OT - Iowa Speedway: Your thoughts

**DareDevil** · 06-25-2007, 06:12 PM

Well we all know how everyone loves racing here on this lovely site

So after Iowa has now had its big race what does everyone think? Here are a couple of things people are talking about:
1) Whether or not Iowa will get some form of a NASCAR event (Truck, Cup)
2) Traffic and parking at the track
3) and Support (If there is a big event can fans fill the seats)

My answers:
1) It will only be a matter of time.

Some say no because look at all of the other non-NASCAR tracks that have been around longer. What do we have that they don't? Well Iowa Speedway was built by a race car driver and all of the drivers that have raced on it love it.

2) Yes traffic and parking was/is a problem, but so is parking at the State Fair. If you don't want to wait in line get there early!

3) Well 36,000 people came out to see the Indy Cars, not to mention the people who just tailgated!

**Wesley** · 06-25-2007, 06:14 PM

Danica showed up.

**83Clone** · 06-25-2007, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by DareDevil

Well we all know how everyone loves racing here on this lovely site

So after Iowa has now had its big race what does everyone think? Here are a couple of things people are talking about:
1) Whether or not Iowa will get some form of a NASCAR event (Truck, Cup)
2) Traffic and parking at the track
3) and Support (If there is a big event can fans fill the seats)

My answers:
1) It will only be a matter of time.

Some say no because look at all of the other non-NASCAR tracks that have been around longer. What do we have that they don't? Well Iowa Speedway was built by a race car driver and all of the drivers that have raced on it love it.

2) Yes traffic and parking was/is a problem, but so is parking at the State Fair. If you don't want to wait in line get there early!

3) Well 36,000 people came out to see the Indy Cars, not to mention the people who just tailgated!

I'm not a big race fan, but I was there yesterday, and the atmosphere was electric.

Did they screw up the parking---absolutely, that's why I got there at 8:00. They'll get the parking figured out.

The race was fantastic, but your day HAS to include pit passes if you want the whole experience. the people watching, not only the race people but the local celebs, standing at the base of the track and looking up at the banks on the curves-the whole deal.

I will definately go back next year. This was a MAJOR league event people, not Triple A, not BCS conference, not Champions tour, MAJOR league.

**06_CY** · 06-25-2007, 07:04 PM

My thoughts:

I LOVED it; never been a big IRL fan, but have followed it a little more the last couple years (oh Danica, what she does to me

). I thought it was awesome being able to see the moisture coming off their wings. They were going 180 MPH and Marco was a foot off Dario's wing! No, there wasnt a lot of passing and few cars finished, but the cars not finishing is the drivers fault. Weldon stepped on his d*ck on the start, Danica got a bad restart (everytime) and got pinched while 4 wide down the straight and Kanaan just lost it. Helio was bad fast passing cars everywhere, eventhough he was 5 or 7 laps down. I heard people say it took too long to clean up wrecks. When those cars hit the wall, they pretty much blow apart; if you didnt know that before hand, you need to do your homework.

As for traffic, some people need to use their heads. You cant leave home 1 or 2 hours before starting time and expect to see the start. We left DM at 6:15 and got their by 7 (I understand some people like to sleep), but if you are leaving home at 10 or 10:30, EXPECT DELAYS! They could use a few more side roads getting into the track, but my experience wasn't too bad.

I think a truck race will happen next year and the fans will show up.

This was a learning experience for everyone, fans included.

This is just my opinion as a lifelong racing fan. I have no personal stake in the track, but would love to see it a HUGE success.

**borc4cy** · 06-25-2007, 08:24 PM

MAN was that amazing. My dad has is a season ticket holder so we got to park pretty close to the track. Man those thing were fing loud good thing I had ear plugs. The fan walk was amazing, got to see Ashely Judd, and Gene Simmons up close. Was on the fan walk when the wreck that took Danica out happened. SWEET!!. I think that they need to have paved parking out there was really muddy from all of the rain. I bet it will be in the next few years and we will get a NASCAR Busch, or Cup event. The track still needs improvements to host such an event, and the fans need to prove that they will show up like they did this weekend.

P.S. Meet a Cyclone Fan on the Fan Walk had a Old Style Walking Cyclone on his ankle. I had the yellow shirt with the same thing on. Wonder who you were.

