Iowa Speedway on Track to put 40,000 in the Stands Again

 

Iowa Speedway looks to be headed for a crowd similar to the more than 40,000 it drew for the IndyCar  race in 2009, according to the track president.

“Our crowd looks very strong for our fourth annual Iowa Corn 250,” Iowa Speedway President and Chief Financial Officer, Jerry Jauron, said Wednesday, “and I really attribute that to the fact that back in June 2007 this race put Iowa speedway literally on the map, nationally. The fans have really embraced it. Obviously, with the Iowa corn producers being a sponsor, you get some national attention and it really brings people from all over the upper Midwest.

Jauron said speedway ticket buyers seem to be quite a loyal group.

"We do see a lot of repeat customers." Jauron said. "Of our 20,000 season ticket holders, in 2009 those came from 26 states. We have literally almost the exact same number of season ticket holders for 2010, and they came from 26 states. From a season ticket standpoint we have a lot of repeat buyers."

In 2009, the first annual NASCAR Nationwide race set a new track record for attendance in 56,087. Jauron said the second annual race, set for July 31, is also on track for similar attendance

"We're still a long way out (from the event)," Jauron said. "But it's tracking very strongly. Last year we had an incredible push last year last 30 days leading up to that race and we feel the same thing is going to happen this year. We’re pleased at this point."

So far Iowa Speedway hasn't seen a lot of the ticket drop off that's hit other venues across the spectrum of sports.

"It’s tight out there," he said. "You turn on TV with any sport, even with the NBA until it got to the finals, they had empty seats at a lot of those venues. We know that baseball attendance is down double digits for the spring. At Iowa Speedway -- knock on wood -- we are tracking similar to where we were this time last year so we feel good about that."

Jauron said Iowa Speedway got off to a great start on May 22 when a USAC Triple Crown Series race there drew about 13,000, which is triple or even quadruple the crowd USAC draws elsewhere. Last year's Nationwide throng of 56,000 shocked the drivers and gave the race a NACAR Cup feel that caused winner Brad Keselowski to declare that Iowa Speedway deserves a Cup race.

Jauron said Iowa Speedway will certainly answer the phone if NASCAR calls, but for now they are focusing on packing the house and putting on the best possible events for everything at the speedway. That will help generate interest in the speedway among many sanctioning bodies, including NASCAR, he said.

Jauron said his track doesn't see itself as competition for Knoxville Raceway, a half-mile dirt oval located about 45 minutes south of Iowa Speedway and home to the Super Bowl of sprint car racing, the Knoxville Nationals. Jauron said Iowa Speedway releases its schedule for the coming year in September in part to give Knoxville land the more than 50 other dirt tracks in the state as much time as possible to plan around the speedway's events.

For Iowa Speedway schedule and ticket information, click HERE.

Comments

[Tom G.]

It's true what the voice said to Rusty that day he was standing in the cornfield.

"If you build it, they will come"

Me and Moonlight Graham will be making the drive down from Minnesota next week. Can't hardly wait.

[Allen Wedge]

This is why I shake my head every time I remember the 4 different times politicians shut down the speedways attempted to be built in Baton Rouge and Kentwood, La. Areas like this WANT to be seen and want to have cool stuff. I think Iowa is 95% sure on my list of tracks for 2011, gotta witness this awesomeness.

[Car-X Des Moines]

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[Aaron]

Had intended to make the trek from Indy to the house of the P-dog for the Iowa race...but my beautiful wife waved the black flag. Probably only reasonable, since she was a track widow for most of the last month.