The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Iowa Speedway this weekend for its lone stop of the 2025 season, as the field prepares for the Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol. The 7/8-mile short track in Newton, Iowa, has become a fan favorite since joining the Cup calendar in 2024, with sold-out crowds and close racing expected again this year.
Before the green flag drops on Sunday, drivers will battle for starting positions in Saturday’s qualifying session. With a revised format in place for 2025, the qualifying order could play a major role in determining who lines up at the front for race day.
Key Highlights
Race: Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol – Sunday, August 3, at 3:30 p.m. ET (USA Network, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Qualifying: Saturday, August 2, at 2:40 p.m. ET on truTV
Format: One round, two-lap runs per driver; order set by a metric combining last race finish (70%) and owner points (30%)
Defending pole winner: Kyle Larson (2024)
Qualifying Format Explained
This year, NASCAR is simplifying qualifying for the Iowa race weekend. Drivers will be split into two groups for practice, with 25 minutes of track time per group. After practice, all 37 entries will make a single qualifying run, with the best lap time determining the starting lineup for Sunday’s race.
Unlike in 2024, there’s only one round of qualifying, meaning drivers won’t have a second attempt to improve their time. The qualifying order is determined by a formula that combines 70% of the previous race’s finishing position (by car owner) and 30% of current owner points standings.
Track evolution could be a factor, with late-session runners potentially enjoying improved grip levels. Iowa’s short track layout makes track position crucial, as passing can be challenging in traffic. That makes Saturday’s session a key step toward success on race day.
Full Qualifying Order for the 2025 Iowa Corn 350
| Pos. | Car No. | Driver | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 51 | Cody Ware | 1 |
| 2 | 66 | * Joey Gase (i) | 1 |
| 3 | 3 | Austin Dillon | 1 |
| 4 | 4 | * Noah Gragson | 1 |
| 5 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 1 |
| 6 | 43 | Erik Jones | 1 |
| 7 | 1 | Ross Chastain | 1 |
| 8 | 38 | * Zane Smith | 1 |
| 9 | 10 | Ty Dillon | 1 |
| 10 | 35 | * Riley Herbst # | 1 |
| 11 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | 1 |
| 12 | 71 | Michael McDowell | 1 |
| 13 | 22 | Joey Logano | 1 |
| 14 | 41 | Cole Custer | 1 |
| 15 | 8 | Kyle Busch | 1 |
| 16 | 45 | * Tyler Reddick | 1 |
| 17 | 21 | Josh Berry | 1 |
| 18 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger | 1 |
| 19 | 88 | Shane van Gisbergen # | 1 |
| 20 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | 2 |
| 21 | 7 | Justin Haley | 2 |
| 22 | 2 | Austin Cindric | 2 |
| 23 | 19 | Chase Briscoe | 2 |
| 24 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | 2 |
| 25 | 77 | Carson Hocevar | 2 |
| 26 | 17 | Chris Buescher | 2 |
| 27 | 34 | * Todd Gilliland | 2 |
| 28 | 24 | William Byron | 2 |
| 29 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | 2 |
| 30 | 9 | Chase Elliott | 2 |
| 31 | 48 | Alex Bowman | 2 |
| 32 | 20 | Christopher Bell | 2 |
| 33 | 60 | Ryan Preece | 2 |
| 34 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | 2 |
| 35 | 23 | * Bubba Wallace | 2 |
| 36 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | 2 |
| 37 | 5 | Kyle Larson | 2 |
(* denotes non-chartered or part-time entry; # denotes rookie)
Looking Ahead to Race Day
Iowa Speedway’s 0.875-mile oval is known for progressive banking, multi-groove racing, and late-race drama. With only four regular-season races remaining, playoff points are on the line, and qualifying well could make all the difference.
Kyle Larson, last year’s Iowa pole winner, will once again be among the favorites, while Joey Gase looks to impress in his home-state start with Garage 66. Late qualifiers like Hamlin, Elliott, and Larson may have an edge if track conditions improve, but with just one shot per driver, the session leaves no room for error.
Sunday’s race promises packed grandstands, high-intensity racing, and another memorable chapter for NASCAR’s newest stop on the Cup schedule.
News in Brief: Qualifying Order for the 2025 Iowa Corn 350
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Iowa Speedway for its second-ever Cup race, with the Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol set for Sunday, August 3, at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA Network and HBO Max. Saturday’s qualifying session begins at 2:40 p.m. ET on truTV, where drivers will have just one chance to set their best lap time for Sunday’s starting grid. Kyle Larson claimed last year’s pole at the 0.875-mile oval, while hometown favorite Joey Gase makes his first Cup start of 2025 driving the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford, adding extra buzz to an already sold-out weekend.
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