The NASCAR Cup Series Iowa starting lineup dramatically shifted in Newton, Iowa, after Chase Briscoe secured pole position and Kyle Busch suffered a significant crash during practice. Teams and drivers prepared for Sunday’s event at Iowa Speedway, with practice and qualifying sessions reshuffling the order and adding last-minute tension to the race weekend.
Briscoe Clocks Fastest Time to Lead Starting Grid
Chase Briscoe delivered a stand-out performance by recording a lap of 23.093 seconds, earning him the pole for the anticipated NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway. Behind Briscoe, William Byron and Kyle Larson trailed closely, setting up a competitive front row for Sunday’s start. Fans witnessed experienced competitors like Austin Cindric, Brad Keselowski, and Ryan Blaney secure strong positions to challenge for an early advantage.
Kyle Busch’s day took a turn when he crashed hard during practice, incurring substantial damage and likely necessitating a switch to a backup car. The incident prevented him from logging a qualifying time, shuffling him to the back of the grid and forcing a difficult path through the field on race day.
Full NASCAR Cup Series Iowa Starting Lineup Revealed
The official starting order for the NASCAR Cup Series at Iowa Speedway is as follows:
1. Chase Briscoe (23.093 seconds)
2. William Byron (23.088)
3. Kyle Larson (23.089)
4. Austin Cindric (23.101)
5. Brad Keselowski (23.119)
6. Ryan Blaney (23.159)
7. Carson Hocevar (23.159)
8. Chase Elliott (23.189)
9. AJ Allmendinger (23.174)
10. Justin Haley (23.198)
11. Denny Hamlin (23.219)
12. Josh Berry (23.230)
13. Michael McDowell (23.238)
14. Joey Logano (23.245)
15. Bubba Wallace (23.247)
16. Alex Bowman (23.255)
17. Christopher Bell (23.269)
18. Austin Dillon (23.271)
19. Cole Custer (23.286)
20. Ty Gibbs (23.306)
21. Shane van Gisbergen (23.308)
22. Tyler Reddick (23.322)
23. Zane Smith (23.338)
24. Riley Herbst (23.363)
25. Erik Jones (23.365)
26. Daniel Suarez (23.396)
27. Chris Buescher (23.398)
28. Ross Chastain (23.402)
29. John Hunter Nemechek (23.439)
30. Ricky Stenhouse Jr (23.459)
31. Noah Gragson (23.509)
32. Ty Dillon (23.526)
33. Ryan Preece (23.538)
34. Todd Gilliland (23.631)
35. Cody Ware (23.633)
36. Joey Gase (25.173)
37. Kyle Busch (No Time)
Other notable names featured high in qualifying included Denny Hamlin, Michael McDowell, Joey Logano, and Bubba Wallace, underscoring the depth of talent lined up for the Iowa race.
Qualifying Surprises and Strategic Challenges
With the NASCAR Cup Series Iowa starting lineup set, all eyes are on how drivers like Chase Briscoe will capitalize from pole position and whether Kyle Busch can recover from his setback. Newton’s Iowa Speedway challenges even experienced drivers with its unique layout and surface, so team strategy and adaptability will play a crucial role. Not only does this reshape the expectations for Sunday, but it also has implications for the season standings as the likes of Austin Cindric, Tyler Reddick, and Shane van Gisbergen hope to advance their positions in the championship race.
Sunday’s event at Iowa Speedway now promises a gripping contest, with top drivers ready for intense competition and fans keen to see how the drama unfolds from the very first lap.
