Iowa Speedway is located at 3333 Rusty Wallace Dr., in Newton, Iowa. Credit: Courtesy Iowa Speedway

Iowa Speedway hoping for NASCAR cornucopia

Multi-faceted, Wallace-designed track to host Grand National in '07

If you build it, they will come.

It worked for an Iowa farmer in W.P. Kinsella's novel "Shoeless Joe", and Iowa Speedway officials are hoping for some real-life Hawkeye State magic at their new .875-mile track about 35 miles east of Des Moines.

Iowa Speedway has a Rusty Wallace feel to it. Credit: Courtesy Iowa Speedway

NASCAR responded in November by announcing plans for a Grand National East/West Division race at Iowa Speedway on May 20. That's on top of a 2007 schedule that includes the Indy Racing League, ARCA, ASA, USAC open wheel divisions, Grand Am sports cars and endurance motorcycles. Plus, the speedway is also scheduled to host several concerts, two driving schools and test sessions.

"We built this track in 15 months, had a highly successful 2006 racing season, and it will be very exciting to host a NASCAR event in 2007," track designer and 1989 NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace said. "The Grand National Division will bring drivers and racing fans from throughout the country to Iowa Speedway and, of course, it's great to partner with NASCAR -- they set the gold standard when it comes to auto racing."

Speedway general manager Craig Armstrong pointed to the historical nature of the announcement.

"It will mark the first NASCAR race of any kind at Iowa Speedway, the first Grand National event in Iowa, and the first time the Grand National Division will award points for each series in a single event," Armstrong said. "It truly will be history in the making right here in Iowa."

Still, putting one of NASCAR's feeder system races at Iowa may be much like sticking your big toe into the shallow end of the swimming pool. Will NASCAR, at some point, jump in feet-first and add the track to one of its three national touring series schedules?

Or will Iowa eventually end up like Nazareth and Pikes Peak, tracks that appeared to be "can't miss" venues but were unable to survive without a Nextel Cup date?

There are a number of compelling reasons why Iowa Speedway should be succesful.

It's about as far from a cookie-cutter track as you can get. And you can thank Wallace for that. Wallace had 30 top-10 finishes at Richmond International Raceway, so it's no surprise he designed Iowa with that track in mind.

Iowa is Richmond's bigger brother, but with a few 21st Century enhancements. Even though both tracks are 60 feet wide, Iowa has banking that varies between 12 and 14 degrees, leading to what Wallace believes will be more side-by-side racing.

In addition, Iowa features a 1.3-mile road course.

Ryan Newman tested the Car of Tomorrow earlier this year at Iowa. Credit: Courtesy Iowa Speedway

The track currently seats 25,000 with room for expansion, has 50 garages, 28 suites and even has cameras embedded in the track surface for unique television views.

Having drivers like Ryan Newman, who recently tested a Car of Tomorrow at Iowa, and the IRL's Sam Hornish Jr. test at the track not only provides revenue, but great word-of-mouth exposure, according to Armstrong.

"This has got to be a testament to the fact that there's a lot of people out there saying great things about this racetrack as a potential and obviously now a real testing facility for these cars," he said.

As far as location, Iowa would fit nicely into NASCAR's growing Midwest presence. It's far enough north of Kansas and Gateway, and west of Chicagoland and Milwaukee, to be considered a separate market -- one that can draw from metro areas like the Twin Cities and Omaha.

In addition, the track is near the famous Knoxville Raceway, home of the sprint car Knoxville Nationals. With a wide variety of racing planned, the track's survival doesn't necessarily hinge on one event.

Still, Iowa Speedway faces a number of hurdles getting added to NASCAR's "short list".

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With NASCAR unwilling to add additional dates to a schedule that already lasts from February until November, getting a Nextel Cup, Busch Series or Craftsman Truck series date is a difficult proposition if you aren't affiliated with either ISC or SMI. For Iowa to be added to the schedule, another track will have to give up a date.

Iowa's location may also be a detriment. It's hard to tell if NASCAR already considers the Midwest a saturated market. NASCAR officials remain focused on long-term plans that would add venues in more-populated areas, like the Northeast -- particularly New York City -- and the Northwest.

Still, Iowa Speedway backers hope the action on the track will win over fans, and thus the sanctioning body.

"We're done tweaking the track," Wallace said. "We're not going to change anything. We were just blown away with the racing action."

Armstrong concurred.

"This track is capable of any type of racing," Armstrong said. "Now, it's up to NASCAR.