A perfectly Iowa Weekend is queued up for July 8-9 at Iowa Speedway

By:
On:
In: Speedway News

With Wide Opening Weekend squarely in the rear-view mirror, race fans can set their sights on the always popular, upcoming INDYCAR weekend. Many of the at-track activities will return for another round of fun, accompanied by several fresh items, promising a stellar second weekend at The Fastest Short Track on the Planet!

Tickets for the ARCA Racing Series Fans With Benefits 150 and the Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300 can be purchased at www.IowaSpeedway.com or by calling 866.787.8946.

Here’s a list of what race goers can expect during Iowa Speedway’s agriculture themed weekend:

National Iowa Speedway Day – July 8 (7/8)
By official decree of the Office of the President of Iowa Speedway, this Saturday, July 8, 2017, is hereby declared National Iowa Speedway Day. July 8, alternatively 7/8, symbolizes Iowa Speedway’s unique characteristics and will aim to honor and celebrate those who have made it great.

For the inaugural celebration of National Iowa Speedway Day, the racetrack will express gratitude by naming the upcoming ARCA Racing Series event the Fans with Benefits 150. This race, dedicated to Iowa Speedway’s Season Ticket Holders, will ratchet up the existing rewards program by offering even more perks to its most loyal fans throughout the day. These perks will include, among many others, official roles as the Grand Marshal, Honorary Starter and Trophy Presenter for the Fans with Benefits 150. Fans are encouraged to use the #FWB150 and #Seven8Day hashtags.

Chainsaw Carvers
The roar of ARCA and INDYCAR won’t be the only engines fans hear this weekend. Keeping in the spirit of the weekend, Iowa Speedway’s crew of Chainsaw Carvers will showcase their skill on the concourse at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, July 9, at 12:00 p.m. CT. These gurus of woodworking will produce incredible sculptures, including Iowa Speedway’s 7/8 logo and others.

XPOGO
Joining the Midway action – and new to Iowa Speedway in 2017 – is XPOGO. Described as a group of people bound together by a love of Extreme Pogo, this team of talented jumpers will put on live shows for fans on Sunday, July 9, at 12:15 p.m., 1:05 p.m. and again at 2:35 p.m. CT. Peep a preview here, and be sure to hop on over for a live viewing of what earned this group 14 Guinness World Records!

Corn Feed presented by Iowa Corn and Chevrolet
Now in its fourth year, fans can enjoy a free ear of sweet corn prior to the INDYCAR race, courtesy of Iowa Corn and Chevrolet. Race goers are invited to come and enjoy this summer treat at the Chevy display on Sunday, July 9, from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT. Iowa Sweet Corn is the perfect appetizer for the 11th running of the Iowa Corn 300 race, taking place at 4:45 p.m. CT that day.

Pedal to the Metal
Also, returning this weekend, is a fan favorite from 2016 with a heavy nod to agriculture. Beginning at noon on Sunday, July 9, our youngest fans can participate in a youth pedal tractor pull. The miniature tractors will include sled weights for increased difficulty, and all contestants will receive a commemorative keepsake. When exhaustion hits from a hard 10 minutes’ work, kids can head over to the MB2 pedal bike course and try their luck on a different pedaled machine. These oversized pedal bikes are set up on a track-style course, and run on both Saturday, July 8, and Sunday, July 9, starting at 1:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m., respectively.

Hornitos Bar Tent
Serving as an anchor for amusement, the Hornitos Bar Tent sits above Turn 4 on the Concourse, adjacent to the Pork Party Pavilion. The Hornitos Bar is a great place to gather on race days, offering the cool comfort of shade and refreshing libations – including the 2017 Signature Drinks.

On Sunday, July 9, the Bar will play host to the continuation of the 2017 Bags Tournament. Fittingly, the winning team members will each take home a $25 ethanol gift card, courtesy of Iowa Corn. Teams and spectators are advised to assemble at 2:00 p.m. CT for all the competitive action.

Later that day, following the 11th running of the Iowa Corn 300, the Hornitos Bar tent will feature live music from the Nick Lynch Band. Be sure to stop by and join the fray.

