The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Iowa Speedway. Here's what to know

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Iowa Speedway for the second time on Sunday, Aug. 3.

Last year, America’s premier racing circuit staged a top-tier race in the Hawkeye State for the first time since 1953. This year’s race will happen about six weeks later than that June 16, 2024, race did. Once again, the Cup Series race is sold out and NASCAR expects strong attendance on all three days of the weekend.

The race will be one of 36 Cup Series races held across the US and Mexico. Celebrity fans may be on hand and typically, Cup Series TV audiences average between 1-4 million fans, depending on the service a race is on.

Only international races, like the worldwide Formula One series and the once-a-year Indianapolis 500, regularly draw more viewers.

Here is what to know about the second NASCAR Cup Series Weekend at Iowa Speedway.

Why is Iowa hosting the NASCAR Cup Series again?

Last year, NASCAR announced that it would hold a Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway after the sanctioning body decided to remodel Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, and needed a track to fill a hole in the schedule. Since then, Iowa Speedway has become one of NASCAR’s favorite tracks.

The NASCAR-owned speedway sold out all three days of last year’s inaugural Cup Series weekend—For the ARCA Menards Series, the top developmental series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the Cup Series.

Who won last year’s race?

Ryan Blaney, whose mother is from Chariton, won last year’s race in front of 80 friends and family members.

“It was really cool to have them all out to support me,” Blaney said at the time. “I’m happy we got them all across the racetrack into victory lane. I didn’t know how we were going to do that. They all made shirts and the track officials believed them.”

What are the NASCAR Playoffs?

The NASCAR schedule consists of 36 races—Twenty-six races in the “regular season” and 10 races in the “playoffs.” The playoffs consist of 16 drivers, each driver who wins a race in the regular season and if any spots remain, the top remaining drivers in points.

Four playoff rounds gradually whittle down the field until a champion is declared. Non-playoff drivers still race in playoff races, but are not eligible to win the championship.

Is the Iowa Speedway Race in the playoffs?

No, but only three races remain before the playoffs after Iowa. Kyle Busch, who drives the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet and won at Iowa twice before, said that with the race so close to the playoffs, it could play a bigger role in determining the playoff field.

“You always get more attention as you get closer to the cutoff line and some of the races that people are really talking about what they’ve got to do to make their way in,” Busch said.

Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, said that drivers will be more desperate to win this close to the playoffs.

“Whether it’s the Daytona 500, the first race of the year or the last one before the playoffs, they all pay the same amount of points, but the intensity and the atmosphere and the desperation and what people they’re willing to do is totally different,” Briscoe said. “Especially at a short-track, restarts are going to be way more wild than when we were there in June.”

Can I still buy tickets?

Tickets to the Cup Series race sold out in June.

Limited numbers of tickets remain for Friday’s ARCA Menards Series race and Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race.

When and where is the NASCAR fan fest?

The NASCAR fan fest is planned for 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Cowles Commons on July 31.

What is the NASCAR fan fest?

NASCAR will hold a fan fest in Cowles Commons with cars, driver appearances, sweet corn and a DJ to kick off the weekend.

What time is the ARCA Menards Series Race?

The ARCA Menards Series ARCA 150 is scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 1.

What time is the Xfinity Series Race?

The Hy-Vee Perks 250 is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Aug. 2.

What time is the NASCAR Cup Series Race?

The Cup Series race is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Aug. 3.

How long is the ARCA Menards Series Race?

The ARCA 150 will be 150 laps of the 7/8 mile oval, which equals 132 miles.

How long is the Xfinity Series Race?

The Hy-Vee Perks 250 will be 250 laps of the 7/8 mile oval, or 218.75 miles.

How long is the Cup Series Race?

The Iowa Corn 350 will be 350 laps of the 7/8 mile oval, which equals 306.25 miles.

What will traffic be like on race days?

The Iowa Department of Transportation says state and local law enforcement officials will provide traffic control as up to 45,000 race spectators arrive and depart. Minor traffic delays are possible.

How much will parking cost?

General parking will be free for grandstand ticketholders. Parking is in a grass lot off Rusty Wallace Drive behind Turn 4 near the Newton Municipal Airport.

Parking maps are available on the Iowa Speedway website or on the NASCAR Tracks App.

What other parking options are available?

Newton Club members and luxury suite ticketholders have reserved parking both on paved and grass surfaces behind the main grandstand.

Americans with Disability Act-compliant parking will be on paved and grass surfaces behind the main grandstand.

NASCAR is also selling all-inclusive packages for fans. Parking for them is next to the ADA lot behind the Turn 1 seats.

What ADA accommodations are there?

Golf carts and trams are available to help individuals who need assistance. Fans with infield credentials may take trams from the tram stop near Turn 1 or request an ADA shuttle from tram stop workers, guest services or information booths.

