Brett Moffitt races around Iowa during Olympic break

CEDAR RAPIDS — Several racecar drivers have made their mark on the national racing scene, and currently that includes Brett Moffitt of Grimes, who is “in town” during his two-weekend Olympic break from NASCAR.

The driver of the No. 02 Chevy Camaro in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Moffitt also drives when and where he can in the Camping World Truck Series.

“We started the season really strong even though we are a smaller team on a smaller budget,” Moffitt said. “To go compete against the bigger teams is tough, but if we can finish in the top 10, that’s a really good day for us.”

Moffitt and his crew have done very well the past two race weekends, finishing sixth at Atlanta and ninth at New Hampshire.

After enjoying last week off, Moffitt is racing locally this weekend thanks to Griffin McGrath, who owns Legends Direct.

“Griffin told me he had a car for me and it sounded like fun,” said Moffitt, who will run on both dirt and asphalt. “I think we’ll be alright. I’ve only driven a Legends car once and that was years ago, so it might take a few laps to get used to it.”

Moffitt raced at the Jackson County Fair race Thursday at Maquoketa, a dirt track, and will drive Friday on the asphalt at Hawkeye Downs before switching his car back to dirt for Sunday night at The Bullring at Benton County Speedway.

“I do both. I enjoy both,” Moffitt said. “I grew up racing dirt around Iowa and now I mainly do asphalt with some dirt on the side.”

A resident of North Carolina, Moffitt is happy to visit the Hawkeye State and hang with his buddy Griffin, who was a groomsman a year ago when Brett got married.

“I love coming back and racing in my home state as much as I can,” Moffitt said. “I’m bummed Iowa Speedway isn’t on our schedule anymore, but I was able to race at Knoxville a couple weeks ago and it was a blast.”

He also thinks Iowa is slowly gaining respect from the more noteworthy racing communities in the south.

“I think (the health of racing in Iowa) is really good,” Moffitt said. “When Iowa drivers can come down south and win, that’s pretty impressive.”

Gates open at 5 p.m. Friday, hot laps are at 6:40 and racing starts at 7:30 at Hawkeye Downs. On Sunday, gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 at Benton County Speedway.

Comments: justin.webster@thegazette.com