IndyCar returning to Iowa Speedway for weekend doubleheader

WEST DES MOINES — When NASCAR released its schedules in late October last year and a date at Iowa Speedway wasn’t on it, rumors began to swirl about the Newton racetrack being in trouble.

It was even reported by a racing insider that the track was on its way to closing.

Not even three months later, Newton’s 7/8 mile track landed an ARCA Series race which took place this past summer.

The biggest news of all came Thursday when the IndyCar Series, Hy-Vee and the City of Newton announced a huge racing weekend featuring the IndyCar Series in July.

“I’m the happiest mayor in the state of Iowa today. On behalf of the city of Newton, I’m thrilled to welcome the IndyCar Series back to the Iowa Speedway next July,” Newton Mayor Mike Hansen said. “We believe these events will breathe a new life into the Iowa Speedway and lead to future improvements as well as increased use of this facility and other community events and festivals.”

The NTT IndyCar Series returns to Iowa Speedway for the 2022 season. The doubleheader weekend features the Hy-VeeDeals.com 250 on July 23 and the Hy-Vee Salute to Farmers 300 on July 24. Both races will be nationally televised.

The sponsor is planning a “festival atmosphere” for the race weekend, according to a release.

“We are forming a partnership today. And this is going to make the IndyCar Series better,” NTT IndyCar Series owner Roger Penske said. “It’s a special day for us. The competitive nature of the track and the visibility for the fans at the track has made this track a priority. Speed here and success here breeds success in the 500.”

The 2022 weekend is the first of a multiyear deal with the Newton track. Iowa Speedway had been the host of 15 IndyCar Series races before taking a one-year hiatus this past summer.

“This removes all doubt that the speedway is going away. It takes that away,” Hansen said. “We’ve been working with Penske on and off since (IndyCar) left in 2020. Most recently, in the past 14 months, we’ve had conversations with Penske knowing that what we all were looking for was that sponsorship that could solidify and resurrect Iowa Speedway.”

That sponsor is now Hy-Vee. And Hy-Vee chairman, CEO and president Randy Edeker promises a big weekend off the track, too.

“With our strong connection to local communities and involvement in the state, we plan to host an event that will receive national attention and make Newton an annual destination for racing fans,” Edeker said. “The weekend will be filled with multiple attractions and events that celebrate everything that is great about Iowa and NTT IndyCar Series racing.”

Edeker said Hy-Vee plans to host a food truck challenge and possibly a back-to-back challenge.

The food truck challenge would feature 100 food trucks from local businesses competing for a chance to win a brand new food truck.

The back-to-back challenge would be for the drivers, possibly giving a bonus to any IndyCar Series driver who wins on both days.

Edeker said Hy-Vee plans to give 1,000 tickets to the July 23 race to kids who have never been to a race before. And 2,000 tickets to farmers for the July 24 event.

There also will be some kind of musical acts and possibly a $500 coupon book will be given out to fans who choose to camp.

“We want to fill that place up and the campgrounds are important to Penske,” Edeker said.

Thursday’s press conference also featured Bobby Rahal, Graham Rahal and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.

Bobby Rahal is the owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Graham Rahal drives for the racing team.

“There was a lot of concern about where the Iowa Speedway would fare out with the pandemic and derecho that came through last year,” Bobby Rahal said. “It’s been driven by enthusiasm to bring the venue back. We’ve been working with Penske for the last 14 months, encouraging him to bring back the IndyCar Series. That was our best hope to resurrect the track.”

Graham Rahal said the wheels starting turning in Edeker’s head last fall.

“We were in this room or close to here discussing after Iowa how Hy-Vee can have a bigger role with our racing team,” Graham Rahal said. “When Randy asked me if we were racing at Iowa next year, I had to say no. I thought that might seal the deal, but instead I could see quickly the wheels turning about what could come of this.”

Hy-Vee started its relationship with IndyCar Series with a simple one-time partnership in 2020, sponsoring a partial season with Graham Rahal’s No. 45 car.

That partnership is now even bigger and the second announcement Thursday was that Hy-Vee will be running a full-time car with Rahal, Letterman and Lanigan Racing.

“There’s been a lot of rumors and questions swirling, but I could see from social media the fans are excited,” said Graham Rahal, who was sporting a Hy-Vee racing shirt on Thursday. “The opportunity for everybody is tremendous there. It’s just a great race track for the drivers and fans.”

Gov. Reynolds wants to keep the IndyCar Series at Iowa Speedway for years to come.

“The Iowa Speedway solidified our state’s commitment to this sport when the track was built 15 years ago,” Reynolds said. “I personally challenged leaders to find a way to bring that excitement of a high-speed, action-packed IndyCar race back to Iowa Speedway. And I’m so pleased to be here today to help make this announcement.

“IndyCar’s return is a win-win both in terms of the experience its offers drivers and fans as well as just the positive impact it will have on Iowa’s economy.”

While securing IndyCar’s future with Iowa Speedway was a priority, Hansen said he’s also working with NASCAR for future dates.

“I did have a great conversation with the highest level of folks at NASCAR and I was very encouraged from what I heard from them for Iowa Speedway as we move forward,” Hansen said. “There are some things we need to do. The track has aged. We need to do something with that. But we are all in.”

Two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Josef Newgarden is a three-time winner at Iowa Speedway and the most recent to celebrate in Victory Lane.

Other champions at the track include four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves along with “500” and NTT IndyCar Series champions Simon Pagenaud, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan and Dario Franchitti.