2026 NASCAR Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway kicks off final Chase push

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Iowa Corn 350 will be held at the 0.875‑mile Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa, marking the third Cup race at the short track. The event is the first of three flat short‑track races before the season‑ending Chase, with only four races left to determine the 16 drivers who will qualify for the postseason. Four drivers—Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney and Ty Gibbs—have already locked in Chase spots.

Spire Motorsports will field Carson Hocevar, Daniel Suárez and Michael McDowell, with Hocevar sitting fifth in points after a strong season. Toyota drivers, including Hamlin and Christopher Bell, are also in contention. Broadcast changes under the new "The Chase" format will give USA Sports commentators more flexibility to focus on storylines beyond elimination rounds. Media outlets highlight paint schemes, TV schedules and betting odds, with Denny Hamlin listed as the odds favorite and Ryan Blaney and William Byron noted as recent winners at Iowa.