The Fastest Short Track on the Planet
Inside: Stages of NASCAR on the track — a look at the new racing format 2017 Race Overviews
2017 Iowa Speedway Preview
Speedway, Thursday, June 22, 2017 — Page 2
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American Ethanol E15 250 — Saturday Past Winners • 2011: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. • 2012: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. • 2013: Trevor Bayne • 2014: Sam Hornish Jr. • 2015: Chris Buescher • 2016: Sam Hornish Jr.
U.S. Cellular 250 — July 29 Past Winners • 2009: Brad Keselowski • 2010: Kyle Busch • 2011: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. • 2012: Elliott Sadler • 2013: Brad Keselowski • 2014: Brad Keselowski • 2015: Ryan Blaney • 2016: Erik Jones
Xfinity Series drivers at Iowa twice a season By Jocelyn Sheets Newton Daily News Being the only racing series to hit the Iowa Speedway two times a season, NASCAR’s Xfinity Series is a fan favorite. Fans see young drivers moving up into the Xfinity Series cars every season as they work their way up to a possible job as a NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series driver. It is also a series where fans might get to see a favorite Cup Series driver. Brad
Keselowski, a full-time Cup Series driver, is a three-time Xfinity Series winner at Iowa. Sam Hornish Jr. won the Xfinity race at the Newton track in 2014 then came back as a replacement driver to win on Father’s Day in 2016. Hornish will be back in 2017 as a driver for Team Penske in both Xfinity Series races at Iowa. It is the ninth season of Xfinity Series racing at Iowa Speedway. There have been 14 races in that span. Iowa Speedway features
the Xfinity Series American Ethanol E15 250 on its Wide Opening Weekend. The Xfinity practices are Friday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Qualifying runs are at 5:15 p.m. and the green flag drops for the race at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Xfinity Series drivers and team return to Iowa Speedway on July 30 for the 2017 U.S. Cellular 250 to close out the track’s racing season. The U.S. Cellular 250 features some of the brightest stars in NASCAR who are hungry to
make a name for themselves. The intensity will continue to be high as the “Race to the Chase”, the Xfinity Series “playoff ” system, returns to Iowa Speedway for the second consecutive year. A win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series U.S. Cellular 250 would all but guarantee a driver entry into the NASCAR Xfinity Series Chase, provided the driver is in the top 30 in points, and has attempted to qualify for each race. In 2016, Hornish filled in
behind the wheel of the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 for injured driver Matt Tifft. Strong results for Hornish at Iowa Speedway are nothing new. In his last five starts at “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet”, the Ohio native has five topfour finishes. Erik Jones snared his third series win of his rookie season in 2016 winning the U.S. Cellular 250 in Iowa. Jones has moved up to the Sprint Cup XFINITY | 10
Speedway, Thursday, June 22, 2017 — Page 4
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Speedway, Thursday, June 22, 2017 — Page 5
Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300 — July 9 Past Winners • 2007: Dario Franchitti • 2008: Dan Wheldon • 2009: Dario Franchitti • 2010: Tony Kanaan • 2011: Marco Andretti • 2012: Ryan Hunter-Reay • 2013: James Hinchcliffe • 2014: Ryan Hunter-Reay • 2015: Ryan Hunter-Reay • 2016: Josef Newgarden
IndyCar Series never disappoints at Iowa By Jocelyn Sheets Newton Daily News
IndyCar was the first major racing series to hit Iowa Speedway pavement in 2007. IndyCar celebrated its 10th year at the Speedway with an historic race in 2016 Verzion IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300. Can the trend continue as IndyCar drivers return to The Fastest Short Track on the Planet in July? The 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300 is July 9 with 2016 winner Josef Newgarden driving for a new team. Driving for Ed Carpenter Racing in 2016, Newgarden set an IndyCar Series record of leading 282 laps on his way to a dominating win at Iowa. Newgarden gave ECR its seventh series win since its formation in 2012. Newgarden’s victory also broke a strong hold of the Iowa 300 by Andretti Autosport, which has won 7-of-
