NASCAR officially announces Cup Series to race at Iowa Speedway in 2024
NASCAR is officially introducing a new track to its 2024 schedule. For the first time ever, the Cup Series will head to Iowa Speedway for an event.
On Tuesday, the sport announced it will head to Newton, Iowa for a race on June 16, 2024. It marks the first time a NASCAR Cup Series race has ever been held at the track.
The venue has previously hosted NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series events. It has also been the host of IndyCar races. This serves as another example of the Cup Series trying to expand to broader audiences by getting into new markets.
“We’re taking the show to Iowa!” NASCAR put on X. “The NASCAR Cup Series will race at (Iowa Speedway) for the first time on June 16, 2024!”
This will be a unique stop on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule in 2024, given the dimensions of the track. The Iowa Speedway is labeled as a short track, coming in at .875 miles. It provides drivers with a new challenge while introducing a new market to the sport.
It seems like a win for the sport and the state of Iowa.
The speedway is no stranger to hosting big events, either. NASCAR’s Xfinity Series ran at the track from 2009-19, as did the sport’s Truck Series. The track first opened in 2006.
In recent years, NASCAR has made a push to try to expand its reach and increase its exposure with new ideas. Incorporating more road courses into the schedule was one strategy. The sport has looked into traveling internationally — particularly into Canada. This year, NASCAR hosted the Chicago Street Race, which sent drivers into the heart of the Windy City.
Joey Logano talked about expanding NASCAR’s reach this year
One NASCAR driver who might be particularly pleased with the sport’s decision to reach into Iowa is Joey Logano. Earlier this year, he said he’d like to see the Cup Series venture into new cities and states in an effort to attract new fans.
“No racetrack should have more than one race,” Logano said. “I think that because we’ve seen that spreading out the love is good for the sport. We’ve proven that, so many times recently.
“When we went to Road America, oh my goodness, the place was packed. I say this all the time, it is asking a lot for fans to travel a long ways away to go watch a race. If you’ve gotta travel 3-4 hours — then there’s hotel rooms — all of sudden it’s expensive. It’s asking a lot. If it’s in your backyard and you can just drive there and come back home? It’s a lot easier.”
By stepping into Iowa, NASCAR might experience something similar with new fans and a new passion for the sport.