The IMCA Super Nationals, an annual event at Boone Speedway in Iowa, drew a record 909 cars last September. What was even more impressive was its economic impact. A study released by the United States Motorsports Association (UMSA) revealed that the IMCA Super Nationals added $61 million to the Iowa economy.
“We knew the IMCA Super Nationals has had a major economic impact on the City of Boone, Boone County, and the State of Iowa, but [we] did not realize the impact was of this magnitude,” said IMCA president Brett Root. “The City of Boone is growing and changing. We want to be sure we are seen as a business that is friendly and important to the community, and we want to continue to be good neighbors with our other community members.”
The economic impact study started as a conversation between Root and USMA executive director Shawn Stewart.
“We felt the event needed to be uncovered and showcased,” Stewart said. “The IMCA wanted to understand for themselves what the event meant to Iowa. We implemented the study to showcase it to the State of Iowa and its tourism and economic development departments. The Super Nationals is a major event in their state which that they may not have been aware of.”
To produce the economic impact report, the USMA worked closely with the economics department of Washington & Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. Representatives from the USMA and the college attended the last IMCA Super Nationals.
“We wanted staff on the ground to better understand the IMCA Super Nationals, which is a complex event when you consider so many cars and people coming from so many different states to Boone, Iowa,” said Stewart. “We completed more than 1,000 [interviews] over a couple of days.”
In addition to 909 cars, the event drew 15,000 people through the pits. Drivers from 27 states and Canada traveled an average of 350 miles to compete in the IMCA Super Nationals. They spent 10% of their annual racing budget at race.
Approximately 30,000 fans made the trip to Boone Speedway, which averaged 300 miles one way. Regardless, of whether they were a fan or competitor, attendees frequented local malls, golf courses, and other attractions. The USMA study said the economic value of the event equaled an entire season of Iowa State football.
The USMA will send its report to the State of Iowa, City of Boone, and Boone County, as well as other government agencies. IMCA hopes that it will help build the infrastructure surrounding the IMCA Super Nationals as the event grows.
“As it gets bigger, we are constantly making improvements — like safe entrances and the maintenance of the two hard surface roads leading to our facility,” Root said. “The report will also help us get the amenities that racers and fans want and expect. We will be able to better manage improvements to water, power, and broadband services coming into our facility.”
Ultimately, the USMA-produced report highlights the value of the IMCA Super Nationals to the local and state economies.
“We can show the positive impact the race has on the community and ask for help with solving some of the infrastructure problems, because we are an active entity that is a large aspect of the Boone community’s economy,” said Root.
Mike Adaskaveg has written hundreds of stories since the website’s inception. This year marks his 54th year of covering auto racing. Adaskaveg got his start working for track photographer Lloyd Burnham at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway in 1970. Since then, he’s been a columnist, writer, and photographer, in racing and in mainstream media, for several outlets, including the Journal Inquirer, Boston Herald, Stock Car Racing, and Speedway Illustrated. Among Adaskaveg’s many awards are the 1992 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Ace Lane Photographer of the Year and the 2019 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) George Cunningham Writer of the Year.