10 IndyCar Series races at Iowa. Newgarden will be back to defend his track championship in 2017, but driving for Team Penske. Ed Carpenter, who finished 18th in the 2016 race at Iowa, drives the ECR No. 21 and returns with JR Hildebrand as the driver of the winning No. 21 car for ECR. Can the ECR team repeat at Iowa Speedway? Nothing is for sure when the Verizon IndyCar Series hits the Iowa Speedway track, except fans will see why Iowa’s track got its nickname. Will Power and Scott Dixon were second and third on the 2016 Iowa Corn 300 podium. For the third year in a row, fans will see three levels of IndyCar racing — the USF2000 and the Indy Lights — in one big day of racing on the Newton track July 9. The IndyLights presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship will run races prior to the Verizon IndyCar Series
Iowa Corn 300. The USF2000 series is the first of the progression steps for drivers on the Mazada Road to Indy. It is an entry-level open-wheel training ground series. The third step on the progression ladder is the Indy Lights series. All the practice rounds will be on July 8 along with the IndyCar qualifying. On July 10, the ProMazda and Indy Lights drivers begin qualifying laps at 11 a.m. The USF2000 75-lap race is at 1:10 p.m. followed by the Indy Lights race, which is 100 laps, at 2:15 p.m. The Iowa Corn 300’s green flag drops at 4:30 p.m. There have been several other driver-team changes for the 2017 IndyCar Series season. Newgarden joins Team Penske with 2016 Verzion IndyCar Series champion Simon Pagenaud, Power and Helio Castroneves. Takuma Sato moved from A.J. Foyt Racing to Andretti Au-
tosport and claimed the checkered flag at the 2017 Indy 500 in May. Andretti Autosport will place threetime Iowa winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, 2011 Iowa winner Marco Andretti and the 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi on the Iowa track also. Can Andretti Autosport recapture the coveted Iowa Speedway pump trophy in 2017? Dixon and Tony Kanaan, who won at Iowa in 2010, lead the Chip Ganassi Racing Team. Max Chilton won the Indy Lights race at Iowa in 2015 and is driving for Chip Ganassi. Other top contenders are Graham Rahal and James Hinchcliffe, who won the Iowa 300 in 2013. Leading into the three Indy car races will be the 2017 ARCA Racing Series Iowa 150 at 7:30 p.m. July 8. Contact Jocelyn Sheets at 641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com
Speedway, Thursday, June 22, 2017 — Page 6
Stages set on NASCAR track By Jocelyn Sheets Newton Daily News
NASCAR’s new stage racing format for 2017 hearkens back to racing’s roots. It came out of the heat-race style of racing on local dirt tracks most NASCAR drivers cut their teeth on. “It’s been in development for awhile as NASCAR has been considering the stage format for awhile,” Iowa Speedway President Jimmy Small said. “If you look back to the history and roots of racing, you’ll find the shorter races of 25 laps, 50 laps at the short tracks. “Fans, who gravitated to NASCAR following drivers as they move up through the system, watched the drivers racing on shorter circuits. The new stage format grew out of that history where drivers and fans grew to love the sport.” Iowa Speedway racing fans will see the three-stage racing format three times in 2017. NASCAR implemented the format for all three of its national touring series — Monster Energy Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series. The Newton 7/8-mile track will have a truck series race and two Xfinity races this season. The NCWTS M&M’s 200 and the Xfinity Series American Ethanol E15 250 open the 2017 season Friday and Saturday. In February, NASCAR unveiled the format and announced stage lengths for each race at the different tracks. The new stage-based format is aimed at delivering more dramatic moments over the course of the entire race, and season. A number of factors went into determining the lap count for Stage 1, Stage 2 and the Final Stage of each race, with a singular goal in mind —to create the best racing for NASCAR fans and drivers. The format change was previously announced by NASCAR to boost competition by emphasizing aggressive racing and strategy. The winner
Iowa Speedway President Jimmy Small of each of the first two stages will receive one playoff point apiece, and the race winner will receive five playoff points. If a driver is eligible for the NASCAR Xfinity Series or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoffs, each playoff point will be added to his or her reset total of 2,000 at the start of the postseason. In addition, the top 10 finishers of the first two stages will gain points towards the regular season championship. With playoff point incentives on the line throughout each race, the heightened sense of urgency will lead to an entire season filled with thrilling moments. Imagine a double-wide restart at Iowa Speedway with five laps remaining, in a stage with championship points and a race win at stake. “For Iowa Speedway, we’re owned by NASCAR so obviously we’re in favor of the change. Drivers and fans were happy when the change was announced. It adds a couple of breaks during the race, adds points and re-
