Iowa Speedway CEO Doug Fritz said after recent feedback from fans regarding NASCAR events scheduled on the weekend after the Sprint Cup All-Star Race in Charlotte, the track "went to NASCAR during the summer last year and wanted to look at opportunities to see what other weekends might be available," according to Andy Hamilton of the DES MOINES REGISTER. Fritz: "When we talked to the fans, we got a lot of feedback that May is such a big month for graduations and that type of thing. ... The weekend of June 7-8 was open for the Nationwide Series, so we jumped right on that." Hamilton notes Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series DuPont Pioneer 250 "headlines the first of five race weekends this season" at Iowa Speedway. Fritz said, "From what I hear from the fans, they feel this is the best schedule we’ve had in eight races at Iowa Speedway." He said ticket sales "are good" for Saturday's race. Fritz: "The last couple weeks have been very, very strong. We sell a lot of tickets on race week, so we’re expecting ticket sales are going to continue to be strong leading up to (this weekend)." Meanwhile, he said the speedway has "a new fan area in Turn 4 with a tent and a bar," and the facility has "moved hospitality over to Turn 1." Fritz added, "The sponsors like this part of the country, and NASCAR knows the Midwest is a great opportunity for future growth in NASCAR racing" (DES MOINES REGISTER, 6/5).
