Iowa Speedway getting second Nationwide race in 2011

Iowa Speedway will add a second NASCAR Nationwide Series event to its 2011 schedule, according to an announcement from the Newton race track Wednesday.

The track held its second annual Nationwide U.S. Cellular 250 in July. The race won by Kyle Busch drew almost 56,000 fans. The track was praised by many drivers, including Busch and current NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader and double-duty driver Kevin Harvick, for its ability to put on the event and its fan support. Harvick went so far as to say the track would be worthy to host a Sprint Cup race.

The track will add another big weekend to next year'as schedule, which also includes the IZOD IndayCar Series IndyCar Iowa Corn 250 and a NASCAR Trucks event.

Below is the official news release from Iowa Speedway:

Iowa Speedway officials have confirmed that the Newton oval track facility will host two NASCAR Nationwide Series races in 2011. The highly-anticipated events will ‘bookend' the track's racing season next year, with the first 250-lap contest scheduled for Sunday afternoon May 22, and the second 250-lapper slated on Saturday evening, August 6.

“We couldn't be more thrilled to have a second NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway,” said Jerry Jauron, President and CFO of the four-year-old speedplant. “NASCAR has expressed a lot of faith in our ability to both draw huge crowds for their NASCAR Nationwide events, as well as to attract significant corporate partnerships to support the NASCAR Nationwide race weekends, and we will work very hard to prove that their trust is well-placed.”

U.S. Cellular, the title sponsor for Iowa Speedway's first two NASCAR Nationwide Series races in 2009 and 2010, will continue with entitlement for the August 6 event, while a new corporate partner is sought for the May 22 show.

“The support of great Iowa companies, and those based in the Midwest who do business in Iowa, make it possible for us to host national caliber events like the NASCAR Nationwide Series ” said Iowa Speedway Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Chuck Spicer. “We are confident that we will find the right ‘entitlement partner' for our new NASCAR Nationwide race in May, and that our current marketing partners will fully support the addition of this very important event for the track.”

“Iowa Speedway has done a great job hosting NASCAR events, and the fans have shown tremendous support of those races,” said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. “We're excited to have a second NASCAR Nationwide Series date at Iowa in 2011.”

Iowa Speedway is located 30 miles east of Des Moines on Interstate 80, just south of Exit 168 in Newton. Information about specific events and schedules may be accessed on the track's official website,

www.iowaspeedway.com. Season Tickets for 2011, which will include both NASCAR Nationwide Series dates, plus the Camping World Truck Series, IZOD IndyCar Series and four premier supporting series events, are scheduled to go on sale by mid September.