881[21]United States Sage KaramVan Diemen DP082010 Iowa US F2000 round
NASCAR Xfinity0:23.916[22]United States Elliott SadlerChevrolet Camaro SS2018 U.S. Cellular 250
Road Course: 2.092 km (2006–present)[15][16]
DP0:41.624[23]Canada Michael ValianteRiley MkXI2007 Iowa 400k
Grand-Am GT0:45.663[24]United States Kelly CollinsPontiac GXP.R2007 Iowa 400k

Races

Current

Future

Former

Notes
  1. "Iowa Speedway Adds Seating for June IndyCar Series Race". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
  2. "About the Speedway: Iowa Entertainment, Events, Racing, Concerts". Iowaspeedway.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  3. "NASCAR : NASCAR Drivers, Race Standings & News". NASCAR.com. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  4. "New Owners for the Iowa Speedway". Associated Press via KTVO-TV. 5 July 2011. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  5. "Iowa Speedway sold to Clement family". Associated Press via Yahoo Sports. 2011-07-05. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  6. "NASCAR buys Iowa Speedway, bolsters Heartland track". Nascar.com. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  7. "NASCAR announced as buyer of Iowa Speedway | the des Moines Register …". www.desmoinesregister.com. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  8. "Iowa Senate bill gives $8 million to Newton speedway to attract Sprint Cup races". Blogs.desmoinesregister.com. 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  9. "Iowa Speedway to be Closed or Sold? - the Racing Insiders". 20 July 2020.
  10. "Penske weighing Iowa Speedway purchase". 21 July 2020.
  11. "NTT INDYCAR SERIES RETURNS TO IOWA FOR 2022 DOUBLEHEADER". IndyCar. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  12. Bianchi, Jordan; Gluck, Jeff (2 October 2023). "NASCAR to add Iowa Speedway to 2024 Cup Series schedule: sources". The Athletic. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  13. Iowa Speedway at NASCAR.com
  14. 2015 IndyCar race result at Indycar homepage
  15. "Iowa - RacingCircuits". Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  16. "Iowa - Motorsport Magazine". motorsportmagazine.com. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  17. "2008 Iowa Indycars". Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  18. "2007 Iowa Indy Lights Race Statistics". Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  19. "2012 Pro Mazda Iowa Race Statistics". Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  20. "NASCAR Truck 2019 Iowa Fastest Laps". Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  21. "2010 US F2000 Iowa Race Statistics". Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  22. "NASCAR Xfinity 2018 Iowa II Fastest Laps". Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  23. "2007 Iowa Grand-Am". Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  24. "2007 Grand American Iowa 400k [GT]". Retrieved 4 October 2023.

References
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