The weekend at Iowa Speedway is shaping up to be a decisive moment in the NASCAR Cup Series, with a full slate of qualifying and practice sessions determining the grid for the Iowa Corn 350. A single qualifying group will see all 36 drivers take to the short track, and the resulting metric scores will dictate the starting order, a system that has put Connor Zilisch at the top with a score of 34.600.
A final push for the playoffs
With the regular season winding down, the race serves as one of the last opportunities for drivers to clinch a playoff spot, and the new stage formats add an extra layer of strategy that could reshape the championship picture.
The field includes a mix of rising talents and seasoned racers, from Connor Zilisch and Cody Ware to Riley Herbst, Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon, John Hunter Nemechek, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Noah Gragson, Erik Jones, AJ Allmendinger, Bubba Wall, Todd Gilliland, Ross Chastain, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Austin Cindric, Ryan Preece, Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski, Ty Gibbs, Carson Hocevar, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, and Denny Hamlin.
Fans will recognize familiar faces such as Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Denny Hamlin, while veterans like Brad Keselowski and Tyler Reddick are expected to feature prominently, adding depth to a weekend that promises intense on‑track battles.
The race’s significance is amplified by its placement as one of the final four points events, making every lap count as teams fine‑tune setups and drivers push for the best possible metric score.