Iowa Speedway - Creature Comforts
Wide Opening Weekend primed with fresh activation, a patriotic presence and local flavors for 2017
Summer is finally here in Iowa, which means it’s time to go racing at The Fastest Short Track on the Planet! Drafting off a stellar 2016 season, Iowa Speedway is kicking off Wide Opening Weekend with the second consecutive pairing of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR XFINITY Series.
In addition to competitive racing, fans can expect traditional staples like the NAPA Auto Parts Concert Series at the Pork Party Pavilion, mingled with a variety of new offerings like a new food and beverage provider and upgraded merchandise options. Tickets for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series M&M’s 200 presented by Casey’s General Store and NASCAR XFINITY Series American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen, can be purchased at
www.IowaSpeedway.com or by calling 866.787.8946.
Here’s what you’ll see around the track this weekend:
NASCAR Salutes
Each year between Memorial Day and Independence Day, the motorsports industry comes together for
NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola. Designed to collectively express respect and gratitude for the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, NASCAR Salutes is showcased at tracks across the nation. This year, Iowa Speedway will have vintage military vehicles displayed on the Concourse, in addition to a swear-in ceremony by the United States Air Force during pre-race activities on June 24. Fans are encouraged to visit
http://www.nascar.com/salutes to honor their military heroes, or join the conversation with #NASCARSalutes.
NAPA Auto Parts Concert Series
The NAPA Auto Parts Concert Series tradition will continue in 2017, taking place on the first night of every race weekend. Following the checkered flag of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series M&M’s 200 presented by Casey’s General Store on June 23, Easton Corbin will take the stage at the Pork Party Pavilion, located above Turn 4. With hits like “All Over the Road” and “A Little More Country Than That,” fans are in for an enjoyable post-race performance.
Signature Food and Drink
New in 2017, Iowa Speedway has partnered with Americrown Service Corporation – the leader in major motorsports catering and concessions. In addition to upgraded concessions featuring new food and beverage items, Americrown brings two Signature Food Items to Iowa Speedway. This year’s delicacies pay homage to local industries and flavors. Swing by the Winner’s Circle or Speedway Grill for your share of Pork Fries – crispy fried Pig Ears drizzled with hot sauce and served with a side of ranch, and Iowa Dogs – all-beef hot dogs with loose meat, corn relish and Maytag blue cheese crumbles on a fresh roll.
For those fans looking to test the limits of their pork affinity, Iowa Speedway is hosting a Pork Fries eating contest on Saturday, June 24 at 4:30 p.m. CT. Stop by the Hornitos Bar Tent for a chance to compete – only three lucky fans will make the cut!
Signature Drinks, courtesy of Beam Suntory brands, will return to the mix as well. The Trading Paint and Gas N’ Go are back for their sophomore season, joined by a couple of newcomers: the Carburita and the Blood Orange Breeze. For details on these drinks, please see the recipes listed on the final page of this release.
Another fun addition comes in the form of craft beer. Iowa Speedway teamed up with Knoxville, Iowa-based Peace Tree Brewing Co., to create the 7/8 Wheat. This Belgian-style Wheat Ale is a limited-edition brew available at the Fan Walk Cargo Bars and on the Concourse; try one before the season runs dry!
Oversized Games
Played by world leaders, sharks and awkward teenagers alike, pool will level-up at The Fastest Short Track on the Planet, as fans may climb atop the giant pool table and use their feet to break and bank shots. For those who are less “pedi-clined,” checkers have also been jacked-up for fans’ enjoyment. One of the oldest games known to man, Iowa Speedway’s version of checkers overcompensates for the shortness of the racing surface with a giant board and game pieces. Not to be outdone by its more strategic relatives, oversized Corn Hole will make an appearance in the Corn Belt. Head down to Fan Walk to try your hand at an overgrown version of this tailgate staple. All games are free to ticketed guests and certain to become a part of the fabric of race day in Newton, Iowa.
Bags Tournament
Two years after the epic 2015 bags battle prior to the NASCAR XFINITY Series U.S. Cellular 250, the Speedway will again host tournaments each weekend of the 2017 season. The first throw-down will take place on Friday, June 23 at 4:00 p.m. CT, outside the Hornitos Bar Tent. Fittingly, the winning team members will each take home a $25 ethanol gift card, courtesy of Iowa Corn.
Youth Ticketing Program
Always aiming to please our youngest fans, Iowa Speedway joined an industry-wide NASCAR initiative granting free Single Event Tickets for fans 12 and under (with a ticketed parent) to all NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events in 2017. We expanded upon this offer to cover all our races in 2017 (all 6 event days, including INDYCAR). On race days, Youth Tickets can be purchased at Ticket Booths 1 and 2; please note that Youth Tickets are not offered in advance. Children must be present during purchase, and Iowa Speedway Ticketing Staff must validate the full-price purchase of an adult ticket for every two Youth Tickets sold.
Youth Activities
Building on the foundation created back in 2015, and the success of 2016, Iowa Speedway has engineered a serious upgrade to race day for its youngest fans.
- Crash Course 2.0 presented by U.S. Cellular – Terms like “downforce” and “drag” may be difficult to explain even to adults, but Crash Course will help decipher the physics of racing for fans of all ages and experience levels. Seeking to decode the action on the track and help share Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) lessons through racing, Crash Course returns to the Concourse above Turn 1. This year, kids can try their hand at Pit Crew duties, using the brand-new tire changer. For those preferring auto design to lug nuts, Lego cars are available for building and racing down our Crash Course ramp.
