Emergency officials say tornado did not touch down near Iowa Speedway

Instead of the sounds of speeding cars cruising the turns of Iowa Speedway, racers and their teams on Friday afternoon were met with the echoes of blaring storm sirens and ominous dark clouds swirling past the racetrack. For a moment, it even looked like a tornado had touched down in Newton.

However, weather and first responder agencies confirmed the cluster of clouds was not a tornado. Videos posted on social media shows what looked to be a tornado briefly forming near the Newton racetrack and then dissipating. Even the race broadcasters have talked about the race dodging in a close call tornado.

Regardless, the inclement weather — including long periods of heavy rainfall — delayed several of the racetrack festivities to the next day or were canceled.

Jamey Robinson, executive director of Jasper County Emergency Management Agency, said in a Facebook post that following the severe weather he had received numerous inquiries about reports of a tornado forming at Iowa Speedway. He clarified while there was rotation, no tornado touched down.

“First responders were in the area quickly and monitored the storm as it moved through Newton,” Robinson said. “A lower was observed near the Speedway, but it never made contract with the ground. We want to thank the Iowa Speedway leadership team for their quick action and strong coordination.”

Emergency plans were immediately activated, Robinson added, and racetrack officials worked closely with first responders to help keep everyone safe.

Tornado warnings were issued to Jasper County residents around 2:30 p.m. Friday, July 11. The emergency alert system indicated the warnings would be in place until 3:15 p.m. Residents were encouraged to take appropriate action and find shelter. Meanwhile, the storm clouds were circling and heading northeast.

Even the IndyCar drivers and their teams were taking precautions and finding shelter. Driver Myles Rowe, who won the Indy NXT by Firestone, told reporters after his win Saturday, July 12 that it was the first time he “ever had a tornado drill in racing in general.”

“This close call is a reminder of how important it is to be prepared,” Robinson said. “Severe weather can happen with little warning. Please take time to review your emergency plans, know where to shelter and make sure you are signed up for Jasper Ready alerts.”

Chad Hahn, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service, also confirmed a tornado did not touch down in Newton or Jasper County. He said there was a strong rotating wall cloud on the storm, which along with the rotation identified on radar prompted the tornado warning.

“The cloud feature underneath the base of the cloud that many folks saw was a scud cloud,” Hahn said in an email with Newton News. “…There are often coined scary looking clouds and are oftentimes mistaken for a tornado.”