Iowa Event Info:
Date: Sunday, August 9
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Newton, Iowa
Format: 350 Laps, 306.25 Miles, Stages: 70-210-350
TV: USA
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)
Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 2:05 p.m. ET, Cup Practice (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 3:10 p.m. ET, Cup Qualifying (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 3:30 p.m. ET, Cup Race (USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
RFK RACING STORYLINES IN IOWA:
Brad Keselowski
- For Brad Keselowski, Iowa Speedway is a significant track. He credits his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series win there in 2009, as a catalyst in his racing career. He believes his victory there helped propel him to a Cup series career.
- Determination has driven Keselowski in 2026 and once again is a factor in his race to the Chase. The 2012 Champion has a 50-point deficit to erase in order to become championship eligible. Four races remain in the regular season, and each offers opportunity. Next up, Iowa. A year ago, Keselowski won each of the first two stages, led 68 laps and finished 3rd. He now heads into this pivotal race carrying the momentum of consecutive top 10 finishes (North Wilkesboro and Indianapolis).
Chris Buescher
- Sitting ninth in the standings with a 133-point cushion above the playoff cut line, Buescher is in a comfortable position as the regular season heads into the final four races. But make no mistake, he is far from satisfied. Buescher is looking to peak heading into the Chase and is targeting a win at Iowa Speedway. With a history of success at Iowa, including a 2015 O’Reilly Series victory, Buescher aims to convert his season-long consistency into race-winning performance.
Ryan Preece
- Ryan Preece, currently 17th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, is just outside the top 16 playoff cutoff. With only four regular-season races remaining, the upcoming event at Iowa Speedway on August 9 is pivotal. Known for his short-track prowess, Preece views this race as a prime opportunity to secure essential points and break into the playoff field.
- “I feel confident going to Iowa and feel like I really came close to some success there last year. Short tracks are my thing, everybody on our team is trying to find some speed and even with the (four) races left to the playoffs I don’t go down until it’s done,” said a confident Ryan Preece during his Media Bullpen session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Pace Laps:
- Iowa Speedway hosts the NASCAR Cup Series for just the third time in its history this weekend.
- All three RFK drivers have found victory lane at Iowa Speedway in the Xfinity Series, with Brad Keselowski winning the first-ever NXS race at Iowa back in 2009.
- Chris Buescher won with Jack Roush in 2015 at the track, with current crew chief Scott Graves atop the box.
- In 2017, Ryan Preece started from the pole at Iowa and led 141 of the 254 laps en route to his first ever NXS victory while driving the No. 20 for JGR.
- Chris Buescher ranks currently ninth in the NASCAR Cup Series standings with an average starting position of 12.4 and has recorded 10 top-10 finishes through the opening 20 races of the 2026 season.
- Buescher owns a 13.3 average finish, ranking among the series’ best, while his 10 top-10 finishes have helped keep the No. 17 team firmly in playoff contention.
- Brad Keselowski has collected five top 10 finish results this season, highlighted by a runner-up finish at Darlington after leading a race-high 142 laps.
- Keselowski continues to show front-running speed with 167 laps led this season.
- Ryan Preece emerged as a consistent contributor for RFK Racing in 2026, joining teammates Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski in helping keep all three RFK entries in the possible playoff conversation entering the second half of the season.
6 Team Info:
Driver: Brad Keselowski
Crew Chief: Jeremy Bullins
Partner: Trimble
17 Team Info:
Driver: Chris Buescher
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Body Guard
60 Team Info:
Driver: Ryan Preece
Crew Chief: Derrick Finley
Partner: Kroger/Force Factor
Keselowski at Iowa
Starts: 2
Wins: —
Top-10s: 2
Poles: —
- Keselowski was in contention for a victory in last season’s race at Iowa where he started 5th and brought home a 3rd place finish and led 68 laps of the race.
- In his first career Cup start at Iowa, Keselowski led five laps and finished 10th.
- Keselowski was the first winner in the Xfinity Series at Iowa, taking home the inaugural trophy back in 2009. He led 121 laps and drove the No. 88 for JR Motorsports to victory lane, his first of three NXS trophies at the track.
- He went on to win again in back-to-back seasons in 2013-14, and finished top-8 in every race he ran there, the last coming in 2016.
Buescher at Iowa
Starts: 2
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —
- Buescher led 16 laps in the 2024 season’s Cup Series debut at Iowa, but went on to finish 18th.
- He won at Iowa back in 2015 for Jack Roush in the No. 60 in one of his four NXS starts at the track. Buescher also made four starts in ARCA from 2009-12, earning a pair of top fives.
Preece at Iowa
Starts: 2
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: —
- In last season’s race at Iowa Preece showed speed starting 31st and finishing 5th, his career best finish at the track to date.
- Preece finished 27th two seasons ago at Iowa after starting 29th in the No. 41 car for SHR.
- He won at Iowa back in 2017 for JGR in the No. 20 in one of his three NXS starts at the track.
RFK Historically at Iowa
Wins: 5 (Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 2011 twice, 2012; Trevor Bayne, 2013; Chris Buescher, 2015)
- Stenhouse Finds First in Iowa: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. picked up his first Xfinity Series win at Iowa back in 2011, sweeping both races as the series at the time competed there in May and August. The next season he won again, as three of his eight career NXS wins all-time came at the 7/8-mile track.
- Bayne Breaks Through in 2013: Trevor Bayne continued the winning tradition with the No. 6 in victory lane at Iowa, winning the first race of the 2013 campaign at Iowa. It marked his second Xfinity Series win of his career.
- Buescher Victorius in 2015: Buescher started fourth in the 2015 race, led 94 laps and won in the No. 60 entry for Jack Roush in what was one of his two wins in his Xfinity Championship season.
RFK Iowa Wins
2011 Stenhouse Xfinity
2011 Stenhouse Xfinity
2012 Stenhouse Xfinity
2013 Bayne Xfinity
2015 Buescher Xfinity
Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Indianapolis: Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing hit the bricks on 7/26, with each of its three teams showcasing rock solid performances in Indianapolis. Eying his second career Brickyard 400 victory, Brad Keselowski led the way. Patiently, RFK’s Owner/Driver carved his way through the field, scoring a 6th place finish and continuing his late season push toward the post season. Ryan Preece, with the aid of a very timely caution, was the team’s big gainer on the day, advancing 26 positions from the beginning of the race. Preece is now just one position shy of a Chase berth. Chris Buescher, who continues to appear headed to the post season, again turned in a steady run. His hard, determined drive yielded a respectable 11th place finish.
Points Standings: Buescher: 9th, Preece: 17th, Keselowski: 19th
