Kaulig Racing brings high energy and optimism into this year’s Iowa Speedway events, spotlighting drivers Ty Dillon and AJ Allmendinger as they pursue standout performances and deeper fan engagement throughout race weekend. This Kaulig Racing Iowa Speedway preview highlights team activities on and off the track, celebrating sponsor partnerships, historic stats, and interactive opportunities for the fanbase in Newton, Iowa.
Kaulig Racing’s Philanthropic Roots and Community Work
Mere days before drivers hit the track, Kaulig Racing leadership, including Matt Kaulig, underscored their commitment to giving back by hosting a school supply drive at Kaulig Companies Headquarters in Hudson, Ohio. The initiative supported the LeBron James Family Foundation’s I PROMISE School, assisting Akron-area students with essential learning materials. Kaulig Giving has partnered with LeBron James and his foundation each year since 2018, reinforcing the organization’s local impact and sense of responsibility beyond racing.
Ty Dillon’s Busy Weekend: Racing and Baseball
This weekend isn’t just about racing for Ty Dillon. After stepping into the No. 10 Sea Best Camaro ZL1 for Kaulig Racing at Iowa Speedway, Dillon is set to travel to Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday evening. There, he’ll participate in pre-game festivities for Major League Baseball’s debut at the ‘Last Great Coliseum,’ as the Atlanta Braves face the Cincinnati Reds. The game airs on FOX at 7:15 p.m. ET, demonstrating Dillon’s role as a crossover personality and drawing attention to NASCAR’s continued connection with mainstream sports.
Ty Dillon’s momentum this year has been notable. Despite starting as the 32nd seed in the In-Season Challenge, he made an inspiring run through the elimination bracket, defeating several favorites and ultimately reaching the Championship Round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Although Ty Gibbs edged him out for the million-dollar prize, Dillon’s underdog performance has reenergized his season with renewed confidence.
Kaulig Racing at Iowa: Cup and Xfinity Insights
Kaulig Racing returns to Iowa Speedway with both Cup Series and Xfinity Series teams. Their record at the Newton venue includes two NASCAR Cup Series starts and a more robust Xfinity Series presence, totaling 12 starts with four top-10 results. The track’s blend of old pavement and recent upgrades presents unique challenges, fostering excitement for both teams and fans.
Introducing Ty Dillon and the No. 10 Sea Best Team
Team strategics this weekend rely on Crew Chief Andrew Dickeson and the partnership between Kaulig Racing and Sea Best, the flagship brand for Beaver Street Fisheries. Sea Best has established itself nationally as purveyors of high-quality frozen seafood, offering everything from ahi tuna to lobster. Their connection to the No. 10 Chevrolet further emphasizes Kaulig Racing’s blend of performance and business acumen.
Elevating the partnership, Hy-Vee — an admired retail grocery brand known for its quality and customer service — will be featured on the No. 10 Chevrolet. With more than 280 stores across eight Midwestern states, Hy-Vee’s slogan,
“A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle,”
underscores their focus on customer care. —Hy-Vee Operating Philosophy
Ty Dillon’s Iowa Speedway Track Record
Ty Dillon’s Cup Series debut at Iowa Speedway arrives during the Iowa Corn 350 on Sunday, August 3, as the Cup Series returns for its second event at the Newton track. Dillon may be new to the Cup field at Iowa, but his experience across NASCAR’s developmental ranks is extensive. In the Xfinity Series, he boasts six starts at Iowa, achieving four top-five and five top-10 finishes, never placing outside the top 14. His best showing saw him finish second in both 2016 races, notably leading 83 laps in the July event.
His four Craftsman Truck Series starts include two top-fives, with a personal best as runner-up in 2012 and a combined 110 laps led in those events. Dillon also found early triumph at Iowa in the ARCA Menards Series, picking up a pole-to-victory finish in 2011 after leading 193 of 200 laps — a testament to his comfort with the track’s demanding layout.
“With the In-Season Challenge over, we’re going into Iowa this weekend and resetting our goals to continue the momentum of the last five weeks and finish our season on a strong note. Iowa has always been one of my favorite tracks, but its been a while since I’ve run there. The surface is really old and worn out and the patches add character and make it unique for us. It’s going to be cool to be back there again this weekend.”
