NEWTON, Iowa — Christopher Bell appreciates the NASCAR Cup Series being at Iowa Speedway for the first time.
Before Sunday’s race, the .875-mile track has undergone changes that differ from what he’s accustomed to.
Bell has had success at the track in NASCAR’s other series, with seven top-five finishes in nine starts, including two wins in the Xfinity Series.
However, the track has a new look this weekend after partial repaving in the turns. The top-to-bottom racing that was a defining feature of the track in the past may not be present for Sunday’s 350-lap race.
“If we were on the old pavement, I think it would have been a significant advantage,” Bell commented. “But with the repave, it’s essentially a new race track. I believe it’s anyone’s game now.”
An estimated 40,000 fans are expected for Sunday’s race. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday were sold out early in the spring, and Friday’s Cup and Xfinity practice, as well as an ARCA Menards Series race, were nearly sold out.
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The first Cup race is a milestone after years of efforts by the track to secure a spot on the schedule.
The track, designed by NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace, was inaugurated in 2006. The IndyCar Series held its inaugural race at the track in 2007, with NASCAR’s Xfinity and Truck series making their debut at the track in 2009.
NASCAR acquired the track in 2013 to prevent financial troubles, but it seemed heading towards closure after the COVID-19 pandemic when only an ARCA Menards Series race took place there in 2021. However, the IndyCar Series, which didn’t visit the track in 2021, returned with doubleheaders in 2022 and 2023 that attracted near-capacity crowds.
NASCAR then announced last fall that the track would host a Cup Series race this season, along with a return of the Xfinity Series.
Eighteen of the drivers in Sunday’s field have at least one victory at the track in one of NASCAR’s other series.
“When I came out here, it felt much bigger than I remembered,” said Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who claimed three Xfinity Series wins at the track. “I always thought it was a fairly small short track, but you pick up speed quickly here.”
“It’s still Iowa, but it’s not the same Iowa,” remarked Chase Briscoe, who won the last Xfinity Series race at the track in 2019.
Bell shared a similar sentiment.
“I miss the old Iowa,” he expressed.
Larson up front
Kyle Larson will lead the pack after recording a quick lap of 136.458 mph. Ryan Blaney came in second at 136.311.
Saturday morning’s rain canceled Xfinity Series qualifying and led NASCAR to modify the Cup Series qualifying. Drivers were divided into two groups, with the top five in each group occupying the top 10 qualifying positions.
Larson was the final driver to go through qualifying.
“Being the last one out definitely helped,” Larson remarked. “I’m sure the track was improving.”
if you build it
Joey Logano participated in the first race at Iowa Speedway when he was only 16 years old, finishing 40th in a Hooters Pro Cup event. Therefore, he wasn’t surprised by the warm reception the Cup drivers received this weekend.
“The fans love it,” mentioned Logano, who won at the track less than a year later in a K&N Pro Series race. “I remember noticing the packed stands for a Pro Cup race many years ago. So, having a Cup race is a whole new level. I joked about it, saying, ‘I don’t know where all these fans are coming from, considering there are a lot of cornfields around here.’ It’s like the Field of Dreams.”
Hawkeye state
Corey LaJoie will draw attention from Iowa fans due to his paint scheme. LaJoie’s No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet showcases the Tigerhawk logo of the University of Iowa’s sports teams.
LaJoie is primarily sponsored by Gainbridge, and former Iowa women’s basketball player Caitlin Clark, who has her own deal with Gainbridge, mentioned LaJoie’s car in a video posted on social media on Friday.
“I’ll definitely be supporting the black-and-gold car,” stated Clark, the reigning national player of the year and the all-time leading scorer for the Hawkeyes. She was the first overall pick in the WNBA draft this year.
