Harvick, Martin to race at Iowa Speedway
DES MOINES (AP) --- The leading money earners in stock car racing's top level NASCAR Nextel Cup series will race this year at the Iowa Speedway, track officials said Wednesday.
Kevin Harvick will race at the Iowa Speedway's first NASCAR race, the Grand National East-West on May 20.
Mark Martin will race July 13 in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series race.
The announcements were made Wednesday by Iowa Speedway General Manager Craig Armstrong
Kevin Harvick is the leading Nextel Cup money earner so far this season with $2.2 million. Martin is second with $1.6 million.
Kevin Harvick and Martin were the top two finishers at this year's Daytona 500.
"These two drivers represent the 'best of the best' and for us to have the top two finishers in this year's Daytona 500 race here at Iowa Speedway -- that's about as good as it gets," said Iowa Speedway President Stan Clement.
Martin, 48, had planned on retiring last year, but he is running a limited schedule this season and is 15th in the Nextel Cup points standings. He said in a statement that he's choosing where he wants to race.
"When we cut back to a limited schedule this season, one of the great things about it was that it would give me time to do a lot of other things that I've wanted to do," he said. "I love to race all types of stuff, and I think we'll have a blast up there in Iowa in July."
Martin, considered one of the best drivers to never win a Nextel Cup championship, has finished second four times in title chases. He has nearly three dozen wins in 18 years of racing and more than 570 starts.
Kevin Harvick, 31, who is 10th in Nextel Cup points standings and second in Busch series points, said he's looking forward to his race at the new Iowa track near Newton completed just last year.
"I've heard a lot about the track, that it's a fast track, and it should be a great race," he said in a statement.
The Iowa Speedway, designed by former NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace, is a 7/8-mile asphalt tri-oval.
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