Fisher comes to Q-C to promote Iowa track

By Nate Bloomquist | Thursday, March 01, 2007

The folks who run Iowa Speedway don’t want only race fans to come to their new track in Newton, Iowa.

They want music fans to show up, too, and they’re enticing them with some big-name acts.

“We like to look at it as you buy a concert ticket, you get a race free,” speedway vice president Craig Armstrong said. “Or you can get a race ticket and get a concert free.”

Iowa Speedway single-race tickets are on sale today for the track’s first full season of races.

Armstrong, track president San Clement and IndyCar Series four-time most popular driver Sarah Fisher were in Davenport on Wednesday as part of a statewide tour to get the word out about the track and its events.

Season tickets have been on sale since November, and Clement said the track has received thousands of orders.

“In our first full season, we know where we will be,” Clement said. “We think it’s obvious that we will do an outstanding job.”

Fisher can’t wait to meet the thousands that show up June 24 for the IndyCar Series’ Iowa Corn Indy 250. She has met Iowa race fans before, 10 years ago when she competed in winged sprint cars at age 15.

“I love Iowa, the fans here are fantastic,” Fisher, 26, said. “They’re very committed, they hang out, and they want to be part of the race. Hopefully, with that sprint car background I can draw those fans back to IndyCar racing.”

Iowa speedway, a 7/8-mile tri-oval track, will offer musical acts on race weekends, including Three Dog Night, Aaron Tippin and Blake Shelton.

The track also will host events from the ARCA and Hooters Pro Cup Series. The best from the NASCAR Grand National East and West series will compete May 20, a first for the NASCAR Grand National Series.

NASCAR Nextel Cup, Busch Series or Truck Series aren’t scheduled, but officials hope that soon will change for the track designed by retired Nextel Cup driver Rusty Wallace.

“I know everyone would like to have that, a NASCAR race,” Clement said. “And ultimately we would like that, too.”

For now, the track’s leaders are focused on getting the word out and putting fans in the track’s 25,000 grandstand seats.

“That’s why we’ve been going all around the state,” Clement said. “We want to get out there to Iowans and explain our mission. We want to offer some great family entertainment.”