The NASCAR Cup Series circuit returns to action this weekend at the Iowa Speedway. The 0.85-mile track is set to host its third-ever Cup Series event at the track.
Prior to this weekend’s on-track action, huge news regarding the future of Iowa Speedway was revealed.
In 2027, the Iowa Speedway race weekend will take place on July 4th weekend. In addition, the track will be repaved following this weekend’s NASCAR races.
NASCAR: Details regarding Iowa Speedway’s future
The news of Iowa Speedway’s major changes in 2027 was first reported on “The Gluckcast,” a podcast hosted by Jeff Gluck of The Athletic. Jordan Bianchi, fellow writer at The Athletic, took to X on Thursday and reiterated the bombshell news about Iowa’s future.
“As we just reported on The Gluckcast, Iowa Speedway’s 2027 Cup Series race is July 4. Additionally, the track will undergo a full repave that will begin shortly after the conclusion of Sunday’s Cup race there,” Bianchi wrote.
Iowa Speedway will be the first NASCAR track to be repaved since Sonoma Raceway was in 2024. The California road course underwent a 61-day repavement, the first for the track in over 20 years, prior to the 2024 NASCAR season.
The last oval track to be repaved was the EchoPark Speedway, otherwise known as Atlanta Motor Speedway. The 1.5-mile Georgia track underwent a repave prior to the 2022 season and also was given a reconfiguration, which turned it into a drafting track, similar to Daytona and Talladega.
From 1959-2017, the Cup Series competed at the Daytona International Speedway for Independence Day weekend. The race was prominent for being the second Daytona race of the season, mostly known for being the Pepsi 400 from 1989-2007.
In 2018, the Cup Series moved to Chicagoland Speedway for Independence Day weekend. That year’s race was widely remembered for the last-lap battle between Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson, a race won by the former.
The Cup Series moved back to Daytona for July 4th in 2019 and went to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2020. In 2021 and 2022, the Cup Series went to Road America for July 4th, then ventured to the Chicago street course from 2023-2025.
This year, Chicagoland Speedway returned as the site for Independence Day weekend.
NASCAR returns to Iowa Speedway after off week
Iowa Speedway will welcome the Cup Series back to action for the first time since the last off week of the 2026 campaign. The Iowa Corn 250 Powered by Ethanol is scheduled for 350 laps on Sunday, August 9.
Iowa Speedway comes at a critical time for the Cup field as there are only four races remaining until The Chase. Four drivers — Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, and Ty Gibbs — all clinched spots in the 10-race postseason.
Meanwhile, the rest of the field will aim to fill the remaining 12 spots. On the bubble entering Iowa is Austin Cindric, who holds a 38-point advantage over Ryan Preece, the first driver below the cut line.
At the top of the standings, Denny Hamlin holds an 84-point lead over Tyler Reddick, who sits second in the points. Hamlin will aim to capture the top seed for The Chase by being the points leader at the end of the regular season.
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