NDN-SS-5-15-2014

The Fastest Short Track on the Planet

2014 Iowa Speedway Preview

Inside:

Interview with Iowa Speedway President Jimmy Small 2014 Race Overviews

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Iowa Speedway is Small’s next step for his growth within NASCAR

By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer A lot of people underestimate members of Generation Y — those born between the early ’80s and 2000s — and have labeled this generation as “lazy” or “too entitled.” But 28-year-old Jimmy Small can credit several things for his current level of success — hard work, timing and creative thinking.

Last December, Small was appointed as president of Iowa Speedway.

At his age, he is one of the youngest power players in NASCAR, which purchased the Speedway for $10 million in November. The 7⁄8-mile tri-oval track, located in Newton, is under its third ownership group since its inaugural season in 2006, but hopes are high NASCAR, and Small, will provide the needed suitability to keep the track going and growing.

Timing and tenacity were what helped Small land his position and rise so quickly through the NASCAR ranks. Small said he knew he wanted to do sports marketing for a career while attending the University of Notre Dame, and when he asked others how should go about entering that field, one word kept popping up: “NASCAR.” “I applied August of my senior year — so this would have been 2007— and I didn’t hear anything,” Small said. “I called them in October… and they said, ‘Yup, we can interview you.’ So, I interviewed with someone from human resources, and that was it — just a standard interview, and it wasn’t more than a few minutes — and I didn’t hear anything from them after that.

“My dad said, ‘You shouldn’t give up.

You have got to stay persistent,’ and at his suggestion, I went down to Daytona Beach for spring break that year. I didn’t go to Panama City, I didn’t go to Cancun, there was no vacation. It was all business.”

Many outsiders were shocked to see a man so young tasked with such heavy job, but industry insiders have been predicting big things for Small since he literally knocked on the door of “Building 5” at Daytona International Speedway and requested a second job interview from NASCAR officials during that spring break trip his senior year.

Ty Rushing/Daily News

“When I knocked on the door, I said, ‘Could you please interview me? I’ll take any job that I can to get my foot in the door here,’” Small said.

The man who interviewed Small was NASCAR Senior Human Resources Manager Kevin O’Toole, who just happened to be at Iowa Speedway during Small’s interview helping the staff prepare for its opening race weekend.

“So I meet Kevin as a senior in college, and neither of us had any idea, at that point, that I would take a position and we would work together for the next six years. And now we are in Newton, Iowa, working together on getting a racing season together. I mean that’s just really, really cool,” Small said.

“He and I look at each other, and we don’t even have to say anything. We just

laugh and it’s like, ‘Wow, what a difference in just six years.’”

To go from the kid who was knocking on the door to “the kid” who is in charge of the only racetrack that NASCAR owns outright is not an easy task, and his work ethic proves that. Small has been rapidly climbing the ranks of NASCAR during the last seven years, and he has impressed many of his company’s senior officials.

“Jimmy’s tireless dedication, energy and experience make him the ideal candidate for leading Iowa Speedway into this new era,” Eric Nyquist, NASCAR vice president of strategic development, said when Jimmy was appointed to lead the Speedway. “He has a strong background in identifying and creating fan experience improvements and de-

fining best practices designed to help strengthen sponsor relations and ticket sales. In addition, he will have a great support structure at the Speedway and NASCAR.” Small said he wakes up every morning for work around 6 a.m. — and if it’s a special event day, he gets up at 4 or 4:30 a.m., depending on his drive — and is in his office at the Speedway from 7:30 a.m. to sometimes well past 5 p.m., when the ticket office and gift shop close. He said he often forgets to eat lunch, and the last four months have been “crazy” for him, as he and the staff have been working tirelessly to improve fan experience and expand the track’s reach.

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Small: Not about the paycheck — ‘I just love enjoying what I do’ Continued from Page 3

positioned in the right (place), as you can say, because of my work ethic.

“I don’t think that is has anything to do with anything other than working all the time and loving the sport. It really comes down to that. It’s not about the paycheck … I just love enjoying what I do, and I remind myself of this every day. Most of us, if not all of us doing sports, we are very, very lucky to be doing this.”

A native of Commerce Township, Mich., a suburb of Detroit, Small’s knack for positioning himself has brought him back to the Midwest and to Newton. Commerce has a population of around 40,000, and Small said Newton, population of about 15,000, gives him the same kind of feeling as being back home.

“The town felt very similar in size to Newton, so I love that,” Small said. “The one really cool thing was that we a had drive-in movie theater

His dedication to his sport seems to know no bounds. He attends between 25 to 30 races a year, he said he doesn’t’ have time to date currently and he will miss his younger sister’s wedding in June since it’s the same weekend as the IndyCar races at Iowa Speedway.

Although his youthful appearance doesn’t indicate it, the few small patches of gray hair starting to grow on the sides of his head show just how much time and effort Small puts into his job and the physical toll of his lightening quick ascension into NASCAR’s elite.

