Hy-Vee, IndyCar secure top-shelf lineup for Iowa Speedway concerts

Hy-Vee has booked top-shelf performers for the double-header NTT IndyCar Series this summer at Iowa Speedway.

Performing a pre-race show during the Hy-VeeDeals.com 250 presented by DoorDash on July 23 is three-time Grammy Award-winning country music star Tim McGraw. Following the race, the Billboard record-holding country music duo Florida Georgia Line will take the stage. Of course, it doesn’t end there.

Before the start of the Hy-Vee Salute to Farmers 300 presented by Google on July 24, three-time Grammy Award winner and multi-platinum artist Gwen Stefani will perform her stunning summer set. After the race, the nine-time Grammy-nominated country singer Blake Shelton will close out the weekend.

Christina Gayman, assistant vice-president of communications at Hy-Vee, Inc., said the music lineup shows the West Des Moines-based company does not do anything halfway, as also evidenced by its decision to partner with the state and City of Newton to sponsor the Iowa Speedway race weekend in the first place.

“Hy-Vee is very committed to making this a wonderful experience for everyone to attend, for anyone who lives in the area,” she said. “Our goal was to find the best acts that Live Nation had. As long as they didn’t overlap with anyone coming to the State Fair or something like that … that was the biggest consideration.”

Bud Denker, president of Penske Corporation, which owns IndyCar, commended the “incredible music lineup.” Thanks to the continued support of IndyCar’s partnership with Hy-Vee, Denker suggested the race fans in Iowa will be part of something special at the Newton racetrack.

“With some of the biggest names and best performers in music, combined with great racing at the ‘Fastest Short Track on the Planet,’ the weekend is going to deliver an experience unlike one we have ever seen in IndyCar,” Denker said in the March 7 press release of the music lineup.

The pre-race shows will feature 50-minute sets, while the post-race shows will extend to 90 minutes. All four performances, Gayman said, will create a “festival-like” atmosphere at the Iowa Speedway, which she believes will resonate with attendees and blend in well with the other family-focused entertainment.

In addition to the on-track action and concerts, the Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend will include a food truck village and challenge featuring dozens of Midwest vendors, kids games, special activities to honor the nation’s farmers and other festivities. Families and race fans are going to love it, Gayman said.

“We have spent the past two years not doing a lot of the things that we love to do or not experiencing some of the things that we might have tried to experience,” she said. “And that includes even outdoor activities in a lot of cases. A lot of those were cancelled for some time … We’re back in person doing things again.”

Newton Mayor Mike Hansen recounted the entertainment lineup during the March 7 city council meeting and said the city is looking forward to “a fantastic, family-friendly weekend” — not only with the NTT IndyCar Series, but also with the PGI convention and Wild Cat Country Fest.

“With all those things going on … this makes Newton the place to be this summer,” Hansen said. “I hope all of you can come out and enjoy.”

IndyCar and Hy-Vee announced its presenting sponsors in mid-February. In addition to being the key event sponsor, PepsiCo will also sponsor Hy-Vee’s No. 45 car throughout the race season. DoorDash and Google are presenting sponsors for the Saturday and Sunday races, respectively.

Anne Fischgrund, general manager of Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend, will be facilitating the three-day event. Having big-name, consumer brands as presenting sponsors, she said, shows the level of support and commitment IndyCar and Hy-Vee are contributing to the race weekend.

“As this event comes together, it’s so exciting,” Fischgrund said. “…In August when we announced this opportunity coming to Iowa Speedway, there was rumors of concerts and food trucks and really bringing a huge party to Iowa. Who doesn’t want to be part of that opportunity?”

To purchase tickets, visit www.hyveeindycarweekend.com or call the race ticket office at 641-417-6007.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com