Let’s get ready to rumble

Nothing says “Happy Father’s Day” like a pack of 700-horsepower stock cars barreling around a racetrack at 150 mph, the thunder of their collective engines moving innards and eardrums alike.

Such will be the case June 18-19 at Iowa Speedway when NASCAR once again comes to the self-proclaimed “fastest short track on the planet” to entertain race fans with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Speediatrics 200 and NASCAR XFINITY Series American Ethanol E15 250 events.

The race will be the first of the 2016 season for the speedway.

A fan-friendly environment since its opening in 2006,

Brad Keselowski  (right) will be seeking his fourth NASCAR XFINITY Series race win at Iowa Speedway on June 19.

Iowa Speedway’s success can be attributed to not only the great racing on the track, but what happens off the asphalt as well. Every year, improvements have been made to better the experience, and this year was no different with the revamping of the speedway’s website.

Track president Jimmy Small said Iowa Speedway fans now have a vastly improved resource to keep them informed of everything the track has to offer.

“Our website is a key ingredient of our commitment to customer service, so we want to make sure it’s easy to use and as helpful as any of our staff,” said Small.

Then, of course, there’s the racing. The 7/8-mile tri-oval racetrack is lauded as one of the best facilities on the circuit by drivers and the fans alike, so much so, rumors of a Sprint Cup (the highest division in stock car racing) date have been gaining traction in recent years. But while that has yet to become a reality, there is still opportunity to see Sprint Cup drivers race at Iowa Speedway in the lower divisions.

Track officials announced recently that 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Brad Keselowski will drive the Team Penske Discount Tire No. 22 in the American Ethanol E15 250 on June 19. Keselowski has won three NASCAR XFINITY Series races at Iowa Speedway, including the inaugural U.S. Cellular 250 in 2009.

In honor of Father’s Day, Keselowski has partnered with the Speedway in offering a “Brad K’s Father’s Day Special for 2” ticket package that will allow fans to save 25 percent on two Upper Grandstand Tickets, two Fan Walk Passes and two racing electronics headsets and scanners.

“We want to give every dad out there an unforgettable Father’s Day weekend experience and are thrilled to welcome Brad Keselowski back to the track to help us do just that,” said Small. “Brad is a fan favorite at Iowa Speedway, and he has a chance to become the only driver to wheel his way to Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane on four occasions.”

The package is on sale at IowaSpeedway.com and the Speedway’s Box Office through June 17. Pricing for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Speediatrics 200 on June 18 is $150 ($75 per person) and for the NASCAR XFINITY Series American Ethanol E15 250, it is $180 ($90 per person).

On the evening of June 17, Keselowski will host a party in Iowa Speedway’s Newton Club to benefit his charity, the Checkered Flag Foundation. Admission is $10 per person at the door and offers fans the opportunity to meet Keselowski and bid on items, with all proceeds benefitting the Checkered Flag Foundation.

The Iowa Speedway 2016 schedule includes three race weekends: June 18-19 (NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Speediatrics 200 and NASCAR XFINITY Series American Ethanol E15 250); July 9-10 (ARCA Racing Series 150 and Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300) and July 29-30 (NASCAR K&N Pro Series Casey’s General Stores 150; and NASCAR XFINITY Series U.S. Cellular 250). For tickets, call 1-866-787-8946. CV