“I’ve been fortunate to have positioned myself well and been in the right place at the right time,” Small said. “I’ve worked hard. That’s really all it really comes down to. I’ve worked hard every day of my career so far. When the right opportunity came about, I was

Ty Rushing/Daily News

right across the street from our sub-division, and it blew down about midway through my childhood during a tornado … it sort of became an iconic piece in our community, and to come to a community that has a drive-in theater, and that seems to be kind of scarce here in Iowa, is really, really cool.”

Lasting impressions, like that of his hometown’s former drive-in, are what Small is envi-

sioning creating here in Newton and in Iowa with the Speedway.

He wants to be involved both personally and professionally with the community.

He’s arranged for NASCAR drivers to come to school functions in Newton and has transformed the first races of the Speedway’s 2014 season into “Wide-Opening Weekend,” which has ramped up the fan experience factor tremendous-

ly for a place that was already know for catering to its fans.

Small himself recently participated in the Newton YMCA’s charity basketball game fundraiser, and while there, he donated four tickets to “Get To Know Newton 250” and even stayed afterwards to help put away folding chairs.

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Twice is Nice NASCAR Nationwide Series

Get To Know Newton 250 presented by Sherwin Williams — May 18 Past Winners 2011: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. —2012: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. — 2013: Trevor Bayne

U.S. Cellular 250 — Aug. 2 Past Winners 2009: Brad Keselowski — 2010: Kyle Busch — 2011: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. — 2012: Elliott Sadler — 2013: Brad Keselowski

By Jocelyn Sheets Daily News Sports Editor NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers talk about Iowa Speedway with fondness. It is a track with character. It is one of the shortest tracks Nationwide drivers compete on.

And they enjoy the racing on the 7⁄8mile oval here in Newton.

“The biggest thing for coming here was just to see the new patches, to see the race track, how it aged over the offseason and the long winter everybody had here in Iowa, and I think it’s going to be great,” said Trevor Bayne, during a Nationwide testing day at the Speedway 10 days before the Get To Know Newton 250.

“We’ve driven around with no prob-

lems this morning, and the track seems really good as usual.”

Bayne, who won the Iowa Nationwide Series race in June 2013.

“It is still bumpy, but I think that makes for great racing and multiple lines and things like that, so we’re excited to get back here to Iowa.”

Iowa Speedway brings fans the opportunity to watch the young and veteran drivers of NASCAR Nationwide twice in 2014, as it has since 2011. In 2009, the Nationwide Series came to Iowa Speedway for the U.S. Cellular 250, then in 2011 Iowa obtained its second Nationwide Series race.

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Daily News File Photo Trevor Bayne and his crew celebrate in Iowa Speedway’s Pizza Ranch Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Nationwide Series race here in 2013.

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NASCAR: Nationwide Series races bookend 2014 season at Iowa Speedway Continued from Page 5 In 2014, a name changed on the opening race of the season. It went from the DuPont Pioneer 250 to the Get To Know Newton 250 presented by Sherwin Williams. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. had a big run at Iowa Speedway in 2011 and 2012, winning three out of four races.

The Get To Know Newton 250 kicks off the 2014 season at Iowa Speedway under new ownership — NASCAR purchased the facility in the offseason — this Sunday, May 18. This is the race Bayne won in June last season.

Nationwide drivers will be back in Iowa in August for the U.S. Cellular 250 presented by Enlist Weed Control System. That race is Aug. 2. Brad Keselowski, the 2012 Sprint Cup Series

and 2010 Nationwide Series champion, won the first Nationwide race at Iowa Speedway in 2009 and the last event there last August.

In 2014, the young guns are pushing the veteran drivers. Chase Elliott, who drove in two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Iowa a year ago, has won twice on the Nationwide Series this season. Elliott is the earlier leader in the standings with Elliott Sadler and Regan Smith within three points of the top spot.

The Nationwide Series races at Iowa are paired with NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series. Those races are profiled on page 11.

The Get To Know Newton 250 is part of the Speedway’s Wide Open Weekend to begin the 2014 season.

Jocelyn Sheets/Daily News Nationwide Series driver Brian Scott talks about Iowa Speedway during a track testing day on May 6.

Jocelyn Sheets/Daily News Two NASCAR Nationwide track officials watch qualifying action during a 2013 race at Iowa Speedway.

Jocelyn Sheets/Daily News Sam Hornish Jr. is in his car and talking to crew members during a Nationwide Series testing day at Iowa Speedway on May. 6.

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Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300 presented by DEKALB Unique racing weekend comes to Iowa Speedway NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Verizon IndyCar Series races back-to-back in July

By Jocelyn Sheets Daily News Sports Editor Change is good. Iowa Speedway has seen some changes since the 2013 racing season concluded at the local track last September.

James Buescher won the 2013 Fan Appreciation 200 presented by New Holland, which was the second NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Iowa Speedway in 2013. Timothy Peters captured the American Ethanol 200 for the second straight year in the first NCWTS race in 2013.

