Built for speed

“America’s second-most popular motorsports series, the NASCAR XFINITY Series is pure, authentic and accessible racing,” said Edward J. Williams, director integrated marketing communications at Iowa Speedway in Newton. “The NASCAR XFINITY Series is the racing series where ‘Names are Made Here’ and is like nothing else in major pro sports.”

The NASCAR XFINITY Series 250 consists of 250 laps around the Iowa Speedway, where both new talent and racing stars will compete for victory.

NASCAR XFINITY Series descends upon the Iowa Speedway this weekend for some of the most fun and intense racing action. For those unfamiliar to the NASCAR XFINITY Series 250 — consisting of 250 laps — this is where new talent and the sport’s top stars compete in high-profile events to prove they have what it takes to make it at the highest levels of racing.

And the Iowa Speedway is just the place. The track is the only oval racetrack to be designed and built by a driver (NASCAR Hall of Fame member Rusty Wallace), and drivers seem to approve.

“I like this facility a lot for a number of reasons. It’s one of the few tracks that has a great balance between what the drivers like and what the fans like. It’s a unique track in the sense that it has achieved a balance that’s hard to find,” said Brad Keselowski, winner 2014 NASCAR XFINITY Series U.S. Cellular 250 presented by New Holland.

“I always look forward to Iowa Speedway. As soon as you get to the track, you can feel the high energy of the fans; it’s a driver’s track.” said Ricky Stenhouse Jr., three-time NASCAR XFINITY Series winner at Iowa Speedway.

In addition the to XFINITY Series, there will also be the NASCAR K&N Pro Series race. Many of the drivers in this series are gaining experience with the hopes of moving up to one of the major NASCAR series.

Unlike other sports, there isn’t a long off-season in professional auto racing. The series races more than 30 weeks every year, making it the longest season of any sport. It’s highly challenging, and, needless to say, it’s a lifestyle, said Williams. With a short off-season of six weeks, there’s not much downtime. It’s full time, all the time.

“The driver has to show talent, have an opportunity to move up and make the most of the chance,” Williams said. “Both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and K&N Pro Series afford young drivers the opportunity to showcase their talents.”

In addition to the races at the Iowa Speedway, John Michael Montgomery has been announced as the first act of its 2015 NAPA Auto Parts Concert Series. Montgomery will perform on May 16 following the NASCAR K&N Pro Series Casey’s General Stores 150 Saturday night. Montgomery’s performance will be free of charge to fans with a May 16, May 17 or weekend race ticket. Live music will play a significant part in the fan experience during the 2015 season at Iowa Speedway.

“This open and intense racing series creates an environment where surprising moments unfold as unexpected challengers emerge, and the young stars of tomorrow take the next step towards greatness,” Williams said. “It features our most talented young drivers regularly competing side-by-side against NASCAR’s finest and brightest stars.”

Saturday, May 16: NASCAR K&N Pro Series
Casey’s General Stores 150 starts at 8 p.m.
Spectator gates open 8:30 a.m., with
qualifying and practice races throughout the
day.

Sunday, May 17: NASCAR XFINITY Series
250 starts 1 p.m.

May 16 and May 17: Spectator gates open 9
a.m. Check out the Iowa Speedway website
for practice and qualifying race times.

David Rowley is an Iowa native with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa and a master’s in film journalism from the University of Glasgow in Scotland.