wards to different stages,” Small said. “It gives drivers the ability to bank playoff points or additional points beyond the ultimate finish of each race.” Small pointed to the Dash for Cash program NASCAR had in the Nationwide/Xfinity Series. He said it was an experiment of four races which then-series sponsor Nationwide launched. Iowa Speedway was one of the first four tracks to get a Dash for Cash race. Two years ago NASCAR changed the format of the Dash for Cash to include heat races to move up the ladder for the big bonus payout for Xfinity drivers. Small said that change helped lead into the 2017 three-stage format for all three major series for NASCAR. “We wanted to have one of those Dash
for Cash ‘heat races’ here. We love heat races here at Iowa Speedway because we’re surrounded by local dirt tracks which have that style of racing,” Small said. “Fans go to those local tracks if they are not coming to Iowa Speedway.” Another reason Iowa Speedway loves the new format is because it is a short track. Small said having a track less than a mile in length, the stage racing turns up the heat quite a bit on the style of racing and intensity. Small said NASCAR approached the lap count for each segment for each race at the different tracks taking in consideration of the track length and race length. STAGES | 7
Speedway, Thursday, June 22, 2017 — Page 7
Stages Continued from Page 6 “They wanted to have about 50 to 60 percent of the race made up in the third segment,” Small said. “That was the starting point then they looked at the first part of race and tried to have the first two segments the same length.” For the NCWTS M&M’s 200 on Friday, the stages are: Stage 1 ends at Lap 60, Stage 2 ends at Lap 120, Final Stage ends at Lap 200 checkered flag. Iowa Speedway’s two Xfinity races — Saturday’s American Ethanol E 15 250 and July 29th’s U.S. Cellular 250 — are broken down the same lap count in each stage. The first two stages are 60 laps apiece and the final stage goes from Lap 121 to Lap 250 and the checkered flag. “At the end of each segment, NASCAR throws out a caution flag and the drivers will know when the segments are nearing their end,” Small said. “Fans will see the racing intensity pick up as the drivers look to finish each segment in the top 10 to pick up points.” Each of the top 10 drivers in each of the segments are awarded points, which are a bonus. When the caution flag comes out at the end of each segment, the cars will slow and the pace car will come out on the track. Pit stops are made and in-car interviews of the segment winners by the television and radio broadcasters are done during the caution periods. “It gives great exposure to the drivers and gives fans an
opportunity to hear from the drivers about their strategy is going to be for the remaining laps of the race to win it,” Small said. “Another benefit is teams and drivers can now strategize how to use the segment breaks.”
Small said the three-stage format adds a new competitive element to the races. It also helps reward a driver with points who may not win the race, but could win one or two segments. “When the change was
announced, people liked the idea. It has just gotten better as the racing season goes along. Fans have seen the exciting product on the track,” Small said. “So, we’re excited to get our season underway to see it here at Iowa Speed-
way and give our fans a taste of the new exciting racing going on by the trucks and Xfinity cars.” Contact Jocelyn Sheets at 641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com
Speedway, Thursday, June 22, 2017 — Page 8
Younger drivers get race experience in K&N, ARCA series By Jocelyn Sheets Newton Daily News “Stars Are Made Here,” is one of the mantras of Iowa Speedway. It comes from Iowa Speedway’s role as a proving ground for young drivers, especially in NASCAR. Racing fans have the opportunity to see the up-andcoming drivers in feeder-racing series for NASCAR and IndyCar each season. There will be two IndyCar progression races along with the Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa 300 in July. Also on that July 8-9 weekend will by the ARCA Racing Series 150 presented by Casey’s General Stores. Then on July 28, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East/West Casey’s
General Stores 150 presented by Vatterott College is the prelude to the final race of the season — NASCAR Xfinity Series U.S. Cellular 250 — at Iowa Speedway. ARCA series races and
K&N Pro races have crossover of drivers. When the 2017 NASCAR Next group was announced in May, seven of the nine young drivers featured compete in ARCA or the K&N series.
