NASCAR Purchases Iowa Speedway

NASCAR has bought Iowa Speedway.

But just because the track has ben purchased by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, that doesn’t mean there will be a Sprint Cup race any time soon.

As announced via press release on Wednesday morning, NASCAR purchased the seven year old track in Newton, Iowa. A purchase price was not disclosed. In case you are unaware, Iowa Speedway is a 7/8 mile-track track. 

The speedway opened in 2006 will be owned and operated by NASCAR-a first. Many are saying that the purchase of the speedway was an “out of the box decision.”

NASCAR currently owns stake in Road Atlanta and Sebring International Raceway, in Florida.

The news release remained committed to the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series events that are already – and have been – on Iowa Speedway’s calendar. There are no plans to add a Cup race, which would bring the track tens of millions of dollars in television revenue per race alone.

Iowa has three race weekends scheduled for 2014: May 17-18 and Aug. 1-2 for the Nationwide Series; and a July 11-12 doubleheader weekend of Trucks and IndyCar.

Don’t expect NASCAR to continue to purchase tracks around the United States.

NASCAR spokesman said “This isn’t the first of many. This is a unique situation.”