—Ty Dillon on Iowa Speedway
AJ Allmendinger and the Celsius-Powered No. 16 Team Set for Action
The No. 16 Celsius Camaro ZL1, led by Crew Chief Trent Owens, features AJ Allmendinger and the energy drink brand Celsius as the principal sponsor. Known for zero-sugar, vitamin-packed beverages, Celsius holds the designation as the Official Energy Drink of Kaulig Racing, backing Allmendinger’s team with both hydration and support throughout race weekends.
Allmendinger holds one top-five and five top-10 finishes in the current Cup Series campaign, placing him 18th in driver standings as the team eyes a strong run at Iowa to continue their climb.
“Iowa was a unique racetrack last year; with the repaved corners and the old pavement straight aways, it made the track tricky. It will be interesting to see, after a year with the repaved corners, how the track feels. Last year, we had decent speed before the issues we had. I enjoyed driving the track and I’m looking forward to getting back there, continuing the find speed in our race car and putting together a strong weekend.”
—AJ Allmendinger on Iowa Speedway
Daniel Dye and the Champion Container No. 10 Crew Eye Second Start
Daniel Dye teams up with Champion Container, a leader in industrial packaging solutions, for the HyVee Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway. With guidance from Crew Chief Kevin Walter, Dye competes in his second Xfinity Series start at Iowa, looking to build on last year’s top-10 finish for Kaulig Racing.
Dye’s ARCA Menards Series history at Iowa includes two starts and a runner-up result, reinforcing his ability to adapt and contend at this venue.
“Iowa is another track I had the opportunity to make an Xfinity Series start at with Kaulig Racing last year and ended up coming home with a top-10 finish. I almost won an ARCA race there a few years ago, so it’s been a track that’s been pretty good to me in the couple of starts I’ve made there. Hopefully we can carry some momentum from our top-10 finish last week.”
—Daniel Dye on Iowa Speedway
Carson Hocevar Joins Benesch for a New Challenge
Carson Hocevar takes the wheel of the No. 11 Benesch Chevrolet, guided by Crew Chief Eddie Pardue and sponsored by Benesch, an AmLaw 200 law firm with offices in cities from Chicago to Shanghai. Hocevar brings experience from a fourth-place finish in the ARCA Menards Series debut at Iowa in 2019 and last season’s inaugural Cup Series race, where he placed 14th.
“I love to race, anywhere, anytime, so when I was asked to drive the Kaulig Xfinity car at Iowa, I jumped at the opportunity,”
said the enthusiastic Hocevar.
“I’m grateful to the team at Kaulig Racing for believing in me and to Jeff Dickerson and my Spire team for letting me have some fun with the 11 team this weekend. I promise to make the most of it.”
—Carson Hocevar on Iowa Speedway
Christian Eckes Returns with Celsius to Tackle Iowa
Christian Eckes, backed by Crew Chief Alex Yontz and Celsius, will make his initial Xfinity Series start at Iowa in the HyVee Perks 250. Eckes has logged one Craftsman Truck Series start at Iowa and four ARCA Menards Series races, including a runner-up finish that hints at his adaptability on varying track surfaces.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve raced at Iowa, but I’m looking forward to getting back there with our No. 16 team. We were fortunate enough to do the tire test a few months back with Chevrolet, so I’m optimistic that we will have a great handle on the car when we unload. The track was pretty treacherous and different than what I remembered with the new asphalt, so making sure that our No. 16 Celsius Chevy is good both short-term & long-term will be important.”
—Christian Eckes on Iowa Speedway
Fan Interaction and Special Appearances
Kaulig Racing is focusing on fan engagement throughout the weekend in Iowa. AJ Allmendinger will appear at the Freeway Meat & Grocery in Pleasant Hill on Friday, August 1, at 6:15 p.m. CT, providing opportunities for autographs, photos, and Celsius sampling. Ty Dillon will be greeting fans and signing autographs at the Chevrolet Merchandise Hauler on Sunday, August 3, at 11:15 a.m. CT, giving supporters a chance to meet the driver ahead of the main event.
Significance and What Lies Ahead
This year’s Iowa Speedway weekend is both a proving ground and a celebration for Kaulig Racing, with drivers Ty Dillon, AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Dye, Carson Hocevar, and Christian Eckes all seeking career-defining moments. Whether through on-track success or enthusiast engagement, the team is positioned to deliver memorable performances in both the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series competitions. The presence of sponsors like Sea Best, Hy-Vee, Celsius, Champion Container, and Benesch underscores the event’s commercial strength and community focus, ensuring that Kaulig Racing’s efforts will resonate locally and across the racing world.