ARCA returned to the Newton track in 2015 after a two-year absence. One thing has not changed for ARCA Racing at Iowa — there still has been no repeat winners of the ARCA race at Iowa Speedway. Previous ARCA winners here include West Des Moines native Mason Mitchell in 2015, Steven Wallace, who won the inaugural race in 2006, Frank Kimmel, Matt Hawkins, Parker Kligerman, Tom Hessert III, Ty Dillon, Alex Bowman and Grant Enfinger, who won in 2013. In addition to no repeat winners, Dillon is the only repeat pole winner. 2016 ARCA 150 winner Chase Briscoe has moved into the NASCAR Camping World
Truck Series, which is on the Iowa track Friday as the first race of the 2017 Wide Opening Weekend. In July, race fans will see Austin Theriault, who sat atop the ARCA driver points list with two races before the series comes to Iowa. Kyle Weatherman had run out front early in the 2016 ARCA race at Iowa before a cut tire sent his car into the wall. Weatherman, who was 13th in the points, Dalton Sergeant, Riley Herbst and Brandon Jones will be drivers to watch. Herbst and Ty Majeski are NASCAR Next selections. Five drivers on the K&N Pro Series circuit are on the list also. YOUNGER | 10
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Speedway, Thursday, June 22, 2017 — Page 9
Trucks lead the way at Iowa Speedway By Jocelyn Sheets Newton Daily News Race fans get a big dose of NASCAR racing on the 2017 Wide Opening Weekend for Iowa Speedway. For the second season in a row at the Newton track, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series are paired up to open the racing season for Iowa. It all starts Friday with the NCWTS M&M’s 200 presented by Casey’s General Store. It is the only appearance at Iowa for the Truck Series in 2017. The NCWTS is running under the new industry-wide format of three stages of the race. More on the new racing format for
NASCAR is on pages 6 and 7. Some of the top talent in the NASCAR ranks run in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The race is at 7:30 p.m. Friday on FS1. Practice runs are at 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. The qualifying runs for the race start at 5:05 p.m. William Byron led for 107 of 200 laps, benefited from a strong late-race restart and stormed to the finish line to win the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Iowa. Byron has moved up to the Xfinity Series and is currently in third on the points’ list in that series. Johnny Sauter, Matt Crafton and Timothy Peters are veterans who thrive
in the NCWTS. All three are expected to be on the track in Iowa. Sauter is the defending series champion and Crafton was the NCWTS 2014 champion. Crafton won at Iowa Speedway in 2012, and Peters is a two-time truck series winner at Iowa — 2012 and 2013. Sauter currently leads the truck series with Crafton in third and Peters in 11th place. In second place is Christopher Bell, who has two race wins this season. Rookie Chase Brisco, who won the 2016 ARCA Series Race at Iowa, is in fourth. John Hunter Nemechek won his first series race at Michigan on Saturday. The NCWTS also runs under the Chase format for the championship.
