NEWTON, Iowa - Rusty Wallace was behind the wheel of a big yellow bulldozer that made its way to the top of a mound of rich Iowa soil. The veteran driver was in central Iowa on a hot, steamy, first day of summer to help publicize the official groundbreaking for Iowa Speedway, the 7/8-mile asphalt oval track being built by U.S. Motorsport Corporation.

Hundreds of racing fans joined Wallace, track owners, and racing dignitaries - including top USAC and ARCA officials - in a festive atmosphere that included free pork sandwiches, music, and speeches at the Newton Airport. "We're going to build this facility. We're going to showcase this facility, and I'll promise you we're going to have some great races," Wallace told an enthusiastic crowd. He added, "This is a reality. This is one of the only tracks around the country that's finally got the funding, got the right design group, got everything put together to make this a world-class track".

Iowa Speedway is located along I-80 on land adjacent to the airport. Wallace is co-designing the state-of-the-art track which will be the industry's first driver-designed speedway. The "Rusty Wallace Signature Series" track will have a seating capacity of 40,000, including 25,000 permanent seats and 15,000 festival seats.

Andy Vertrees, Chief Operating Officer, said he was pleased by the large turnout of racing fans for the groundbreaking and promised to deliver "big-time racing on a first-rate track" as early as mid-July 2006.

Todd Melfi, General Manager, thanked Newton residents and Iowa officials for their support in making the track a reality and pledged to make the Iowa Speedway "a venue racing fans and drivers will be proud to be associated with".

Wallace, who finished the day's event by signing autographs for a long line of racing fans, acknowledged his pending "retirement" from racing but indicated he and his son, Steven, may drive at Iowa Speedway once the track is finished. It would be the kind of event racing fans would pay to see.