My weekend destination was the Iowa Speedway for the 1st of 4 race weekends at the Speedway. This weekend at the annual NASCAR K&N Pro Series East/West Challenge and the first of 2 NASCAR Nationwide Series Races this year at Iowa.
On Saturday, both series saw their practice and qualifying schedules modified. The NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying was cancelled and would be lined up by Owner Points on Sunday. In NASCAR K&N Pro Series Qualifying it was Matt DiBenedetto taking the pole.
In the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East/West Challenge Pork Be Inspired 175 by Tompkins Industries. DiBenedetto would take the lead but just after the field completed 4 laps the caution came out for a spinning in turn 2. DiBenedetto wouldn't let it faze him as he would again take the lead but then the 2nd race caution came out on lap 13 for a car in turn 3. On the restart it was Grimes, Iowa Native Brett Moffitt getting a good restart and taking over the top spot from DiBenedetto on lap 19 but DiBenedetto would take it back on lap 20. Moffitt would then make the pass on lap 23 and hold on to it for a while despite cautions on lap 29, 36 and 44. Moffitt would hold on to the lead until lap 85 when DiBenedetto took it back, Moffitt would regain the lead though on lap 88 when DiBenedetto would have a tire got down and get into the turn 2 wall before rolling to a stop in turn 3 to bring out the caution. Moffitt would make a pit stop so that would hand the lead over to Chad Boat. Boat would then come in on lap 96 so that would give the lead over to Benny Gordon. Gordon would hold on to the lead until lap 106 when Moffitt took the lead back despite a caution on lap 148. Moffitt would go on to the win in from of his home state crowd. Max Gresham was 2nd, Eddie MacDonald was 3rd, Greg Pursley was 4th and David Mayhew was 5th.
On Sunday the NASCAR Nationwide Series held their first of 2 races at Iowa Speedway and the Inaugural John Deere Dealers of Iowa 250 presented by Pioneer. Michael McDowell and Drew Herring were the front row because of lining up by owner points. Herring would take the lead and lead the first 37 laps before being passed by team mate Michael McDowell. McDowell would lead until the caution came out on lap 52 for a competition caution. Reed Sorenson would take the lead after everybody made pit stops. Sorenson would hold on to the top spot despite a caution on lap 111 for a car hitting the wall in turn 2 and then again on lap 118 when a spun on the backstretch. Sorenson would get a good restart but see the caution come out on lap 130 for a car spinning in turn 2. On the restart, Brad Keselowski would take the lead on lap 134 but then Carl Edwards took the lead on lap 135. Keselowski would make the pass for the lead on lap 136. Ricky Stenhouse Jr took the lead on lap 165, Edwards on lap 177, Stenhouse again on lap 179, Edwards again on lap 182. Stenhouse Jr again on lap 194, Edwards on lap 201, Stenhouse Jr on lap 207, Edwards on lap 208. Herring took the lead on lap 209 then Justin Allgaier on lap 211. The final race caution came out on lap 220 for a car getting in to the turn 1 wall. On the restart Edwards would take the lead back but on lap 233 it was Ricky Stenhouse Jr making the pass for the lead again.
Next Race at Iowa Speedway is coming up Friday and Saturday Night June 24th and 25th. On Friday Night June 24th it will be Practice sessions for the Indy Series and the USAC Midgets and Sliver Crown Series then on saturday it will be Pizza Ranch 100 for the Star Mazda Series, Sukup 100 for the Firestone Indy Lights Series and for the first time ever under the lights at Iowa the Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer for the IZOD Indy Car Series.
