Pro Mazda stop at Iowa Speedway is canceled

A lower than anticipated field has forced Andersen Promotions and Iowa Speedway to cancel the 100-lap race originally scheduled as a prelude to the Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300 on July 10. The announcement came late Thursday afternoon.

“We are truly disappointed that the Pro Mazda race had to be canceled," Iowa Speedway President Jimmy Small said. “First and foremost though, we owe it to our fans, partners and industry stakeholders to host world-class racing events. Thankfully, we still have two great races on our Sunday schedule, with the Indy Lights and IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300 returning to ‘The Fastest Short Track on the Planet.’"

The schedule for next weekend at Iowa Speedway will be adjusted to maximize on-track activity for race-goers.

The drivers in the Indy Lights Iowa Challenge presented by Cooper Tires will participate in a full-field autograph session in the IndyCar Fan Village from 11:30 a.m. to noon on July 9. In addition to collecting autographs, fans may receive giveaway items from Andersen Promotions.

“I want to thank (Iowa Speedway President) Jimmy Small for giving us the option to move our race off of next weekend’s schedule," Dan Andersen, owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions, said. “Iowa Speedway produces some great oval racing, and it is unfortunate that we didn’t have what we felt was a viable car count to meet not only the track’s expectations but the fans as well. At this stage we will look forward to what is a pivotal round in the Indy Lights championship on July 10 and a return for Pro Mazda in 2017."

The autograph session will afford fans an opportunity to meet the open-wheel stars of tomorrow. Indy Lights has produced some of IndyCar’s biggest names including current stars Marco Andretti, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan. Spencer Pigot is the most recent Indy Lights champion to advance to the Verizon IndyCar Series and will compete for Ed Carpenter Racing in the Iowa Corn 300.

The Indy Lights Iowa Challenge presented by Cooper Tires will take place at 2:15 p.m. on July 10 leading up to the Verizon IndyCar Series feature race — the Iowa Corn 300 — at 4:35 p.m.

In addition to Sunday’s open wheel races, Iowa Speedway will host the ARCA Racing Series Iowa 150 presented by Casey’s General Stores on July 9.

Following the ARCA race, country music duo LOCASH will take to the Speedway’s Pork Party Pavilion for the second installment of the NAPA Auto Parts Concert Series. Fans with tickets to the July 9 and /or July 10 race days will be admitted to the concourse for the concert.