Iowa Speedway is Set to Deliver High-Octane and Jaw-Dropping Drama in the Cup Series This Weekend

Alright, buckle up, motorsports junkies. The NASCAR Cup Series Iowa Corn 350 is set to roll onto the refreshed pavement at Iowa Speedway this Sunday, August 3, 2025. If short tracks are NASCAR’s answer to soap operas, then Iowa’s seven-eighths-mile oval is the juiciest storyline we’ve had in ages. They’ve gotten the repave just right, meaning we’re in for multi-groove madness and enough racing strategy to make your head spin faster than a pit gun.

Why Iowa Matters for the Cup Series

Iowa Speedway hasn’t been on the Cup Series calendar for too long. It only joined in 2024, but it didn’t need much time to win the hearts of fans. Tight racing? Check. Packed grandstands? Double-check. Unique layout? You bet. Oh, and don’t forget the fine Midwestern popcorn that’s practically a race-day tradition.

This year’s Iowa Corn 350 is shaping up to be a chess match on wheels, with track position and tire management taking center stage. The field is still buzzing about the simplified one-shot qualifying format for Saturday, meaning no second chances. That’s right, the order you set with that one lap? That’s where you’ll start when the green flag drops on Sunday. Performing under that kind of pressure is basically a sport in itself.

Cup Series at Iowa Speedway: Entry List

• 1. Ross Chastain, No. 1 ( Track House Racing, Chevrolet)
• 2. Austin Cindric, No. 2 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 3. Austin Dillon, No. 3 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 4. Noah Gragson, No. 4 (Front Row Motorsports)
• 5. Kyle Larson, No. 5 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 6. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 7. Justin Haley, No. 7 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 8. Kyle Busch, No. 8 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 9. Chase Elliott, No. 9 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 10. Ty Dillon, No. 10 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 11. Denny Hamlin, No.11 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 12. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 13. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 14. Chris Buescher, No. 17 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 15. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 16. Christopher Bell, No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 17. Josh Berry, No. 21 (Woods Brothers Racing, Ford)
• 18. Joey Logano, No. 22 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 19. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 (23XL Racing, Toyota)
• 20. William Byron, No. 24 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 21. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 22. Riley Herbst, No. 35 (23XL Racing, Toyota)
• 23. Zane Smith, No. 38 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 24. Cole Custer, No. 41 (Haas Factory Team, Ford)
• 25. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
• 26. Erik Jones, No. 43 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
• 27. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 (23XL Racing, Toyota)
• 28. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. No. 47 (HYAK Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 29. Alex Bowman, No. 48 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 30. Cody Ware, No. 51 (Rick Ware Racing, Ford)
• 31. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 32. Ryan Preece, No. 60 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 33. Joey Gase, No. 66 (Garage 66, Ford)
• 34. Michael McDowell, No. 71 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 35. Carson Hocevar, No. 77  (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 36. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
• 37. Daniel Suárez, No. 99 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)

Highlights of the Weekend

• The Cup Series Race: Iowa Corn 350 (Sunday, Aug. 3, 3:30 PM ET, USA Network and HBO Max)
• Qualifying: Saturday (Aug. 2, 2:40 PM ET, truTV)
• Track Layout: Progressive banking, multi-groove racing, and tight corners with a hint of chaos.

But what makes the Cup Series race this weekend particularly spicy is what’s at stake. With the playoff races right around the corner, Iowa is serving as a pressure cooker for top drivers to either make their mark… or fold under the heat.

The Veterans vs. The Rookies

Kyle Larson hasn’t exactly had one of his best Cup Series seasons, but don’t think for a second that he won’t be in the mix. Remember, he nabbed the pole in 2024 at this track and still boasts technical mastery that most drivers can only dream of. On the flip side, Chase Elliott is quietly wanting to secure a standout performance amidst an up-and-down year.

Then there’s Ty Gibbs, who has about as much chill as a caffeinated squirrel. Gibbs is still carving out his place in the Cup Series, but keep your eyes peeled for a breakout “how-did-he-even-do-that” moment on Sunday. NASCAR loves a rookie storyline, and Iowa’s tightly wound drama is fertile ground for just that.

What’s at Stake for the Cup Drivers?

Ah, the wonders of the NASCAR playoff structure. It’s the kind of convoluted points system that looks like a mad scientist designed it, yet it keeps delivering grade-A tension. With only four regular-season races left, playoff points are king. The Iowa Corn 350 might not be Daytona, but don’t kid yourself into thinking it’s any less important. A win this weekend is essentially a golden ticket to the postseason elimination rounds, allowing drivers to breathe a little easier.

Well, unless you’re someone like Denny Hamlin, who eats, sleeps, and breathes “points racing.”Meanwhile, keep an eye on folks like Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski, both of whom are itching for a Hail Mary strategy win. And it wouldn’t be the Cup Series without that, would it? Blaney’s two-tire call from last year is practically legendary, and something tells me he’s got a few more tricks up his sleeve.

Tire Management & Strategy Will Steal the Show

Iowa’s freshly redone asphalt is basically the wild card of the weekend. Drivers and teams are still dissecting how the track’s grip holds as tires age over a run. Some might gamble on long Cup Series stints while others pop in for fresh Goodyears more often than your average office coffee break.

This is the kind of track where overthinking strategy can either turn you into a legend… or leave you eating someone’s exhaust fumes. Rookies will be tested. Veterans will be sweating. And fans? We’ll be chugging sodas while biting our nails to the quick.

Final Thoughts Before the Green Flag Drops

If there’s one thing certain about the Iowa Corn 350, it’s that nothing is certain, especially since this is a Cup Series race. Will Gibbs stun us with a late lap pass? Will Larson remind everyone why he’s still one of the best in the garage? Or will we get a wildcard result that leaves us all scrambling to rewrite predictions?

One thing’s for sure. Iowa Speedway is where pressure meets pavement, and heartbreak meets triumph. This track doesn’t hand out wins. Every lap feels earned. We’ve got a Cup Series weekend lined up that promises ridiculous drama and edge-of-your-seat moments. Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway, don’t miss it.