NASCAR bought the Iowa Speedway in November and they now are going to promote the track’s location by naming the first Nationwide Series race after Newton. The race on Sunday May 18th will be called the “Get to Know Newton 250” presented by Sherwin Williams. Iowa Speedway president, Jimmy Small, says NASCAR donated the title sponsorship to the host city. “The reason for this decision is that we want to invest back in this community, back into a state that has invested in us. We believe in this community, there’s a reason why we came out here. Since we’ve been out here we’ve seen unbelievable support and we want to make the investment back into the community. We want to grow this community,” Small says. “We know about the amenities that exist across this community. We want to make sure everyone knows out on a national scale about Newton, Iowa.”

Small says the title sponsorship is valued at six figures. “We had probably three to four other suitors for this position and we made the determination — being the selective group that we are — that this was our best investment, this was the best decision to be made for this inaugural Nationwide Series race at this speedway under NASCAR ownership,” Small says. Newton Mayor Mike Hanson says the city just kick off its new “Get to Know Newton” branding in February.

“Now we are able to take that message not only across the region — but across the country — and who knows, maybe across the world. So that we can tell folks what we all know — what a great community we have — and why they should be interested, and why they should get to know Newton,” Hanson says. The “Get to Know Newton 250” will be televised live on E-S-P-N. State lawmakers passed this session, and the governor signed into law, a deal to allow NASCAR to keep up to nine million dollars in sales tax rebates from the state. The tax breaks had previously required ownership by someone in the state.

(Radio Iowa)