NASCAR Cup Series Returns to Iowa Speedway

NASCAR returns to Iowa Speedway for its second-ever Cup Series race, the Iowa Corn 350, with high anticipation following Bubba Wallace's recent Brickyard 400 win that secured his playoff spot and shifted the postseason outlook. Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin are co-favorites, while defending Iowa winner Ryan Blaney is also a strong contender. The Cup Series offers a record $9.8 million purse, increasing competitive intensity, and the Xfinity Series runs alongside with boosted rewards. Qualifying occurs Saturday with the field split into two groups, and the race is set for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA. Drivers like Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, and Ryan Preece, all with past Iowa Xfinity wins, are aiming for their first Cup win of the season to clinch playoff berths. Iowa Speedway's progressive banking, recent partial repave, and the challenge of setting up the Next Gen car are expected to play key roles in race strategy.