This weekend, NASCAR ventures into uncharted territory as the Cup Series makes its highly anticipated debut at Iowa Speedway for the Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol. The 0.875-mile short track in Newton, Iowa presents a fresh challenge for drivers, with playoff implications looming large as the regular season enters its final stretch.

HyVee Perks 250 (Xfinity Series)
When: Saturday June 15, 3:30 PM EST (USA, MRN, SIRIUS XM NASCAR Radio)
Where: Iowa Speedway; Newton, Iowa
Last Year’s Winner: 1st Time Back In 5 Years

The Xfinity Series returns to Iowa on Saturday after a five-year absence. Justin Allgaier, with 16 previous starts and a 2018 win at the track, headlines a group of oval-savvy veterans eager to reassert themselves after recent road course dominance by newcomer Shane van Gisbergen.

Van Gisbergen, fresh off consecutive road course victories, faces a critical test in his oval development. The New Zealand native has yet to crack the top 10 on an oval since early in the season.

“I’m really looking forward to our return to Iowa this weekend,” said Allgaier. “This has always been one of my favorite tracks, and it’s great to be going back there.”
My Pick To Win: Justin Allgaier

Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol (Cup Series)
When: Sunday June 16, 7:00 PM EST (USA, MRN, SIRIUS XM NASCAR Radio)
Where: Iowa Speedway; Newton, Iowa
Last Year’s Winner: 1st Time Race

Sunday’s race marks the first time NASCAR’s premier series will compete at Iowa Speedway. While the track is new to the Cup schedule, several drivers have prior experience from the Xfinity and Truck Series. Christopher Bell, winner of two Xfinity races at Iowa, participated in a recent tire test and believes the newly repaved surface will dramatically increase speeds.

“The repave made it a whole new race track,” Bell said. “I’m a little bit worried now that the pace is going to be really fast, and it’s going to be harder to pass, but the speeds are going to be tremendous.”

With just 10 races remaining before the playoffs, seven postseason spots are still up for grabs. Kyle Busch and Joey Logano find themselves on the wrong side of the cutline, adding urgency to their Iowa debuts. Logano’s knack for conquering new venues could prove advantageous, as he’s won inaugural events at four different tracks in recent years.
My Pick To Win: Christopher Bell

As both series tackle Iowa’s unique layout and newly paved corners, adaptability will be key. Drivers and teams with the ability to quickly dial in their setups could find themselves celebrating in victory lane come Sunday night.