A former Newton man heads a group that has purchased the Iowa Speedway. Featherlite Trailers founder Conrad Clement says the entire Iowa Speedway staff is being retained, including track president Jerry Jauron. Jauron says they want everyone to know that you build businesses on people and everyone has done a great job.
Just five years old, the track hosts an annual IndyCar race and for the first time is playing host to a pair of Nationwide events. Jauron says the future of the track is bright. He says Clement and his team understand it is all about the fans and they will continue doing that.
Clement says the track hopes to one day play host to a NASCAR Sprint Cup event, as that is the ultimate goal. He says there is no room on the current schedule, but they will keep working toward it.
The track had been owned by the Manatt family or Brooklyn, Iowa, but Jauron says they had always intended to sell it. He says in September of 2006 when they held the first race, the Manatt’s told him they have a five-year exit strategy.
Track designer and former NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace remains a minority partner of the track.
By Randy Van KCOB Newton