Ryan Blaney made history on Sunday night at the Iowa Speedway, winning the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at the 0.875-mile track and completing a rare feat in the process. The reigning Cup Series champion led 201 of the 350 laps in the Iowa Corn 350, securing his first victory of the 2024 season and the 11th of his career.

With this win, Blaney became the first driver to claim victories in all three NASCAR national series at Iowa Speedway. He previously won in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2012 and the Xfinity Series in 2015, making the Iowa Corn 350 triumph particularly sweet.

“What a cool way to win here. This place means a lot to me and means a lot to my mom,” said an elated Blaney, whose mother Lisa hails from Chariton, Iowa. The victory was made even more special by the large contingent of family and friends who were in attendance, cheering him on.

The race-winning move came during the final caution when crew chief Jonathan Hassler made a strategic call for a two-tire pit stop. This decision allowed Blaney to take the lead and control the final 88 laps of the race. Despite mounting pressure from those behind him on fresher tires, Blaney managed to cross the finish line 0.716 seconds ahead of runner-up William Byron.

Byron, who pitted for four new tires under the same caution, acknowledged Blaney’s strong performance. “He had a really good car, so he was up front and contending a lot,” Byron said. “We were just a step off of that.”

The race featured eight cautions for 49 laps and saw a major shakeup in the points standings. Pole-sitter Kyle Larson, who led 80 laps and won the second stage, was involved in an incident on lap 220 that sent him to the garage for repairs. Larson finished 34th, 36 laps down, relinquishing the championship points lead to his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott, who finished third in the race.

Christopher Bell and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rounded out the top five, with Bell’s fourth-place finish particularly impressive given that he started from the rear of the field in a backup car after a practice crash.

The newly repaved Iowa Speedway, with fresh asphalt in the bottom two lanes of the corners, provided an exciting backdrop for the Cup Series debut. The track, known for its progressive banking and multi-groove racing, lived up to expectations, offering drivers multiple options throughout the event.

As the NASCAR Cup Series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway next weekend for the USA Today 301, all eyes will be on the tight championship battle. Elliott now leads Larson by eight points with nine races remaining in the regular season, setting the stage for an intense summer of racing.

Blaney’s victory at Iowa not only cements his place in the track’s history but also serves as a reminder of his versatility and skill across all three of NASCAR’s top series. As the defending champion finds his winning form, the rest of the field will need to step up their game if they hope to challenge for the title.