Iowa champ Glendenning (left) met with Hawkeye State Governor Branstad (right) Thursday. Office of Governor Terry E. Branstad

Iowa Governor Branstad Salutes Glendenning
First Time NASCAR Champion Enjoys Time With Popular Governor
By Paul Schaefer, NASCAR
January 27, 2012 - 10:15am

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. —Popular five-term Iowa Governor Terry Branstad congratulated his state’s 2011 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series champion Paul Glendenning Thursday afternoon.

En route to the Iowa championship, Glendenning also won his first NASCAR dirt Late Model track championship at Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa in 2011. Ray Houck, ACS competition director, accompanied Glendenning to the state capital building in Des Moines.

“Gov. Branstad is very receptive to racing as a whole,” Glendenning said. “He’s familiar with Iowa Speedway (in Newton) and friends with Conrad Clement.”

Clement is a founder and owner of Iowa Speedway. He also founded longtime NASCAR sponsor Featherlite, Inc.

“The governor met with President Obama when he was in Cedar Rapids Wednesday,” Glendenning said. “It’s incredible our governor would meet with the President of the United States one day and with me the next.”

During their 15 minute visit, Glendenning and Houck did a little politicking of their own.

“Ray invited Gov. Branstad to come on down and enjoy a race night with us at Adams County Speedway, and he said he’d like to do that,” Glendenning said.

For his part, Glendenning, himself an elected multi-term member of the Ringgold County Development Corp., reminded Gov. Branstad of the economic impact weekly racing has on communities.

“Weekly tracks bring in a lot of fans and drivers from out of town every weekend,” Glendenning said. “Today it’s all about the economy first and foremost and short track racing attracts spending around every track.

“Adams County Speedway has an economic impact on Southwest Iowa. It draws people to our communities and our state,” Glendenning said.

Glendenning 47, of Mt. Ayr, Iowa, said his visit with Gov. Branstad tops off a tremendous experience of being a NASCAR track and state champion.

“NASCAR treated us so well at the banquet in Charlotte in December,” Glendenning said. “Being congratulated by Gov. Branstad was such an honor. That’s the icing on the cake.”

Glendenning’s season record included two wins, 11 top-fives and 14 top-10s in 14 starts.

The Glendenning family operates Glendenning Motor Company in MOUNT AYR, IA. The 58 year old company is a dealership for Chrysler, Jeep, Chevrolet, and GMC brands.

Photo Credit And Story
By Paul Schaefer, NASCAR
January 27, 2012 - 10:15am