Hy-Vee joins in Iowa Speedway make perfect fit

NEWTON - Having one of the state's most recognizable businesses put its name on one of the top events at Iowa Speedway just makes sense.

At least that was the opinion when Iowa Speedway, Hy-Vee Food Stores and Coca-Cola announced last month that they would team together to sponsor the NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series Coca-Cola 200 presented by Hy-Vee at the track this weekend.

“It's good for us,” Hy-Vee Vice President of Human Resources Sheila Laing said at a June 28 news conference in Newton. “It's good for our customers. It's good for the people who live in Iowa. It's just really a natural fit and we're proud to do it.”

The track was happy to have both groups add their names to the professional event.

“It's very exciting for us - and it's great for our fans - to have two big names like Coca-Cola and Hy-Vee associated with the NASCAR Camping World Trust Series race at Iowa Speedway,” Iowa Speedway Vice-President of Sales and Marketing Chuck Spicer said in a news release. “They help us provide world-class racing experiences to our fans - right here in their own backyards.”

Laing praised the venue. They have worked together in the past but now the Hy-Vee brand is associated with one of the track's top four professional series events. The move serves the patrons they share.

“We consider Iowa Speedway the jewel in the entertainment crown of Iowa,” Laing said at a June 28 news conference in Newton. “We know that our customers love to come here. We know fans love to come here.”

Coca-Cola representatives were excited about the new collaboration for the Trucks Series contest.

“Coca-Cola has had a longstanding relationship, and a very positive one, with Hy-Vee for many many years," Director of Operations for Atlanta Bottling Lynn Clayton said at the news conference. "We've also had the pleasure of being the official soft drink of the Iowa Speedway since it opened, and that's been a great relationship also."