NASCAR has replaced Mansfield Motorsports Park with Iowa Speedway on the 2009 Camping World Truck Series schedule.
The Truck series had raced at the half-mile Mansfield oval in each of the last four years and was scheduled for a May 23 event in 2009, but the track requested that “the event be moved from its track because of its inability to meet the requirements necessary to remain a NASCAR sanctioned facility,” according to a NASCAR news release issued Wednesday.
The Truck series will now compete Sept. 5 – the Saturday of Labor Day weekend – on the 0.875-mile oval at Iowa. The Nationwide and Cup Series are in Atlanta that weekend.
“It is always exciting to go to a new venue and show the fans what the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is all about,” NASCAR Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O’Donnell said in a statement. “The Midwest has some of our sport’s most loyal fans and Iowa Speedway produces some incredible racing.”
The race will come about a month after Iowa plays host to its first Nationwide Series event, scheduled for Aug. 1.
“We are extremely pleased to continue our strong relationship with NASCAR with the awarding of yet another NASCAR series race to Iowa Speedway,” Iowa Speedway CEO Stan Clement said. “We know from past experience that fans here in the Midwest will support this exciting new event.”
Mansfield Motorsports Park management posted a notice on its Web site.
“Due to the economic times that we are all facing, Mansfield Motorsports Park will not be hosting the 2009 NASCAR Truck Race,” the track said in its statement. “We will begin processing refunds immediately. Please accept our apologies.”
Information was courtesy of Scene Daily.