**06_CY** · 06-25-2007, 08:37 PM

They wont get a cup race for a VERY VERY long time, if ever, for the simple fact that there are sooo many tracks wanting races and the number of races already maxed out. A busch race will take a while as well. A truck race will be the best possibility in the next few years.

**Cyclone62** · 06-25-2007, 08:41 PM

bor4cy. I hate you. You got see Gene Simmons? My idol for being a rock legend? Man, I hope you got a picture with him.

**SlyCy** · 06-25-2007, 09:17 PM

I'm glad to see it happen. I'm not a big race fan but I like to see Iowa trying something new to bring in more attractions and revenue, espeically to Newton who has fallen on hard times.

Danica seemed like a spoiled brat to me, IMO.

You know it's humid in Iowa when the air is condensing off the spoilers...pretty cool to see.

**michaelrr1** · 06-25-2007, 09:46 PM

It is good to see real racing get the attention it deserves, instead of the moonshiners' league. However, I will give the southern boys their due for finally doing more than turning left. Funny how JPM was the winner of that race since it actually involved skill this time!

**jparker22** · 06-25-2007, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by michaelrr1

It is good to see real racing get the attention it deserves, instead of the moonshiners' league. However, I will give the southern boys their due for finally doing more than turning left. Funny how JPM was the winner of that race since it actually involved skill this time!

I would guess that you are just trying to get the NASCAR fans out with this comment so I will bite. I enjoy your "real racing" remark since the race was on a circle track.

It is not funny that JPM won the race he is essentially a road specialist. It will be funny if he ever wins a "real race" against drivers that he and his fans consider less skilled. He won last weekend with pit strategey and fuel mileage. Had Jeff Gordon or Jimmy Johnson started anywhere but the back I would guess that the "skilled" JPM would still be wondering why he had not beat the rednecks at thier own game.

**Cyclone62** · 06-25-2007, 10:53 PM

Actually, I think the Iowa Speedway could be on the NASCAR's waiting list for a short time for a couple of reasons. The first being that it's in a different part of the country than most NASCAR tracks. The second being that it has a uniqueness to it. The pitch of the curves and the angle of the track are both "off" of the normal NASCAR track, which would create some unique racing for all the drivers. I hope NASCAR comes a-knocking, and can't wait until it does.

**jparker22** · 06-25-2007, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclone62

Actually, I think the Iowa Speedway could be on the NASCAR's waiting list for a short time for a couple of reasons. The first being that it's in a different part of the country than most NASCAR tracks. The second being that it has a uniqueness to it. The pitch of the curves and the angle of the track are both "off" of the normal NASCAR track, which would create some unique racing for all the drivers. I hope NASCAR comes a-knocking, and can't wait until it does.

I like your enthusiasm but there are tracks in Chicago, Kansas City and Michigan.
The track is unique in that it has three racing groves but that can also be said about some other tracks on the circut. The real difference is that this track was designed to have those three groves from day one and the other tracks have kind of grown into it. I doubt that Iowa gets a NASCAR race anytime soon but they should be trying for it, no reason not to shoot for the top.

**Cyclone62** · 06-25-2007, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by jparker22

I like your enthusiasm but there are tracks in Chicago, Kansas City and Michigan.
The track is unique in that it has three racing groves but that can also be said about some other tracks on the circut. The real difference is that this track was designed to have those three groves from day one and the other tracks have kind of grown into it. I doubt that Iowa gets a NASCAR race anytime soon but they should be trying for it, no reason not to shoot for the top.

Alright, I agree with you somewhat. I wasn't talking about the grooves that you are, but about the actual pitch of the track. It's steeper than most tracks, if not all of them, which creates different strategies for racing, which in turn, is appealing to all racing fans. Also, the guy that helped design the track was a NASCAR driver, right? He would have some pull toward the track. If I remember correctly, he said that he was trying to get NASCAR her by 2010.

**herbiedoobie** · 06-26-2007, 02:44 AM

I hope it continues to build excitement, and it doesn't hurt that the track is almost literally in my backyard. (considering that I'm renting my house out to someone else, right now.)

Some friends and I are building an aviation museum at the airport, there, and would like to see racing excitement bringing people through our doors as well, once we are finished building the museum.