Newton residents excited for Iowa Speedway's first NASCAR Cup Series
"We've been waiting a lot time for this," said one Newton resident. "But, you know, I don't want to have a race one year and it not come back."
"We've been waiting a lot time for this," said one Newton resident. "But, you know, I don't want to have a race one year and it not come back."
"We've been waiting a lot time for this," said one Newton resident. "But, you know, I don't want to have a race one year and it not come back."
When the Iowa Speedway was first talked about in the early 2000s, many community and city leaders in Newton had big hopes the speedway would host the NASCAR Cup Series. Two decades after they broke ground on the Iowa Speedway, that dream has finally arrived.
"A long time," said Gloria Armstrong, who lives in Newton. "We've been waiting a long time for this."
The NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Iowa Speedway is one both Newton residents and NASCAR fans have waited for. The announcement was made last October.
"You always have to believe and hope that it's going to happen," said Erin Yeager, the executive director for Newton Main Street.
Seeing everything the Iowa Speedway has hosted in its time brings a smile to Yeager's face. She knew Stan Clement, Iowa Speedway's former president and visionary.
"I remember one evening we were out at the exit where the speedway is currently," said Yeager, recalling a moment before construction began. "We were in the field and he said, 'I'm going to build a track here.'"
The $70 million project began in 2004. The first took place in 2006.
It's something then-Newton Mayor Chaz Allen says wouldn't be possible without a list of people.
"A big thank you to the Manatt family for building it, the Clement family for running it and taking over mid-term, and, of course, the France family. NASCAR's been huge for this since they took over," said Allen. "Finally, Hy-Vee made it Iowa's speedway. When Hy-Vee came with the IndyCar race, I believe they really made it Iowa's speedway."
Allen was the mayor of Newton from 2004 to 2012. It was during a period when the city lost its largest employer in 2007.
"We had lost Maytag. There were 2,500 jobs," Allen said. "This was kind of a shining star to look forward to."
Allen says he immediately knew he wanted the Iowa Speedway to host a NASCAR Cup race.
"My first communication with NASCAR was three cease and desist letters from the lawyers," said Allen, laughing as he recalled the moment. "Because I kept calling it a 'NASCAR-style track' in the media, and NASCAR didn't have any part of this. They wanted to protect their name from some guy from Newton saying their name."
The Iowa Speedway has hosted a number of entertainment events and races and for that the people of Newton have been grateful.
"Maytag created us as visionaries and innovation, but we now keep going," Yeager said.
"This doesn't work without the fans, and they've shown up," Allen said. "Now, the future of this rests in the fans."