Directions: The Southern Iowa Speedway is located 1/2 mile West of US 63 on SR 92, then 1/3 mile North on North I St. (at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds)
From Knoxville - Take SR 92 East 20 miles to Oskaloosa. Turn North on North I St. and go 1/3 mile to Fairgrounds.
From Hwy 163 - Take SR 92 Exit East to North I St. Go North 1/3 mile to Fairgrounds.
Looking up the results and payouts of races across the nation in the very popular National Speed Sport News was a favorite pastime for Terry McCarl as he was growing up while watching his father Lenard McCarl on the dirt tracks. He wanted to be a promoter. On the Sunday before the week of the prestigious 1995 Knoxville Nationals, Terry was visiting with Bob Berryhill, father of the well know driver, Aaron Berryhill, and the words “we’re bored” came out of Bob. That was the spark that Terry needed to begin his promoting career. He wanted to have a race close to the Knoxville area and his wife Lori mentioned that it would be great to have a race in Oskaloosa. Terry called the Oskaloosa fair board and the fortunately, the track was available for rent. The ambitious young promoter knew that without money, there couldn’t be a race. He then contacted Bill McCrosky for the financial backing and the two partnered up and began the planning of the event. Terry wanted to do a memorial race in honors of Danny Young, the Des Moines, IA native that was in a fatal sprint car crash at Knoxville Raceway. He contacted Butch Young, Danny’s father, and asked him if it would be okay and soon later the inaugural event was scheduled and the Danny Young Memorial race was born.
It was a two-day show at the inaugural 1996 event and Terry thought he needed to add some more excitement to the race. “Everyone wants to see the fast guys’ go to the back,” mentions Terry. “It is something the fans love to see, but don’t always get a chance to do so.” Terry wanted to give that opportunity to the fans so he offered the driver sitting on the pole $1500 to go to the back and attempt to win the race. Leonard Lee took the challenge, but only made it to 12th. This was the beginning of the Front Row Challenge.
The following year, Butch Young wanted to bring the race closer to home and the 1997 Danny Young Memorial was scheduled to race in Davenport. Unfortunately, the event was canceled due to rain, and the race moved back to Oskaloosa in 1998. This was the start of the $50,000 Front Row Challenge and since then only one driver, the “Wild Child” Jac Haudenschild, has taken the large payout.
After several years, the challenge of taking it to the back row took on many changes. Now, the Front Row Challenge features the Keith Hutton Memorial King of the Hill Match Races, determining the pole position. The race now pays $20,000 to win, one of the richest in history.
After several years of having just one night of racing, 2018 brings the Ultimate Challenge back on Tuesday, and Sage Fruit on board as title sponsor of both nights. The non-wing sprints return with the WAR series, and the headline will be the Lucas Oil ASCS National Sprint Cars.