Iowa Speedway today introduced Jimmy Small as its new track president. Small’s appointment at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines comes on the heels of NASCAR’s announcement two weeks ago that it had purchased the Speedway.
Several of the sport’s top executives along with state and local dignitaries were present for the announcement.
“Jimmy’s tireless dedication, energy and experience make him the ideal candidate for leading Iowa Speedway into this new era,” said Eric Nyquist, NASCAR vice president, strategic development. “He has a strong background in identifying and creating fan experience improvements and defining best practices designed to help strengthen sponsor relations and ticket sales. In addition, he will have a great support structure at the Speedway and NASCAR.”
Small, 28, joins the Speedway after six years with NASCAR in various business-building capacities. Most recently, he served as senior manager for team marketing services within the NASCAR Industry Services department out of the Charlotte, N.C., office. In that role, he was the business and marketing liaison with teams and drivers in all three national series.
Additionally, he helped manage the implementation of the NASCAR Industry Action Plan, including several key initiatives targeting Event Management and Entertainment, Youth & Gen-Y Marketing and Driver Star Power.
When Small started in the sport in 2008, he worked out of NASCAR’s Daytona Beach, Fla., headquarters coordinating event weekends with tracks, television partners and teams.
“I’m honored to be presented with this opportunity to help guide Iowa Speedway in the next chapter of its life,” Small said. “We will continue fanning the intense passion for motorsports that is prevalent here, and do our best to showcase Iowa Speedway’s fast, exciting short-track racing in creative, fan-friendly ways.”
Small is a Detroit native and graduate of the University of Notre Dame. He was named as a member of Sports Pro Magazine’s The 10 NEXT Class of 2012, an honor recognizing 10 sports executives under the age of 30.
The track currently is gearing up for its slate of three NASCAR race weekends during the 2014 season. The Speedway’s season opens May 17-18, with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East versus West Challenge on Saturday night followed by a 250-lap NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Sunday. The weekend of July 11-12, Iowa Speedway will host a Friday night NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event and an IndyCar Series race on Saturday. A second NASCAR K&N Pro Series East versus West Challenge race is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 1 followed by another 250-lap NASCAR Nationwide Series event Saturday night.
Season ticket holders may renew their tickets for the 2014 season, and will have an exclusive right to secure their current seats until Sunday, Jan. 5. All season tickets, with prices starting at $95, will include a guaranteed seat location, complimentary Casey’s Fan Walk pass and an opportunity to participate in pre-race ceremonies. Season tickets, parking passes and onsite camping options are available online at www.iowaspeedway.com, or by calling the toll-free ticketing hotline, 866-RUSTY-GO (787-8946). Single-event tickets and weekend packages will become available on Monday, Jan. 6.
Iowa Speedway’s ticketing office, located at 3333 Rusty Wallace Drive in Newton, also will be open to assist customers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, holidays excepted.
