Listen to the Iowa Speedway Feature Podcast

By Kevin Ramsell
The Midwest is blessed with a variety of racetracks for fans to enjoy and there is one that caters to each fan. But its rare to find a track that caters to a fan who likes the competition a short track gives and the speed of a super speedway. Iowa Speedway in Newton, IA may be a track that can cater to that fan.

The track was designed by ABC/ESPN Racing Analyst and 1989 NASCAR Champion Rusty Wallace. The track is 7/8-mile in length with 12, 13, 14 degree progressive banking in each turn and has seating for up to 30,000 people. But that will increase as they will host its first NASCAR Nationwide Series race later this year.

Its a facility that is not only racer friendly but is fan friendly as well. It’s motto is “America’s Place to Race.” A motto that was created by its management to set as a goal to what they would like their track to be, and they are quickly living up to that motto.

Photo used with permission from Angell Park SpeedwayRepublished with permission from Angell Park Speedway

1973 Badger Midget champion John Hartwig, had a racing career that spanned some 25 years. He started out in stock cars, but "All they did was crash," according to Hartwig. He had watched the midgets run at Sun Prairie and liked their style of racing, so in 1957 he bought his first open wheeler at the age of 20. He notes the first car was the number 73, McGovern’s Spec., previously driven by Al Fredenberg. In his rookie year he did not crack the top 25 in points. Then the service called for a couple of seasons and Hartwig could not race. Taking his place in the cockpit of that car was Hall of Famer Tom Bigelow. Hartwig’s next car was a Hillegas, with a tired motor. He upgraded to one of the first Chey II engines and his racing took off.

Contributed By Gary Schmelzer

What should I do?
I was going to start with what happened two weeks ago then the race this weekend at MIS looked like I was going to have to start there but soon the unhappiness that unfolded from that race made the best place to start is far away from that.

With rain lurking for the weekend and no tracks really open Friday night I drove three hours North to Luxemburg Speedway a track I had not gone to in 20 years. With time on my hands I took Hwy. 54 through Green Bay (A mistake to slow, wrong road, just site seeing who cares.) finally got to I-43 did some more site seeing (You know you are going to run into Lake Michigan sooner or later going East.)

I got to the town after 4:00 and looked around. In your mine a name of a speedway like Luxemburg makes you think of a fairly good size town not a one horse town with two gas station a McD's-Sub Way and a grocery store. The High School Luxemburg-Casco was the most biggest thrill to see.

photo courtesy danlewisphoto.netArticle used with permission from Joe Verdegan

By Joe Verdegan

Adam White's racing season didn't start too well this year.

The Bay Port high school senior finished eighth in the IMCA Northern sportmod feature event on opening night at Luxemburg Speedway. Last Friday, his car's engine blew, ending his night.

With no backup engine and funding low, the future looked bleak.

Then White learned of the "Gong Show" at 141 Speedway, where car owner Bruce Conard was hosting auditions for his full-time ride on Saturday nights at the ¼-mile paved oval.

photo courtesy danlewisphoto.netWith a burning desire to try pavement racing but without a fat wallet, White, a fourth generation driver, threw his hat in the ring. When it was settled, 28 drivers submitted their resumes for the audition.

White was one of four finalists. He wound up clicking off the fastest lap, 12.43 seconds, just 3/10ths of a second off the track record.

Angell Park Speedway PhotoUsed with permission from Angell Park Speedway

Bill Berg didn’t have a chance. With his dad Dick, as a corner worker for the Badger midgets and three local midget racing heros as older brothers, there was little doubt Berg would wheel a midget at some point. Growing up in Sun Prairie he did what local kids do on Sunday. He attended the races at Angell Park. When he was old enough, he crewed for his brothers Ron, Al and Dan Fredenberg. "It’s all their fault," he claims of his brothers’ expectations that he would someday take the wheel.

In 1989 Tom and Tammy Bong gave him his first shot at midget racing and he didn’t disappoint. That year he finished 13th in Badger points and was their Rookie of the Year. From then through the mid-1990's he was a regular at the speedway.