NEWTON, Iowa — Christopher Bell is excited about the NASCAR Cup Series making its debut at Iowa Speedway.
However, as the .875-mile track prepares for Sunday’s race, Bell acknowledges that it has undergone changes since his previous visits.
Bell has had great success at the track in NASCAR’s other series, with seven top five finishes in nine starts, including two wins in the Xfinity Series.
Despite his past accomplishments, the recent partial repaving of the turns has altered the track’s dynamics. The top-to-bottom racing that characterized the track in the past may not be as prominent in Sunday’s 350-lap race.
Bell commented, “If we were on the old pavement, I feel like it would be a big advantage to have. But with the repave we have, it’s essentially a new race track. I really think it’s anybody’s ballgame.”
The anticipation is high, with an estimated 40,000 fans expected to attend Sunday’s race. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday sold out quickly, and Friday’s Cup and Xfinity practice sessions, along with an ARCA Menards Series race, were nearly sold out as well.
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The inclusion of a Cup race is a significant milestone after years of efforts to have the track included in the schedule.
Iowa Speedway, designed by NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace, opened in 2006. The track hosted its first IndyCar Series race in 2007, followed by the Xfinity and Truck series races in 2009.
NASCAR acquired the track in 2013 to prevent its closure due to financial difficulties. After only hosting an ARCA Menards Series race in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the track saw a resurgence with the IndyCar Series staging doubleheaders in 2022 and 2023, drawing near-capacity crowds.
Last fall, NASCAR announced that the track would be hosting a Cup Series race this season, along with the return of the Xfinity Series.
Eighteen drivers in Sunday’s field have previously won at the track in NASCAR’s other series.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., a three-time Xfinity Series race winner at Iowa Speedway, shared his thoughts, “I walked out here and I felt like it was a lot bigger than I remembered. I felt like it was a pretty small short track, but obviously you get going pretty quick here.”
Chase Briscoe, the winner of the last Xfinity Series race at the track in 2019, also acknowledged the changes, “It’s still Iowa, but it’s not the same Iowa.”
Bell expressed a similar sentiment, saying, “I miss the old Iowa.”
Larson up front
Kyle Larson secured the pole position after setting a fast lap of 136.458 mph, with Ryan Blaney in second at 136.311 mph.
Saturday morning’s rain affected Xfinity Series qualifying and led to adjustments in the Cup Series qualifying format. Drivers had to qualify in two groups, with the top five from each group filling the top 10 qualifying positions.
Larson capitalized on being the last driver to qualify, stating, “It helped to go last. I’m sure the track was getting a little bit better.”
if you build it
Joey Logano reflected on his experience racing at Iowa Speedway as a 16-year-old in a Hooters Pro Cup event. He noted the enthusiastic response from fans this weekend and compared it to the Field of Dreams, referencing the packed stands at the Pro Cup race years ago.
Corey LaJoie’s No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, featuring the Tigerhawk logo of the University of Iowa’s sports teams, has garnered attention from Iowa fans. LaJoie’s primary sponsor, Gainbridge, has ties to former Iowa women’s basketball player Caitlin Clark, who expressed her support for the black-and-gold car in a social media video.
Clark, the reigning national player of the year and top pick in the recent WNBA draft, stated, “I know I’ll be rooting for the black-and-gold car.”
