Race Tracks in Iowa
Iowa is one of America's deepest dirt sprint car states, built around Knoxville Raceway, the self-proclaimed 'Sprint Car Capital of the World' and home of the World of Outlaws Knoxville Nationals every August. That marquee event sits atop a dense weekly circuit of half-mile and quarter-mile clay ovals scattered across the state — Boone, Davenport, West Liberty, Farley (300 Raceway), Marshalltown, Hawkeye Downs and dozens more county-fairgrounds tracks — running IMCA, USRA and World of Outlaws-sanctioned classes spring through fall. On the pavement side, Iowa Speedway in Newton is the state's top-tier venue, hosting NASCAR Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series races and, in past seasons, IndyCar. Drag racing runs through strips like Eddyville Raceway Park and Tri-State Raceway near Earlville, while road racers and track-day drivers use the 2.7-mile road course at I-29 Speedway near Pacific Junction. Iowa's motorsport identity is dirt-first, but its major venues cover every discipline.
18 venues listed across 6 categories. Venues with a full RaceTrackWorld guide are linked.
Road courses in Iowa
| Venue | Town | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-29 Speedway Road Course | Pacific Junction | 2.7 mi | 2.7-mile asphalt road course adjoining the I-29 Speedway dirt oval and drag strip near the Nebraska border, used for club and regional road racing. |
Ovals and speedways in Iowa
| Venue | Town | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawkeye Downs Speedway | Cedar Rapids | 0.5 mi | Quarter-mile and half-mile asphalt ovals at the Hawkeye Downs fairgrounds complex running weekly stock car and modified racing. |
| Iowa Speedway | Newton | 0.875 mi | 7/8-mile asphalt oval hosting NASCAR Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series race weekends; previously hosted IndyCar. |
Dirt tracks in Iowa
| Venue | Town | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 Raceway | Farley | 0.5 mi | Half-mile clay oval formerly known as Farley Speedway, running weekly IMCA-sanctioned racing near Dubuque. |
| 34 Raceway | West Burlington | 0.375 mi | 3/8-mile clay oval in southeast Iowa running weekly late-model and modified racing. |
| Benton County Speedway | Vinton | 0.25 mi | Quarter-mile dirt oval in eastern Iowa running weekly IMCA modified and stock car classes. |
| Boone Speedway | Boone | 0.333 mi | High-banked 1/3-mile dirt oval hosting the annual IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals every September. |
| Davenport Speedway | Davenport | 0.5 mi | Half-mile dirt oval on the Mississippi River hosting weekly late-model and modified racing. |
| Eldon Raceway | Eldon | 0.5 mi | Half-mile dirt oval at the Wapello County Fairgrounds running weekly and fair-week dirt racing. |
| Knoxville Raceway | Knoxville | 0.5 mi | Half-mile dirt oval at the Marion County Fairgrounds known as the 'Sprint Car Capital of the World,' home of the World of Outlaws Knoxville Nationals every August. |
| Lee County Speedway | Donnellson | 0.375 mi | 3/8-mile dirt oval in far southeast Iowa running weekly IMCA-sanctioned classes. |
| Marshalltown Speedway | Marshalltown | 0.25 mi | Quarter-mile dirt oval in central Iowa running weekly sprint car and modified programs. |
| Southern Iowa Speedway | Oskaloosa | 0.5 mi | Half-mile dirt oval running weekly late-model, modified and sprint car racing in south-central Iowa. |
| West Liberty Raceway | West Liberty | 0.5 mi | Half-mile clay oval in eastern Iowa running weekly IMCA modified and stock car classes. |
Drag strips in Iowa
| Venue | Town | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eddyville Raceway Park | Eddyville | 0.125 mi | Eighth-mile drag strip in south-central Iowa running weekly test-and-tune and bracket events. |
| Tri-State Raceway | Earlville | 0.25 mi | Quarter-mile concrete drag strip in northeast Iowa running regional bracket racing. |
Karting in Iowa
| Venue | Town | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61 Kartway | Delmar | 0.5 mi | Half-mile asphalt karting road course in eastern Iowa hosting club and regional kart racing. |
Closed and historic in Iowa
| Venue | Town | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State Fair SpeedwayClosed | Des Moines | 0.5 mi | Former half-mile dirt oval at the Iowa State Fairgrounds that hosted fair-week racing for decades; dirt-track activity at the fairgrounds now runs through the newer Elwell Family Park multi-purpose venue. |
Race tracks near the big cities in Iowa
Near Des Moines
- Knoxville Raceway · about 45 min
- Boone Speedway · about 45 min
- Iowa Speedway · about 40 min
- Southern Iowa Speedway · about 60 min
Near Cedar Rapids / Iowa City
- Hawkeye Downs Speedway · about 10 min
- West Liberty Raceway · about 45 min
- 61 Kartway · about 50 min
- Benton County Speedway · about 45 min
Near Davenport / Quad Cities
- Davenport Speedway · about 15 min
- 34 Raceway · about 55 min
- Tri-State Raceway · about 60 min
Near Dubuque
- 300 Raceway · about 30 min
- Tri-State Raceway · about 60 min
Near Council Bluffs / Omaha metro
- I-29 Speedway Road Course · about 30 min
Major race weekends in Iowa
| Event | Venue | When | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| World of Outlaws Knoxville Nationals | Knoxville Raceway | August | World of Outlaws Sprint Cars |
| NASCAR Cup weekend at Iowa Speedway | Iowa Speedway | August | NASCAR Cup / O'Reilly Auto Parts Series |
| IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals | Boone Speedway | September | IMCA |
Track days and driving experiences in Iowa
The 2.7-mile road course at I-29 Speedway near Pacific Junction is Iowa's main venue for organized road racing and open track days, drawing SCCA, NASA and independent HPDE groups from the Omaha-Council Bluffs area. Iowa Speedway occasionally hosts driving-experience and corporate track-day programs tied to its NASCAR weekends, and 61 Kartway in Delmar runs regular club karting sessions. Expect roughly $200-$400 for a single HPDE day, with karting priced separately by session.
Frequently asked questions
Does this list include horse racing tracks?+
No. This guide covers motorsport (car and motorcycle) venues only; Iowa's horse racing facilities are not included.
Why is Knoxville called the Sprint Car Capital of the World?+
Knoxville Raceway has run world-class dirt sprint car racing since 1954 and hosts the World of Outlaws Knoxville Nationals every August, widely regarded as sprint car racing's biggest annual event.
Where can I watch NASCAR in Iowa?+
Iowa Speedway in Newton hosts NASCAR Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series race weekends and has previously hosted IndyCar.
Is there a road course in Iowa?+
Yes — the 2.7-mile road course at I-29 Speedway near Pacific Junction is the state's main permanent road-racing venue, alongside the dirt oval and drag strip on the same property.
What happened to Iowa State Fair Speedway?+
The historic half-mile dirt oval at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines closed as a standalone track; fair-week and other dirt racing at the fairgrounds now runs through the newer Elwell Family Park venue.
Where does Iowa's weekly dirt racing scene run?+
Boone, Davenport, West Liberty, Farley (300 Raceway), Marshalltown, Hawkeye Downs and a wide network of county-fairgrounds ovals all run weekly IMCA or USRA-sanctioned dirt racing through the season.
Venue list checked against 10 sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.
