URBANDALE, Iowa - The Soy Biodiesel 250, the inaugural race at the Iowa Speedway, which took place on Friday evening, was a success on many levels.

Winning the race was Woody Howard, driver of the No. 55 Dean Motorsports Chevrolet. Howard not only won the Soy Biodiesel 250 trophy, but also christening rights to Iowa Speedway Victory Lane. Although Howard was running in fourth place when the white flag waved, he managed to pull ahead of his competition and finish .064 seconds ahead of the second-place contender.

Apprehension was felt not only by the drivers and fans, but also by the sponsoring organization, the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA). “ISA really stepped out of its comfort zone by sponsoring this event, “ says Kirk Leeds, CEO of the Iowa Soybean Association. “But we were looking to broaden the awareness of soy biodiesel and we believed this would be a great way to do just that.

“We wanted to let people know that we have a product in our own backyards that can not only reduce our dependency on foreign fuel but also boost our economy. Especially when that product is partnered with a groundbreaking idea like the Speedway, which will provide jobs and economic relief to Iowa,” says Leeds. “Really, we were on Victory Lane before the race even started.”

Many Iowa dignitaries were present at the ISA hospitality tent before the start of the Soy Biodiesel 250. Among those in attendance was Senator Charles Grassley, who also had the privilege of announcing, “Drivers, start your engines” before the start of the race. ISA asked Senator Grassley to perform this honored duty due to his long-time advocacy for renewable fuels. Other notable figures present were Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, First Lady Christie Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge, Congressman Steve King, Congressman Leonard Boswell, and Congressman Tom Latham.

“We believe the Soy Biodiesel 250 was a success for everyone, and Iowa in general,” says Leeds. “It allowed us to broaden our awareness of soy biodiesel to existing and new markets. The race also created much-deserved attention for soy biodiesel in Iowa, to potentially acquire more biodiesel users or to increase usage among current consumers.”

If you missed the Soy Biodiesel 250 and would like to see it, it will be rebroadcast on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m., on Speed Channel.