In 2014, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series comes to Iowa Speedway only once. But, what a

weekend for race fans at the “Fastest Short Track on the Planet.”

The truck series race is paired with the annual IndyCar Series race, July 1112. The pairing of the Camping World Truck Series and the IndyCar Series gives racing fans a unique opportunity.

Two contrasting styles of racing on the Newton track should provide plenty of action over that weekend — and both races run under the lights.

The sixth annual American Ethanol 200 presented by Enogen brings the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series back to the Speedway on July 11.

On July 12, the IndyCar Series hits the Speedway track in the Iowa Corn 300 presented by DEKALB.

That’s right, Iowa Speedway, announced in October 2013, there would be 50 more laps in the IndyCar race here. Another change for 2014 is the title sponsor for the IndyCar. It is the Verizon IndyCar Series.

IndyCar presented the first major series race at Iowa Speedway in 2007.

Since that time, the race brings the premier open-wheel racing stars to Iowa. Last year’s IndyCar Series race winner in Iowa was James Hinchcliffe.

Iowa Speedway is the shortest track on the IndyCar schedule, being .875 miles long.

In 2013, James Hinchcliffe passed pole-sitter Will Power on the first lap for the lead, and proceeded to domi-

nate the race, leading all but 24 laps, a track-record 226 laps. He had led only 33 laps on ovals prior to the race.

Hinchcliffe’s teammate Ryan HunterReay fell behind with early right front car damage early in the race, and was in 21st, but was able to reach second, but was slowed by lapped cars. Hinchcliffe beat Hunter-Reay to the finish by 1.509 seconds, giving Andretti Autosport its second consecutive 1-2 finish at the track, and the team’s fifth win at the track Fans will enjoy ethanol-powered racing with the Iowa Corn Indy 300 and American Ethanol 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series all in the same weekend.

NCWTS American Ethanol 200 presented by Enogen

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NASCAR’s young drivers develop in K&N Pro Series

By Jocelyn Sheets Daily News Sports Editor The K&N Pro Series is called a NASCAR developmental series.

That it is.

The up-and-coming drivers are forging their way to the dream of all stock car drivers — the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Iowa Speedway again hosts two K&N Pro Series races in 2014.

The Casey’s General Store 150 East-West Challenge, a crossover event showcasing the young tal-

ent in the K&N Pro Series, opens the season at the Speedway. The younger drivers return to Newton Aug. 1 for the Autolite Iridium XP 150.

Those young drivers have the opportunity to observe drivers in the second-rung of the NASCAR racing series on both weekends in Iowa. The K&N Pro Series races are the undercard events for Iowa Speedway’s two NASCAR Nationwide Series races in 2014.

Drivers from the two K&N divisions — West and East — are

coming to Iowa. Several are on the NASCAR Next list including last year’s winner, Cole Custer, of the August K&N Pro Series race at Iowa plus Kenzie Ruston, Gray Gaulding, Jesse Little and Ryan Gifford. All raced at the Speedway a year ago.

Both K&N Pro Series races run under the lights at Iowa Speedway. This Saturday, May 17, the green flag drops for the Casey’s General Store 150 at 8 p.m. On Aug. 1, the Autolite Iridium XP 150 goes green at 7 p.m.

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Small: Promoting the hometown of Iowa Speedway a priority Continued from Page 4 Perhaps his biggest way of giving back was working with the City of Newton to help brand the first Nationwide race of the year Iowa as the “Get To Know Newton 250.”

“We had the opportunity to title the race for Newton. That ‘Get to Know Newton’ night, when the city unveiled its marketing campaign, that was when it sort of popped into my head, and I shared it with the group here in the office and talked to NASCAR about it.”

As Small has reiterated, timing was one of the factors that helped him succeed, and for this event to be named in honor of the city, once again timing was everything.

“So, I talked to the Mayor (Mike Hansen) a little bit, and he almost dropped the phone I think,” Small joked.

“He was so excited, he was like, ‘Let me hang up on you.

I need to go work on this right now. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.’”

The naming rights for the race were an in-kind donation, meaning the city paid nothing for something that normally costs millions but will benefit greatly from estimated 2 million ESPN viewers who will “Get to Know Newton” during the race.

“I think that’s the first demonstration of our commitment back to the community. We want to put Newton, the campaign and all the amenities that we know really well by being neighbors and a part of the community here on that national stage. This is a great platform,” Small said.

Needless to say, Small has been a busy these last few months, and all the while, he’s adjusting from being a behind-the-scenes type of guy to the face of one of racing’s most exciting tracks. However, in spite of all of this, Small has no plans of slowing down and is already planning to use fan feedback from this year for next year.

“That feedback, based upon what we bring here this year, will sculpt what we bring in for 2015 and beyond,” Small said. “I would say it would be slightly calmer, from a racing perspective, but as we look to build more events, such as concerts and music festivals, things like that — we are going to stay hungry and bring as much to the table as we can.”

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