- Kids Q&A – Saturday, June 24 – Recognizing that kids are often interested in hearing answers to less conventional questions than those typically posed to drivers at press conferences, Iowa Speedway will once again host Q&A sessions between drivers and their youngest fans during each race weekend. On Saturday, June 24, a NASCAR XFINITY Series driver will be in for an amusing press conference as he fields questions on a wide assortment of topics. These “Q&A” sessions are reserved for the first 120 fans, 18-and-under, who meet at Crash Course at 4:20 p.m. CT. Parents are also invited to attend. Like working press, no autographs of drivers or racing personalities will be allowed, but lifelong memories will be created.
- Cars 3 Swag Bags – Released on June 16, “Cars 3” features a host of NASCAR stars in key roles. To pay tribute to our animated colleagues, Iowa Speedway will be giving out “Cars 3” string bags, to the first 200 fans at Crash Course. The first 2,500 fans through the gates on both Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24 will receive $2 off coupons on Cars 3 movie tickets.
NASCAR Driver Autograph Sessions
On both Friday and Saturday, fans will have an opportunity to get autographs from some of their favorite drivers. On Friday, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers will be available for a special autograph session, open to all ticketholders. The autograph session will run from 3:00 – 3:45 p.m. CT at the north end of the concourse under the Turn 4 Grandstands. On Saturday, the stars of the NASCAR XFINITY Series will also gather under the Turn 4 Grandstands from 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. CT. That same evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT, the Driver/Crew Chief Meeting will take place in the Fan Walk. Those with Fan Walk access are encouraged to gather outside the tent to watch the meeting.
Merchandise
This year marks the start of Iowa Speedway’s new merchandise partnership with Fanatics Inc. – the market leader for officially licensed sports merchandise. Fan feedback indicated the need for a larger and more varied at-track selection of NASCAR merchandise, so Iowa Speedway worked to name Fanatics the primary retailer. NASCAR, team, driver and Speedway merchandise will be available each race weekend with Concourse locations near Turn 1 and Turn 4. Our year-round gift shop, located at the Administration Building, will also be open from Parking Lot open times until the Green Flag. Fans looking to purchase remotely can visit our online gift shop at
http://store.nascar.com/Iowa_Speedway/.
IMG Seating
New for 2017, Iowa Speedway has partnered with IMG College Seating – the leading provider in stadium seating. Just like the seat cushions you may have seen at Kinnick Stadium or Jack Trice Stadium, these cushions will attach to the grandstand bleachers and offer a more comfortable way to watch the race. Please note, the cushions are for our grandstand bleacher-style seats, and they will not work for the tip-down premium seats located in the Newton Club.
- Advance Reservations: Seat cushions can be rented IN ADVANCE for the season for just $49. ADVANCE weekend rentals are $19
- Event Day Reservations: For purchases made on race days, a single event rental is $10, while a season can be purchased for $60. Buying in advance ensures the best deals – and that your cushion will be set up in your seat prior to your arrival at the Speedway
Let’s Get Social
Now in its third year, fans will once again be encouraged to use the hashtag #ThisIsMySpeedway on social media to tell their stories of the weekend. #ThisIsMySpeedway is a focal point for fans who love the Speedway and look to share that experience with others. By using the hashtag in Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts, fans may check out what else is happening around the track alongside their own encounters.
To raise the stakes in 2017, the Speedway is encouraging fans to use the race day hashtags for a chance to be featured on Iowa Speedway’s social media channels. Share your race day photos using the hashtags #MMs200 (Friday, June 23) and #E15250 (Saturday, June 24), and we’ll re-post three of our favorites after the race weekend. Be sure to tag us @iowaspeedway on Twitter and check-in on Facebook!
ISM Screens
The four ISM Vision Solar Powered Media Stations, located across the Concourse and the Fan Walk, are the product of one of our latest fan experience partnerships. We are collaborating with Ingenuity Sun Media (ISM Vision) to enhance our fan engagement across the property. You may recognize the screens, content format and / or the branding (ISM Vision) from other races you attended this year at tracks such as Daytona International Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Michigan International Speedway among others. One of the coolest features is that the screens are powered by solar panels perched on top of each station.
Signature Drink Recipes
- TRADING PAINT
- 2 parts Cruzan Blueberry Lemonade, 2 parts Lemonade or fresh lemon sour
- 1 part Lemon Lime Soda, Float of DeKuyper Blue Curacao
- Build in order over ice in Mason jar, Garnish with a lemon wedge squeezed and dropped in and a cherry
- GAS N’ GO
- Pinnacle Vodka, Jim Beam
- Pineapple Juice, Orange Juice
- Garnish – Orange
- CARBURITA (MARGARITA)
- 0.25 oz. Hornitos, .50 oz. Cruzan Mango
- 3.0 oz. Lemonade, Top with Lemon-Lime soda
- 0.50 oz. DeKuyper Blue Curacao, Build in order in a tall glass
- Top up with the soda, Garnish with a lime wedge squeezed and dropped in
- BLOOD ORANGE BREEZE
- 1 part EFFEN BLOOD ORANGE, 2 parts Cranberry Juice
- 1 part Grapefruit Juice, Build over ice in a highball glass
- Garnish with a cherry dropped in
About Iowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway, The Fastest Short Track on the Planet, is a state-of-the-art 7/8-mile asphalt paved tri-oval race track and motorsports facility located in Newton, Iowa. Our 2017 schedule includes three
exciting race weekends: June 23-24 (NASCAR Camping World Truck Series M&Ms 200 presented by Casey’s General Store and NASCAR XFINITY Series American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen), July 8-9 (ARCA Racing Series Iowa 150 and Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300) and July 28-29 (NASCAR K&N Pro Series Casey’s General Store 150 presented by Vatterott College and NASCAR XFINITY Series U.S. Cellular 250 presented by American Ethanol). For tickets, call 1.866.787.8946.
To learn more, visit
www.IowaSpeedway.com, “like” us on
Facebook or follow us on
Twitter and
Instagram.
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