Backstretch Motorsports

NEWTON, IOWA - Dario Franchitti is two-for-two at Iowa Speedway. The 2007 winner at the track found his way back to victory lane Sunday, winning the Iowa Corn Indy 250 by 5.0132 seconds over Ryan Briscoe.

Franchitti gave the credit to his Target Chip Ganassi Racing crew, which turned in a quick pit stop on Lap 196 of 250 as the leaders cycled through green flag stops.
[read more...]

NASCAR Establishes Formula For Setting Track Restart Zone

NASCAR has established a formula for determining the length of the restart zone on the track.

Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition, said Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway that officials will take the pit-road speed limit, double that figure and then set that as the distance in feet of the restart zone. At the start of this season, NASCAR created a zone where the leader must restart the race instead of giving the leader discretion from a certain area coming out of Turn 4 up to the starting line to restart the race. The rule is designed to create a more consistent restart at each track.

[read more...]

Bobby Labonte will drive the #41 Target Chevrolet for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing in 2009, joining Martin Truex,
Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya and Aric Almirola as part of a newly merged,four-car team. Labonte has not commented since announcing his split from Petty Enterprises last week, and the new Earnhardt-Ganassi operation remains in a virtual media lockdown. However, multiple sources close to the situation tell Sirius Speedway that a deal to put Labonte in the #41 is signed, sealed and delivered, after receiving the approval of sponsor Target. Work has already begun on the necessary promotional infrastructure — photo shoots, marketing campaigns, ancillary programs, etc. — for the coming season.

(No Official announcement has been made by BL or EGR)

Iowa Speedway To Host NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race In 2009

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 17, 2008) – The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced today that Iowa Speedway will host a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on September 5 in place of the event that was originally scheduled May 23 at Mansfield Motorsports Park.

The realignment of the race was a result of Mansfield’s request that the event be moved from its track because of its inability to meet the requirements necessary to remain a NASCAR sanctioned facility.

“It is always exciting to go to a new venue and show the fans what the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is all about,” said NASCAR’s Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O’Donnell. “The Midwest has some of our sport’s most loyal fans and Iowa Speedway produces some incredible racing as we’ve seen with the NASCAR Camping World East and West Series. We look forward to racing there this season.”

In addition to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, Iowa will host the NASCAR Nationwide Series, as well as the NASCAR Camping World East and West Series in 2009.

“We are extremely pleased to continue our strong relationship with NASCAR with the awarding of yet another NASCAR series race to Iowa Speedway,” said Iowa Speedway CEO Stan Clement. “We know from past experience that fans here in the Midwest will support this exciting new event.”

NEWTON, IOWA, Sunday, June 22, 2008 - Dan Wheldon celebrated his 30th birthday by notching his second victory of the season, the Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer at Iowa Speedway.
Wheldon took the lead out of a caution flag with 60 laps to go after his team made the decision not to pit. The move paid off, as Wheldon held off Andretti Green Racing drivers Hideki Mutoh and Marco Andretti down the stretch.

[read more...]

Dixon, Castroneves to continue points battle at Iowa
AGR looking for another 1-2 sweep

Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer

First-time winner at Iowa?
With nine rookies in the IndyCar Series field and several other drivers competing in the IndyCar Series for the first time, will a driver win his or her first race at Iowa Speedway? Already this season, Graham Rahal, Danica Patrick and Ryan Briscoe have won their first career races.

[read more...]

Panther Turns Its Focus to Iowa Speedway Race Weekend

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Panther Racing driver Vitor Meira had one of the strongest cars on the track last season during the IndyCar Series inaugural Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway, where he led a total of 71 laps before a suspension failure ended a otherwise strong run in ninth position.

With the team riding higher now than they were a season ago, Meira is hopeful his team can continue its hot streak that started at the 92nd Indianapolis 500 and get his No. 4 Delphi National Guard car into victory lane. For Saturday’s Firestone Indy Lights events, Panther’s duo of Dillon Battistini and Brent Sherman will look to solidify their efforts on Iowa’s 7/8-mile oval.

[read more...]

NEWTON, Iowa - Brian Ickler packed his bags in December and moved to North Carolina, starting from scratch in the hub of NASCAR in an effort to further his career.

The payoff for the 22-year-old Ickler came Sunday when he drove his family-owned No. 15 Ickler Motorsports Chevrolet to Victory Lane in the US Cellular 200 at Iowa Speedway. To get there, Ickler had to out-race a field full of some of the top up-and-coming drivers in the NASCAR Camping World Series, as well as NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kasey Kahne – less than 24-hours removed from his own victory in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Challenge at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.

[read more...]