The NASCAR Cup Series made its return to Iowa Speedway for the Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol, but this time, the fan verdict wasn’t as favorable as many hoped. In Jeff Gluck’s post-race fan poll, 46.7% of voters said the race was good, while 53.3% disagreed, leaving the event with a slight negative rating. Fans took to social media to express frustration over track conditions, lack of passing, and broader issues with the Next Gen car, despite William Byron’s fuel-mileage victory.
Key Highlights
46.7% fans voted “Yes,” 53.3% “No” in the Iowa post-race poll.
Fans pointed to aero limitations, poor racing grooves, and the track repave as key issues.
Ryan Blaney’s failed late-race charge against Brad Keselowski fueled debate over passing difficulties.
Some fans blamed NASCAR’s decision-making for long-term damage to Iowa and IndyCar events.
Others found enjoyment despite flaws, saying the race wasn’t terrible, just lacking excitement.
Passing Frustrations Dominate the Discussion
The closing laps at Iowa highlighted a recurring criticism of the Next Gen car—its difficulty in making passes once a driver reaches dirty air. Ryan Blaney, charging through the field late in the race, was unable to complete a move on Brad Keselowski despite running half a second faster per lap before catching him.
One fan summed up the frustration, saying:
“Blaney making up a half second a lap only to completely stall out behind the 6 was one of the most damning things I’ve ever seen with this car.”
Another added, recalling NBC’s Steve Letarte’s in-booth prediction:
“I had to just laugh when Letarte was like ‘I think Blaney will easily get past the 6 here’ and then he was immediately stuck for the rest of the laps.”
Denny Hamlin has long said that at many short tracks, a driver needs a significant speed advantage to pass. One fan echoed that:
“Denny said you need at least 8 tenths of a second to pass a car. Someone with clean air, it’s probably over a second of pace… that’s mind blowing.”
Track Surface and Repave Draw Criticism
While last year’s Iowa Cup debut received praise for a surprisingly competitive race despite a questionable repave, fans felt that Sunday’s event was a step backward. The surface appeared to age poorly in just a year, with only one-and-a-half usable grooves, leading to processional stretches during green-flag runs.
“What’s crazy is last year we thought they messed up bad with the pavement but it put on a decent race. This year the pavement aged like 15 years since then with only 1.5 usable grooves,” a fan remarked.
Another fan connected the issues to the broader impact on motorsports in Iowa, saying:
“And that completely ruined Iowa for IndyCar too… way to go NASCAR.”
This added fuel to long-standing concerns about NASCAR’s handling of shared venues and track changes affecting other series.
Bigger Picture Frustrations with NASCAR Decisions
Some fans voiced broader discontent, criticizing NASCAR’s scheduling and track management moves over the past few years. They cited Iowa and Texas as prime examples where changes were made that didn’t sit well with long-time supporters.
“First Texas with PJ1 and stealing the date, next Iowa with the patchwork repave and stealing Hy-Vee. Death by a thousand cuts,” wrote one frustrated fan.
Another sarcastically pointed to NASCAR’s internal narratives about fan satisfaction:
“All this, but the Council of Steves will tell us fans have never been more pleased with the on-track product.”
These comments highlight a disconnect between fans’ viewing experience and the sport’s presentation of race quality in recent years.
Some Fans Still Enjoyed the Event
Not every review was negative. A segment of fans admitted that while Iowa wasn’t a thrilling race by historical standards, it still offered moments of enjoyment, particularly for those seeing a Cup race in person for the first time or appreciating the drama of Byron’s fuel strategy.
One fan summed up this middle-ground feeling:
“This is one I wish I could pick a mid option. Not good, not bad, but I still enjoyed it.”
For others, the sound and power of the cars in person outweighed the lack of on-track action:
“First Cup race I’ve ever watched in person… there is nothing like hearing and feeling these cars pass by, it’s so special.”
News in Brief: 2025 Iowa NASCAR Fan Poll Results
The Iowa Corn 350 left NASCAR fans split down the middle, with a slight majority voting against it in the “Was it a Good Race?” poll. Frustrations over aero limitations, a disappointing track surface, and bigger-picture NASCAR decisions overshadowed William Byron’s strategic win.
Yet, for some, the thrill of live racing and occasional moments of excitement made the event worthwhile. As the series moves to Watkins Glen, questions remain about whether NASCAR can address the short-track racing package and prevent another fan divide like Iowa’s.
