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http://www.desmoinesregister.com/ar...up-race-at-Iowa-realistic-in-3-5-years?Sports
Written by ANDY HAMILTON
Iowa Speedway’s pursuit of a spot on the Sprint Cup calendar appears to pick up speed with each endorsement from drivers on NASCAR’s top circuit.
Rusty Wallace said Wednesday it’s realistic to think the Newton track will land on spot on the Sprint Cup schedule in three to five years.
“I’d be disappointed if that didn’t happen,” Wallace said at the Iowa State Capitol, where Gov. Terry Branstad honored the NASCAR Hall of Famer with a state proclamation for his contributions to the sport and recognized the Iowa Speedway designer as an honorary Iowan.
Pulling in a Sprint Cup race has been a top goal for Iowa Speedway since the track opened in 2006, but NASCAR officials have said they have no plans to expand their schedule beyond its current 36-race format.
That means Iowa Speedway’s hopes rest on brokering a deal with another track. Reigning Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski supported a stop in Newton during a recent interview with USA TODAY Sports.
“We have too many races at too many tracks. We’re at too many tracks repeatedly,” Keselowski said. “We need to go to Iowa.”
Wallace rattled off several of the sport’s biggest names who share the same affinity for Iowa Speedway during an interview after the ceremony at the Capitol. He also touched on several other hot topics in NASCAR, including track safety and Danica Patrick’s performance at Sunday’s Daytona 500.
Wallace predicted NASCAR will make rule changes in the wake of Saturday’s frightening crash at Daytona International Speedway. More than two dozen fans were injured when Kyle Larson’s car sailed into the fence on the final lap and debris, including a tire, flew into the stands.
“The front frame section came off the car, so NASCAR is really focused on the car and what caused that car to fail to get parts (into) the grandstand,” Wallace said. “Thank God the fence did its job, the fence kept the car on the track and kept the engine and dropped it at the base of the fence.”
Patrick was another big story at Daytona Speedweeks. She became the first woman to lead laps during the Daytona 500 and finished eighth.
“She really did something,” Wallace said. “She exceeded my expectations. I had no idea she’d run that good. I never thought she could run that good there.”
Written by ANDY HAMILTON
Iowa Speedway’s pursuit of a spot on the Sprint Cup calendar appears to pick up speed with each endorsement from drivers on NASCAR’s top circuit.
Rusty Wallace said Wednesday it’s realistic to think the Newton track will land on spot on the Sprint Cup schedule in three to five years.
“I’d be disappointed if that didn’t happen,” Wallace said at the Iowa State Capitol, where Gov. Terry Branstad honored the NASCAR Hall of Famer with a state proclamation for his contributions to the sport and recognized the Iowa Speedway designer as an honorary Iowan.
Pulling in a Sprint Cup race has been a top goal for Iowa Speedway since the track opened in 2006, but NASCAR officials have said they have no plans to expand their schedule beyond its current 36-race format.
That means Iowa Speedway’s hopes rest on brokering a deal with another track. Reigning Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski supported a stop in Newton during a recent interview with USA TODAY Sports.
“We have too many races at too many tracks. We’re at too many tracks repeatedly,” Keselowski said. “We need to go to Iowa.”
Wallace rattled off several of the sport’s biggest names who share the same affinity for Iowa Speedway during an interview after the ceremony at the Capitol. He also touched on several other hot topics in NASCAR, including track safety and Danica Patrick’s performance at Sunday’s Daytona 500.
Wallace predicted NASCAR will make rule changes in the wake of Saturday’s frightening crash at Daytona International Speedway. More than two dozen fans were injured when Kyle Larson’s car sailed into the fence on the final lap and debris, including a tire, flew into the stands.
“The front frame section came off the car, so NASCAR is really focused on the car and what caused that car to fail to get parts (into) the grandstand,” Wallace said. “Thank God the fence did its job, the fence kept the car on the track and kept the engine and dropped it at the base of the fence.”
Patrick was another big story at Daytona Speedweeks. She became the first woman to lead laps during the Daytona 500 and finished eighth.
“She really did something,” Wallace said. “She exceeded my expectations. I had no idea she’d run that good. I never thought she could run that good there.”
