A Rocky Start at Iowa
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series opened its 14‑race finale at Iowa Speedway, where the Iowa Corn 350 promised fireworks from the outset and drew a full house of fans eager to see the new championship dynamics.
Championship leader Denny Hamlin entered the weekend with an 84‑point advantage over Tyler Reddick, qualified 29th, but a cooling‑system fault forced him to the back of the grid, joining a growing list of contenders battling adversity.
Joining him on the rear row, Chase Elliott crashed during practice and will start 32nd, while Brad Keselowski’s early incident dropped him to 34th after he had been running fourth in qualifying.
The 0.894‑mile, four‑turn oval has long been a test of precision, and this year’s field features a mix of seasoned veterans and rising talent, all eyes on how the new starting order will reshape the early standings.
Fans can catch the live action on USA Network at 3:30 p.m. ET, with streaming options on FuboTV, ensuring the drama reaches viewers across the United States.