An elevator is available for fans with suite seating. All ADA-compliant Newton Club and grandstand seats are at ground level, according to the track’s website.

Are service animals allowed?

Service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, are allowed, as long as they are trained to work for or perform tasks for individuals with disabilities, according to the track’s website. Emotional support, therapy and comfort animals are not allowed in ticketed and credentialed areas.

Service animals must be leashed at all times.

Are wheelchairs permitted?

Wheelchairs and electric scooters are allowed into grandstand areas.

When do the camping lots open?

Camping lots open at 8 a.m. Thursday.

When do the parking lots open?

Parking lots open at 12:30 p.m. Friday, 7:00 a.m. Saturday and 8:00 a.m. Sunday.

When does the grandstand open?

Grandstand gates open at 2 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

What can I bring in?

Bags, backpacks, diaper bags, purses, fanny packs and clutch bags that do not exceed 18-by-18 inches and 14 inches in width.
Soft-sided coolers no bigger than 14-by-14 inches and 14 inches wide.
Sealed water bottles.
Cameras, binoculars, race scanners and headsets that can be worn over the neck or belt or carried in a bag.
iPads, tablets and laptop computers.
Seat cushions without metal components.
Insulated cups with a maximum volume of 64 ounces.
Cigarettes and lighters.
Coats and blankets.
Ice.
Sunscreen, sunblock, hand sanitizer and bug spray in aerosol, gel or liquid form.
National flags mounted on a pencil-sized wooden stick.

What is not allowed in?

Firearms.
Foam or hard-sided coolers.
Utility tools and multi-purpose tools with knife blades longer than 3 inches.
Displays of the Confederate flag.
Pets and animals not registered as service animals.
Wagons.
Drones.
Frisbees, beach balls, balloons or projectiles.
Bikes, skateboards, hoverboards and roller skates.
Selfie sticks.
Aerosol cans, excluding those for sunscreen, bug spray and hand sanitizer.
Collapsible chairs.
Seat cushions with metal components.
Tripods.
Glass containers.
Dry ice.
Two sealed bottles of water.

May alcohol be brought in?

No. Iowa Speedway does not allow fans to bring in alcohol.

Can food be brought in?

No. Iowa Speedway does not allow fans to bring in pre-packaged food.

What is the Midway?

Outside the main gates, the Midway is where entertainment, the fan fest, sponsor promotions and driver question-and-answer sessions take place. It’s also where to find souvenir trailers.

What is NASCAR Overtime?

NASCAR Overtime is NASCAR’s way of trying to ensure races are completed under green-flag conditions. If there is a caution in the final few laps, a race may be extended beyond its scheduled distance, with two laps under a green flag.

If the caution flag waves before the Overtime leader takes the white flag, signifying the last lap, another Overtime can be held. If the leader takes the white flag, the next flag ends the race.

Will any Iowans race?

Johnston native Sammy Smith races full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Defending race winner Ryan Blaney’s mother is from Chariton and raced in front of 80 friends and family members last year.

Can stock cars damage hearing?

Without a doubt. IndyCars, which raced at Iowa Speedway in July, are quieter than stock cars. Most people find that the sound of IndyCars is at the top of what is tolerable without hearing protection. But prolonged periods of exposure to stock cars without hearing protection can result in permanent hearing impairment.

What type of hearing protection should I bring?

Silicone earplugs can be molded to the ears and reduce noise by about 22 decibels.

Most retailers that sell hardware and tools, like Walmart, The Home Depot and Lowe’s, also sell noise-reducing ear muffs.

How can I rent a race scanner?

One of the unique things about NASCAR and IndyCar is that fans can listen to communications between drivers and their teams on their radio channels. Fans can hear crew chiefs relay strategy, spotters tell drivers where other drivers are and occasionally drivers swearing.

It would be like listening to an NFL offensive coordinator call a play for a quarterback. NFL teams, however, use radio-jamming signals so fans can’t listen in. But radios are part of racing culture.

Any UHF radio can be programmed to listen to drivers. Websites like Speedway Digest publish drivers’ frequencies. Racing Electronics makes most of the radio equipment used by NASCAR drivers and teams and rents scanners to fans at most tracks.

What is the re-entry policy?

Re-entry is allowed if grandstand or suite tickets are scanned before fans leave the track. To re-enter, have a staff member scan your ticket on your way out of the gate. Then it will be re-scanned on your way back in.

What happens if it rains?

If a race cannot be completed as scheduled, tickets will be honored on the rescheduled date. Fans who cannot make a rescheduled race may exchange for tickets to a future race. For more information, visit the Iowa Speedway Website.

Philip Joens covers retail, real estate and motorsports for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at 515-284-8184 or pjoens@registermedia.com.

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The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Iowa Speedway. Here’s what to know