Photo: Sue Danielson
(Des Moines, IA) -- NASCAR is bringing its first-ever NASCAR Cup Series race to Iowa Sunday, June 16, 2024. The inaugural Cup Series race at the Iowa Speedway in Newton will be part of a weekend that will also include the NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Series that same weekend. NASCAR estimates the event will have a $100 million dollar economic impact.
Ben Kennedy, NASCAR's Senior Vice President, Racing Development and Strategy says the announcement is exciting. "They have long sought a NASCAR Cup Series race at the Iowa Speedway, and we're happy to deliver that for them. We fully expect this to be one of the most highly anticipated dates on the 2024 schedule and an amazing weekend of NASCAR racing in the Hawkeye State."
NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace, co-founder and designer of the track in Newton says for track designer, today "...this is a dream come true."
One of the drivers expected to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series next year, Brad Keselowski, says he's excited about the opportunity to race at the Iowa Speedway again. "For years, the Iowa community has patiently waited for the NASCAR Cup Series to come to town. It is with great pleasure for all of the racing community to announce they will finally see that dream come together. Iowa truly is a hotbed for motorsports fans, I saw that enthusiasm firsthand in 2009 for the inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series race, and can't wait to see the atmosphere on race day in 2024."
Keselowski says he's looking forward to returning to the Iowa Speedway. "It's a track I've enjoyed a lot of success at, with three wins as a driver and one as an owner."
The event is expected to have a large economic impact in central Iowa.
"It's so exciting, this is huge news for central Iowa," said Greg Edwards of Catch Des Moines, "It's beyond compare, we've hosted the NCAA basketball and wrestling tournaments in Des Moines but NASCAR is world renowned and will have a huge impact."
Iowa Corn will be the entitlement partner.
"Iowa Corn is no stranger to racing and the Iowa Speedway as we helped introduce farmer produced biofuels to consumers through race sponsorships for a dozen years," said Craig Floss, Chief Executive Officer of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board.
1 of 2 Photo: Sue Danielson
2 of 2 NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace, do-founder and designer of the Iowa Speedway track, says news that the track will host the NASCAR Cup Series next year is a "dream come true."Photo: Sue Danielson