NASCAR
What Will Iowa Speedway’s Impact be with their Inaugural Cup Race?
In a few days, the NASCAR Cup Series will race on a new track in Newton, Iowa. The 7/8-mile Iowa Speedway is set to become the newest stop on the calendar for America’s premier racing series. Turning 18 years of age in 2024, the hidden gem in the cornfields will open its gates to a standing room only crowd on Sunday.
First built in 2006 with a large influence from Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace, Iowa Speedway was beloved by all who raced on it as a driver’s track. The sweeping corners offered multi-groove racing and tight quarters seen nowhere else on the schedule.
The bullring opened with ARCA and IndyCar events, with Xfinity and Truck Series joining in 2009. For a decade, many current Cup Series stars became mainstays in Iowa Speedway victory lane. From Brad Keselowski to Chase Briscoe, 15 of the 20 past Xfinity race winners will take Sunday’s green flag. The collective love by drivers for Iowa Speedway has also been mirrored by the fanbase. For nearly two decades, a Cup race was teased in Newton.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit especially hard for homegrown Midwest race fans in Iowa. The track did not find another NASCAR National Series race date until this year. Only occasional ARCA and IndyCar events have occurred in the past five years. The IndyCar dates have seen immense racing action and fan response. The Hawkeye State faithful have proven that they deserve a spot on NASCAR’s schedule, being finally rewarded this summer.
Iowa Speedway also held a unique position in the K&N Pro Series (Now ARCA). For much of this track’s history, Newton has hosted a combination race between this division’s East and West Series. Whether it was Logano, Busch, Ankrum, or Mayer, these regional races helped forge the paths of many star drivers.
In total, 34 of the 37 drivers in Sunday’s field have past laps on Iowa Speedway. A partial repave is a new variable though, likely upping speed and grip this weekend. It will be exciting to welcome back a track that was on the brink of obscurity to the racing spotlight. If fan interest leading into Sunday is any indicator, Iowa Speedway may become a long term home for NASCAR.
Written by Peter Stratta
Be sure to follow us on Twitter/X
Be sure to follow the writer on Twitter/X
Photo Credit to Robert Laberge/Getty Images
