It's a dream come true for many reasons. For Iowa racing fans, it's the return of Big League racing to a state with a rich racing heritage. For Newton, Iowa, it's a potential economic boon on the heals of a bust.

Rusty Wallace announced on August 2, 2006 that the Indy Racing League will run on the Iowa Speedway starting in June of 2007. The announcement caps years of speculation about whether the new track could attract top drivers and series. For IRL fans in Iowa, it's an incredible opportunity to see our drivers and teams at home. For race fans in general, it's a chance to get to a major race with a little Iowa heritage.

Iowa's Knoxville Nationals are well-known in racing circles. It was interesting to me to learn that the Iowa Speedway is the 56th oval racetrack in Iowa. We're second only to PA in the Oval Track Count.

Anyone that knows me knows what this means to me personally and to my family. We've been following the IRL closely for several years, and trek to the Indy 500 each year. Now, it looks like to hit Indy in May and Newton in June. Hey, Helio! Stop by for a real Iowa Chop after you run the race. They'll be hot of the grill at the Simpson house.

The news is also great for Newton. The recent announcement that Maytag was closing hit the town hard. By adding the IRL and Grand Am to it schedule, the Speedway could help breathe new life into the town.

Check the IRL and local media coverage:  

IRL: Iowa Bound

KCCI: Iowa Speedway to Host IRL Race

Update: The Iowa Corn (Web site) and Ethanol Information and Promotion Council (Web site) stepped up as the title and presenting sponsors for the Iowa Corn 250 next year. It may seem trite to have "Corn" sponsoring a race in Iowa. But, ethanol and the corn used to make ethanol are gaining notariety in racing circles. This can be a great legacy founded on the support of Paul Dana who died at Homestead this year.