Iowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway at a glance
- Location
- Newton, Iowa
- Type
- oval
- Length
- 0.875 mi (1.408 km)
- Turns
- 4
- Direction
- counter-clockwise
- Banking
- 12°-14° in the turns, 10° on the frontstretch, 4° on the backstretch
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 2006
- Owner
- NASCAR
- Capacity
- 30,000
- Address
- 3333 Rusty Wallace Drive
- Phone
- +1 866-787-8946
- Website
- iowaspeedway.com
Track map and layout
Iowa Speedway is a short, steeply banked oval designed to pack close, physical racing into under a mile of track. Its 12-14 degree banking is closer to what drivers find at larger ovals than to flatter short tracks, which lets cars carry speed through the corners and race multiple lines around the surface. Former NASCAR Cup driver Rusty Wallace helped design the layout, aiming for a track that would reward both raw speed and aggressive short-track racecraft. The result is a bullring that produces heavy tire wear and frequent side-by-side action, and it has become known among drivers and fans as one of the more demanding, high-grip short ovals in the country relative to its size.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Oval | 0.875 mi | Single configuration used for all national-series racing at the track. |
Events and race weekends
Iowa Speedway built its reputation on IndyCar and NASCAR's second-tier national series before landing a NASCAR Cup Series date starting in 2024, the Iowa Corn 350. The track also hosts the NASCAR national series (formerly Xfinity) on the same weekend, and it has a long history with IndyCar oval racing. Outside of national touring series, it runs regional short-track programs through the year.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Corn 350 | NASCAR Cup Series | August | Iowa's first NASCAR Cup Series race ran in June 2024; held in August since 2025. |
| Hy-Vee 250 (or current title) | NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity) | August | Runs alongside the Cup weekend. |
Getting there and parking
Iowa Speedway sits in Newton, about 30 miles east of Des Moines along Interstate 80, making it one of the more accessible short tracks on the schedule for fly-in visitors. Des Moines International Airport is the nearest major airport with commercial service. Race weekend traffic funnels through Newton's local roads and I-80, and the track publishes route guidance for arriving fans.
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) · about 35 min drive
Parking
General parking is free for race events, with reserved parking available by calling the track's ticket office in advance.
Hotels and camping near Iowa Speedway
Des Moines, about 30 minutes west on I-80, has the widest range of hotels and is the natural base for most visiting fans. Newton itself has a smaller number of local hotels closer to the track. Rooms fill up for the June NASCAR weekend, so booking ahead is worthwhile, especially in Newton itself.
Where to look
Des Moines is the main hotel hub about 30 minutes from the track; Newton offers a smaller selection of hotels closer in.
Camping
On-site camping is available in general and terrace areas just outside the track entrance.
RV
Approximately 350 on-site RV camping spaces are offered, accommodating rigs up to 25 feet by 50 feet, split between general and terrace camping areas.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Iowa Speedway hosts regional short-track and touring series events through its season in addition to national NASCAR and IndyCar dates, but no dedicated public HPDE or ride-along program for the oval was confirmed for this guide. Fans should check the track's own events calendar for club racing or open-test opportunities, which vary year to year.
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndyCar | 0:17.4908 | Ryan Briscoe | Dallara-Honda | 2008 |
| NASCAR Cup qualifying (single lap) | 0:23.362 | Alex Bowman | Chevrolet | 2024 |
Spectator guide
Grandstands wrap much of the oval, giving fans at a short track like Iowa Speedway a compact, close-up view of nearly the whole circuit from most seats. Because the track is under a mile long, sightlines across the infield to the far side are generally good even from lower rows. Summer race weekends in central Iowa are typically warm, and afternoon thunderstorms are a possibility that can affect the schedule.
Seating
Grandstands run along the frontstretch and extend toward the turns; the track's official seating chart details individual sections by name.
Best places to watch
Seats around the midpoint of the frontstretch give the best overall view of the compact oval, since the whole track is visible from most grandstand rows.
Bag policy
Up to two bags per person, each no larger than 18 x 18 x 14 inches. No outside food or drink is allowed, alcohol included; a soft-sided cooler up to 14 x 14 x 14 inches may be brought in only if it is empty or holds sealed bottled water.
Weather
- June: Warm, humid summer weather typical of central Iowa, with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
History of Iowa Speedway
Building a short track from scratch
Iowa Speedway opened on September 15, 2006, in Newton, a town whose economy had been hit hard by the closure of the Maytag appliance factory. Former NASCAR Cup Series driver Rusty Wallace was heavily involved in designing the track, aiming for a steeply banked, high-grip short oval that would produce close racing rather than single-file follow-the-leader laps. The 0.875-mile layout, with 12 to 14 degrees of banking in the corners, quickly earned a reputation among drivers as one of the best short tracks in the country.
IndyCar and NASCAR touring years
IndyCar began racing at Iowa Speedway in 2007 and built a loyal following there, with the track hosting the series' oval program for well over a decade. NASCAR's national touring series, including the Truck Series and Xfinity Series (now the second-tier national series), raced at Iowa from 2009 through 2019, giving the track a steady diet of top-level stock car racing without a Cup Series date.
Financial trouble and NASCAR ownership
Despite strong on-track racing, the speedway struggled financially as an independent operation, and NASCAR itself acquired the facility in November 2013 to secure its future. Under NASCAR's ownership the track continued its IndyCar and national-series schedule through the following decade.
Cup Series arrival and renovation
In 2024, Iowa Speedway hosted its first NASCAR Cup Series race, the Iowa Corn 350, elevating the track to the top rung of NASCAR competition for the first time in its history. Alongside that step up, NASCAR announced a roughly $20 million renovation program for 2026-2027 aimed at modernizing fan facilities and infrastructure, positioning Iowa Speedway as a growing fixture on the sport's national schedule rather than a purely regional stop.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Iowa Speedway?+
It's a 0.875-mile, steeply banked oval, one of the shorter tracks on the NASCAR national schedule.
Who designed Iowa Speedway?+
Former NASCAR Cup Series driver Rusty Wallace was heavily involved in designing the track, which opened in 2006.
When did Iowa Speedway get a NASCAR Cup Series race?+
2024, with the debut of the Iowa Corn 350, after years of hosting IndyCar and NASCAR's second-tier national series.
Who owns Iowa Speedway?+
NASCAR itself, which acquired the track in November 2013 after it ran into financial difficulty as an independent operation.
Where is the nearest airport to Iowa Speedway?+
Des Moines International Airport, about 30-35 minutes west of the track via Interstate 80.
Is there camping at Iowa Speedway?+
Yes, roughly 350 on-site RV spaces are available in general and terrace camping areas just outside the track entrance.
Other tracks nearby
- Spring Creek Motocross Park · 178 mi · motocross
- Kansas Speedway · 201 mi · oval
- Blackhawk Farms Raceway · 208 mi · road course
- Heartland Motorsports Park · 236 mi · road course & oval
- Chicagoland Speedway · 257 mi · oval
- World Wide Technology Raceway (Gateway) · 259 mi · oval
Facts checked against 5 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-09.