Ryan Blaney, driving for Team Penske, captured pole position for the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway after posting a blistering lap of 134.191 miles per hour. His effort set the tone for a competitive weekend and gave the Penske camp an early advantage.
Front‑row battle
Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports narrowly missed the top spot, finishing just 0.018 seconds behind Blaney and securing second place in his No. 5 Chevrolet. Joey Logano of Team Penske matched Larson’s speed but was relegated to third by the tiebreaker, rounding out the front row.
Brad Keselowski, also fielded by Team Penske, encountered trouble during his second qualifying attempt when a crash brought his lap to an abrupt end, raising the prospect of a penalty that could affect his starting position.
Broadcast and coverage
The race is slated to be part of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, with live coverage slated for USA Network at 3:30 p.m. ET on August 9. The broadcast will be anchored by USA Sports’ portion of the schedule, ensuring nationwide exposure for the event.
The lineup features a who’s‑who of drivers from leading organizations including Team Penske, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Trackhouse Racing, 23XI Racing, RFK Racing, Front Row Motorsports, Spire Motorsports, Legacy Motor Club, Haas Factory Team and Kaulig Racing, promising a deep field of competition.