Returning Favorites
Look for all your favorite activities from Wide Opening Weekend including Crash Course 2.0 presented by U.S. Cellular, oversized games, the Fanatics merchandise locales, stadium seat cushions for purchase, and ISM Vision Solar Powered Media Stations. For additional detail on these items, please see the Amenities Release from Wide Opening Weekend.

NAPA Auto Parts Concert Series
The NAPA Auto Parts Concert Series returns for a second high-powered performance in 2017. Last race weekend, fans were treated to a solid show by country star, Easton Corbin. This weekend, the tone shifts when grunge-punk and platinum-selling trio, Everclear, takes the Pork Party Pavilion stage on Saturday, July 8. After the checkered flag waves on the ARCA Racing Series Fans With Benefits 150, fans can head towards Turn 4 for some “Wonderful” post-race entertainment.

Signature Food and Drink
New in 2017, Iowa Speedway has partnered with Americrown Service Corporation – the leader in major motorsports catering and concessions. In addition to upgraded concessions featuring new food and beverage items, Americrown brings two Signature Food Items to Iowa Speedway. This year’s delicacies pay homage to local industries and flavors. Swing by the Winner’s Circle or Speedway Grill for your share of Pork Fries – crispy fried Pig Ears drizzled with hot sauce and served with a side of ranch, and Iowa Dogs – all-beef hot dogs with loose meat, corn relish, and Maytag blue cheese crumbles on a fresh roll.

Signature Drinks, courtesy of Beam Suntory brands, will return to the mix as well. The Trading Paint and Gas N’ Go are back for their sophomore season, joined by a couple of newcomers: The Hornitos Carburita Margarita and the Blood Orange Breeze.

Another fun addition comes in the form of craft beer. Iowa Speedway teamed up with Knoxville, Iowa-based Peace Tree Brewing Co., to create the 7/8 Wheat. This Belgian style Wheat Ale is a limited-edition brew, available at the Fan Walk Cargo Bars and on the Concourse; try one before the season runs dry!

Youth Ticketing Program
Always aiming to please our youngest fans, Iowa Speedway launched a new Youth Ticketing program offering free admission for fans under the age of 12, to all races in 2017 (all 6 event days, including INDYCAR). Youth Tickets will be available on event days at Ticket Booths 1 and 2; please note that Youth Tickets are not offered in advance. Additionally, Youth Tickets are limited to grandstand seating only. Children must be present during the purchase, and Iowa Speedway Ticketing Staff must validate the full-price purchase of an adult ticket for every two Youth Tickets sold.

Youth Activities
Building on the foundation created back in 2015, and the success of 2016, Iowa Speedway has engineered a serious upgrade to race day for its youngest fans.

  • Crash Course 2.0 presented by U.S. Cellular – Terms like “downforce” and “drag” may be difficult to explain even to adults, but Crash Course will help decipher the physics of racing for fans of all ages and experience levels. Seeking to decode the action on the track and help share Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) lessons through racing, Crash Course returns to the Concourse above Turn 1. This year, kids can try their hand at Pit Crew duties, using the brand-new tire changer. For those preferring auto-design to lug nuts, Lego cars are available for building and racing down our Crash Course ramp.

  • Kids Q&A – Sunday, July 9 – Recognizing that kids are often interested in hearing answers to less conventional questions than those typically posed to drivers at press conferences, Iowa Speedway will once again host Q&A sessions between drivers and their youngest fans during each race weekend. These “Q&A” sessions are reserved for the first 120 fans, 18-and-under, who meet at the Crash Course at 1:45 p.m. CT. Parents are also invited to attend. Like working press, no autographs of drivers or racing personalities will be allowed, but lifelong memories will be created.

Driver scheduled to appear: Ed Carpenter*

*Subject to change

INDYCAR Driver Autograph Sessions
On Saturday, July 8, fans will have an opportunity to get autographs from some of their favorite drivers. All autograph sessions will take place at the Verizon IndyCar Series Fan Village, located on the Midway. Drivers from the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda will greet fans from 2:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. CT. Immediately after, at 3:30 p.m. CT, the Indy Lights Series drivers will be signing autographs until 4:00 p.m. CT. And last, but certainly not least, are the stars of the Verizon IndyCar Series, available for autographs starting at 4:30 p.m. CT.

Iowa Speedway PR

Speedway Digest Staff
Follow Me
Latest posts by Speedway Digest Staff (see all)
Post Views: 72