All three of NASCAR’s nationally touring series have the playoff system. Drivers accumulate points for stage wins and race wins, and placings in each race leading up to the final Chase races to conclude the season. Most of the top NASCAR Xfinity Series and Sprint Cup Series drivers competed and were successful at the NCWTS level. Young drivers are looking to climb the ladder to the ultimate level of their sport — the Sprint Cup Series — with strong showings at the truck level. Contact Jocelyn Sheets at 641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series M&M’s 200 — Friday Past Winners • 2009: Mike Skinner • 2010: Austin Dillon • 2011: Matt Crafton • 2012 Summer: Timothy Peters; Fall: Ryan Blaney • 2013: Summer: Timothy Peters; Fall: James Bueschner • 2014: Erik Jones • 2015: Erik Jones • 2016: William Byron
Speedway, Thursday, June 22, 2017 — Page 10
Xfinity Continued from Page 3 series along with Daniel Suarez and 2015 U.S. Cellular 250 winner Ryan Blaney. Coming into Saturday’s American Ethanol E15 250 veteran driver Elliott Sadler, who won the U.S. Cellular 250 in 2012, is the Xfinity Series points leader and Justin Allgaier is second. William Bryron, a rookie who won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Iowa in 2016, is in third. Des Moines native Michael Annett is 10th on the Xfinity points list. Cedar Rapids native Joey Gase is sitting 20th in the drivers’ points. Xfinity drivers return to the Newton track for the U.S. Cellular 250 at the end of July. That race is a Saturday afternoon race, starting at 2 p.m. Xfinity Series races open and close the 2017 racing season at Iowa Speedway. Iowa Speedway brings fans the opportunity to watch the young and veteran drivers of NASCAR Xfinity twice in 2017, as it has since 2011. In 2009, the Xfinity Series came to Iowa Speedway for the U.S. Cellular 250, then in 2011 Iowa obtained its second Xfinity Series race. Contact Jocelyn Sheets at 641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com
Younger Continued from Page 8 The K&N Pro Series East/West race at Iowa always has some of the top rising stars in NASCAR. Two of those are Harrison Burton and Todd Gilliland, members of the 2017 NASCAR Next class, were leading the two divisions in mid June. Gilliland won the 2016 race at Iowa. Burton was atop the East division and Gilliland had the lead in the West. Other 2017 NASCAR Next drivers in the K&N Pro Series are Chase Purdy, Chase Cabre and Zane Zmith. Now in its seventh year, the industry initiative spotlights the best and brightest young stars in racing. e Hav We pane Pro ilable Ava
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Alumni of the program include current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series stars Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Daniel Suarez, Erik Jones and Ryan Blaney. “The NASCAR Next program identifies emerging talent in our sport,” Jill Gregory, NASCAR senior vice president and chief marketing officer said. “Drivers in this year’s class have already achieved success on the track or shown potential, and this program will help them further develop their skills. We look forward to watching these young stars connect with our fans and continue their climb up the NASCAR ladder.”
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Kids ask the darndest questions of drivers in Q&A sessions By Jocelyn Sheets Newton Daily News Growing the sport is a fulltime aspect of the NASCAR and IndyCar industry. The motorsports industry promotes itself as family-based with a great experience of activities for all ages surrounding each and every race. “We’re involved in many youth-oriented projects to connect younger fans to our sport whether it be through the STEM program or activities here at the track during a race weekend,” Iowa Speedway President Jimmy Small said.
“We launched along side with NASCAR a kids’ 12-and-under free ticket program. Any kid 12-and-under has a free ticket to any of our races at Iowa Speedway this season as long as they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.” One of those youth activities well received in recent years are the Kids Question & Answer sessions with a couple of NASCAR or IndyCar drivers. Youngsters and their parents are invited to come to the sessions prior to races on race day at Iowa Speedway. “The drivers love these ses-
sions. You never know what a driver will get asked,” Small said. “The drivers enjoy the fun questions the kids think of, so it’s a great activity for both the kids and drivers.” The Kids Q&A sessions continue in 2017. Small said the 12-and-under free ticket program was first announced just as a NASCAR program, but as a NASCAR-owned track, Iowa Speedway extended the program for all 2017 races at the Newton track, including IndyCar. “We went above and beyond to make it that much better of a promotion and valuable to our fans and their children,” Small said. “We want to get as many new fans out here to have them enjoy the sport and become lifelong fans for this sport.” There will be new elements to the Speedway’s youth display and market activations on the fan midway. Small said there will a tire-changing station with a scaled-down stock car provided by U.S. Cellular. Fans of all ages, including kids, will be able to change the tires in a timed situation. NASCAR has pushed the STEM education program through its industry. Small said racing has so much technology involved with the cars, which helps provide teaching elements for youth. Small said Iowa Speedway is always developing more youth and fan-based activities to enhance the race-weekend experience. Contact Jocelyn Sheets at 641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com
Speedway, Thursday, June 22, 2017 — Page 12
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