One of NASCAR racing’s biggest names will make his first appearance at the Iowa Speedway later this week. Mark Martin will drive a Daytona prototype Friday night on the one-point-three mile road course. It’s part of the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

Martin says he looks forward to it as road racing is fun and he has a couple of good teachers. He says it’s in a region where the fans don’t normally get to see them race. Martin is in his 25th season as part of the Nextel Cup Series and is looking forward to driving the road course.

He says they’ve been hearing about the Iowa Speedway for some time and he had a couple of opportunities, and decided to try the road course and drive one of the cars for the first time. Martin says he’s excited about it after hearing rave reviews on the speedway.

The Iowa Speedway is the first track designed by former NASCAR star Rusty Wallace but it won’t be the last. Wallace will design a track in California. Wallace says he’s been hired to design a new track north of Fresno and south of Sacramento. There will also be a Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series race on Saturday as well as an Endurance motorcycle race.