Chase Briscoe has publicly called for a complete repave of Iowa Speedway following his close second-place finish at the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, highlighting his desire for improved racing conditions. The Chase Briscoe Iowa Speedway repave request comes after Briscoe finished just behind William Byron at the 0.875-mile short oval, which has only hosted two Cup races to date.
Briscoe’s Frustration After Another Near Win at Iowa
The NASCAR Cup Series returned to Iowa Speedway for only its second ever race, with William Byron ultimately taking the top spot in a late charge. Briscoe, who crossed the line just 1.192 seconds behind Byron, expressed mixed feelings post-race, balancing pride in his strategy with disappointment over his inability to complete the pass for the win.
“I feel like we kind of maximized the strategy that played out there,”
—Chase Briscoe, driver
“I got to William and once I got there, just kind of died. I didn’t really have anything else left. He was able to drive away there. So he did a really good job.”
—Chase Briscoe, driver
Briscoe’s comments point to his belief that factors outside of driving skill influenced the final result, particularly the recent partial repave of Iowa Speedway that only covered the turns, leaving the straightaways untouched. He explained how this surface inconsistency limited his ability to maneuver and challenge for the lead as the laps wound down.
Calls for Comprehensive Track Changes
Briscoe elaborated on the racing challenges at Iowa Speedway, emphasizing how the track‘s layout and surface limit driver choices during competition. With only two to three usable lanes for most of the race and the prevalence of “dirty air,” Briscoe argued that track position is overly decisive and passing opportunities are scarce. The partial corner-only repave introduced before the 2024 Cup debut failed to address these fundamental issues, according to Briscoe.
“I wish they’d repave this place all the way to the wall, just so we could have more room to move around,”
—Chase Briscoe, driver
Briscoe highlighted how returning to the older pavement instantly changed tire behavior and how a consistent surface would support more dynamic racing and allow drivers to choose different lines. He called for repaving the entire racing surface, not just the turns, as a way to restore Iowa Speedway’s reputation for providing exciting competition in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“It would be awesome but obviously we don’t have that, but hopefully they can repave it to the wall just because then you can at least get out of the way, run some different places and I think it’d be back to the old Iowa real quickly.”
—Chase Briscoe, driver
Briscoe’s Track Record at Iowa and What the Future Holds
Chase Briscoe brings substantial experience at Iowa Speedway, reflected in his consistent success across several series. In addition to his runner-up finish this weekend and a tough 28th place last year, Briscoe’s Xfinity Series record at Iowa includes a win and three top-10 results, plus another top-10 in the Truck Series. This diverse background shapes his insight into what makes Iowa Speedway distinct—and what improvements could elevate future events.
Several key figures were part of post-race conversations, including @williambyron, @chasebriscoe, and @RyanPreece_, while Rudy Fugle also spoke on William Byron’s triumph as crew chief. Media partners like Frontstretch and @myplacehotels highlighted the intensity and competitiveness shaped by current track conditions.
Briscoe’s detailed request to repave the entire surface adds an important voice to the ongoing discussion about Iowa Speedway’s development as a Cup venue. As the NASCAR Cup Series considers future races at the track, Briscoe’s perspective may influence track officials and partners weighing how best to serve both drivers and fans. Enhanced racing lines and improved passing could help ensure that Iowa Speedway remains a standout destination on the NASCAR calendar.
