April 19, 2024

IndyCar Iowa Corn 300 is set at Iowa Speedway in 2016

By Newton Daily

IndyCar racing returns to Iowa Speedway in 2016. 2015 IndyCar champion Scott Dixon (9) and Hellio Castroneves (3) will be back on the Newton track July 20, 2016, which is a Sunday, as announced by Iowa Speedway and IndyCar Tuesday morning. (Jocelyn Sheets)

IndyCar's 2016 Iowa Corn 300 is running on a Sunday for the first time since 2013 when James Hinchcliffe won his first career IndyCar Series race in front of Iowa’s passionate fan base.

Iowa Speedway and IndyCar officials announced today that next year's edition of the Iowa Corn 300 will be contested on July 10, 2016. Further details around start times and other events during the race weekend will be announced at a later date.

“The level of enthusiasm surrounding our annual IndyCar race has been phenomenal,” Iowa Speedway President Jimmy Small said. “We know that this is a race that our fans circle on their calendars, just like the Indycar drivers do. We’re pleased to be able to make the announcement now so our fans can start planning.”

In 2007, Iowa Speedway gained international attention when IndyCar became the first major series to race at the newly-opened track. Since that time, the premier stars of open-wheel racing have returned to Newton each year to test their skills on "The Fastest Short Track on the Planet."

“We are also proud to continue the tradition of IndyCar racing, fueled by E85, here in Iowa,” Small said. “The state of Iowa is the largest producer of both corn and ethanol in America, and this major event continues to be an invaluable opportunity to demonstrate the power and reliability of the renewable fuel.”

This past season, Ryan Hunter-Reay clinched his third victory in four years at the 2015 Iowa Corn 300. Hunter-Reay held off the field on a late restart giving Andretti Autosport its sixth consecutive trip to Casey’s General Stores Victory Lane, and its seventh in nine races at Iowa Speedway.

“The 2016 Iowa Corn 300 marks the 10th straight year that the Verizon IndyCar Series will compete at Iowa Speedway and we’re confident it will be another thrilling short oval event,” said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Company, the parent of IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“Oval tracks are a vital part of IndyCar’s great history and culture, and Iowa Speedway remains one of the key ovals on our calendar," Miles said. "The success of our partnership with Iowa Speedway is a testament to the partnership between IndyCar and the promoter and we’re thankful to track president Jimmy Small and his entire staff for their continued collaboration.”

The remainder of the 2016 schedule will be released soon. Additional details, including on-sale dates and season ticket holder renewal information, will be announced in the coming weeks. Iowa Speedway will continue to prioritize an enhanced fan experience for the upcoming season, while building upon successful improvements made in 2015.