Listen to the Iowa Speedway Feature Podcast

By Kevin Ramsell
The Midwest is blessed with a variety of racetracks for fans to enjoy and there is one that caters to each fan. But its rare to find a track that caters to a fan who likes the competition a short track gives and the speed of a super speedway. Iowa Speedway in Newton, IA may be a track that can cater to that fan.

The track was designed by ABC/ESPN Racing Analyst and 1989 NASCAR Champion Rusty Wallace. The track is 7/8-mile in length with 12, 13, 14 degree progressive banking in each turn and has seating for up to 30,000 people. But that will increase as they will host its first NASCAR Nationwide Series race later this year.

Its a facility that is not only racer friendly but is fan friendly as well. It’s motto is “America’s Place to Race.” A motto that was created by its management to set as a goal to what they would like their track to be, and they are quickly living up to that motto.

The opening weekend for the United States Super Truck (USST) Challenge series started off not as planned. Rain Thursday and Friday forced the series to cancel race one of the racing weekend's double header at Hawkeye Downs (Cedar Rapids, IA). Race two of the weekend at the Iowa Speedway (Newton, IA) on the other hand was a great success. The sun was shining and the teams were able to race, but mother nature was not done, she provided the drivers with a stiff breeze making the 7/8th mile at Iowa Speedway a little more challenging.

John Wood of Sun Prairie, WI driving his #72 Patherfinder & Rockweiler Insulation Ford, started where he left the Iowa Speedway last year, fast. John motored around the speedway with an average speed of 126.500 MPH (24.901 seconds). He was followed by Chris Sevey (Waterloo, IA) and Jess Williams (Hickory Flats, MS).

NEWTON, Iowa – Kyle Busch accomplished on Sunday what previous visiting NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers could not do – win the NASCAR Camping World Series East-West combination race at Iowa Speedway.

While Kevin Harvick had to settle for second place in 2007 and Kasey Kahne came away as the runner-up in 2008, Busch took the first-place trophy in the Long John Silver’s 200.

Busch, fresh from competing in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte Saturday night, made the most of a Sunday morning practice session at Iowa to fine tune the set up of his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. He went on to capture the Coors Light Pole Award and dominate the race – leading 168 of the 200 laps.

With Sunday's victory, Busch locked up a secure starting spot in the postseason NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown.

Sunday's Long John Silver's 200 Set For 5:15 p.m.

NEWTON, Iowa (May 16, 2009) – Iowa native Brett Moffitt turned in the fastest time in Saturday's practice session at Iowa Speedway in advance of Sunday's NASCAR Camping World Series race, the Long John Silver's 200 presented by A&W Restaurants.

Moffitt, from Grimes, Iowa, debuted in the NASCAR Camping World Series East earlier this year by becoming the youngest driver in series history to earn a Coors Light Pole Award. On Saturday the Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate served noticed that he could be a contender in Sunday's annual combination race between the East and West with a fast lap of 23.847 seconds (132.092 mph) in the No. 44 Karl Chevrolet Chevrolet.

• Top Developmental Drivers Head To Iowa Speedway
• The King, Richard Petty, To Serve As Grand Marshal
• Camping World Series Championship Points Up For Grabs

Combination Race Attracts Drivers From Coast To Coast
NASCAR's top developmental drivers from coast to coast will converge on Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa this week for the Long John Silver's 200 on Sunday, May 17.

Drivers of the NASCAR Camping World Series East and NASCAR Camping World Series West go head to head in their only points-paying combination race of the season.

But there's much more at stake in this annual event than championship points. Just ask Joey Logano, who edged Kevin Harvick to win the inaugural combination race at Iowa in 2007, or Brian Ickler, who topped Kasey Kahne in last year's event.

It's a chance to gain the prestige of beating the best NASCAR Camping World Series drivers from across the country, as well as a star driver from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This year, Kyle Busch hopes to do what Harvick and Kahne were not able to accomplish – win the race and snatch the top honors.