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Even in its storied 76-year history, there are still some significant “firsts” in NASCAR, including this weekend’s Iowa Corn 350 from Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa, just outside of Des Moines.
For the first time, NASCAR will run a Cup Series event at the .875-mile track that was designed 20 years ago that uses a “progressive banking system” from 12 to 14 degrees in the turns.
The short track has, however, hosted Xfinity and Truck Series races from 2009-2019 and there are a handful of drivers in Sunday’s field who have not only run the track multiple times, but have multiple Xfinity victories there, including Brad Keselowski (2009, 2013, 2014), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2011 sweep, 2012) and Christopher Bell (2018, 2019).
But Sunday night they’ll all be driving Cup cars against the best in the world.
So who will take the checkered flag?
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FrontPageBets takes a look at the drivers to watch in the inaugural Iowa Corn 350 from Iowa Speedway on Sunday night (7 p.m., USA).
(All odds courtesy of BetMGM and are subject to change)
Bell, the driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, won twice on this track in the Xfinity series in five career starts.
After a 16th-place finish in his first race there in 2017, Bell has never finished worse than second at the short track.
Bell also participated in a tire test at Iowa Speedway a few weeks ago, so he’s even more familiar with the setup.
Bell already has two Cup wins this season and sits ninth in points.
All three of Hamlin’s wins this season have come on tracks one mile or shorter – Bristol, Richmond and Dover.
The driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota has 14 career short-track victories and has finished in the top five 49 times.
This season, he sits in third in Cup points and is tied with Kyle Larson and William Byron for most wins in 2024.
Buescher, driver of the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford, won an Xfinity race at Iowa Speedway back in 2015, so he has had success there.
In fact, in four starts at the short track, he’s never finished outside the top 14. His average finish is 10.3.
Not to mention, two of his five career Cup wins have come on short tracks.
Iowa Corn 350 betting odds: Favorites to win at Iowa Speedway
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Mike Szvetitz is the General Manager and Content Director for FrontPageBets.com. Szvetitz is a 24-year veteran reporter and editor, including serving 17 years as a sports editor in Florida, Alabama and Virginia, covering everything from preps to pros. His “View From The Lazy Boy” column won multiple state and national awards. He can be reached at mszvetitz@timesdispatch.com.
