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Spire Motorsports Iowa Corn 350 Race Advance

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Official Release
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  • In six previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Spire Motorsports has one top-10 and two top-15 finishes. Carson Hocevar earned the team’s best result at Iowa in 2025 with an eighth-place finish. Spire Motorsports fields the No. 7, 71 and 77 for Daniel Suárez, Michael McDowell and Hocevar, respectively.
  • The Iowa Corn 350 powered by Ethanol will be televised live on USA Sunday, August 9 beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 23rd of 36 points-paying races on the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series calendar will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Daniel Suárez – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Daniel Suárez will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway.
  • The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation (CRSF) empowers communities with clean, safe places for underserved youth to play, learn, and grow. Since 2018, Group 1001 and the CRSF have combined efforts to build 17 youth development parks and install 20 STEM centers nationwide. Group 1001 employees have joined CRSF to host and volunteer for four Community Enhancement Projects. CRSF and Group 1001 have impacted over 100,000 youth in their joint effort to promote active lifestyles and educational opportunities. For more information, visit https://ripkenfoundation.org/.
  • The 2026 Coca-Cola 600 winner holds claim to the second largest improvement in points position through 22 races, making a major jump in the NASCAR Cup Series standings from 29th last year to 11th. Suárez has backed up that climb with one win, two top-five finishes and six top-10s, along with an average finish of 14.7. He has finished outside the top 20 just four times this season and has put himself in a strong position with 14 races remaining.
  • The Monterrey, Mexico, native will make his third NASCAR Cup Series start at Iowa, where he owns one top-10 finish in two starts. He has an average starting position of 19.5, an average finish of 17.0, and has led four laps at the 0.875-mile oval. His best result came in 2024 when he finished ninth, while he finished 25th in last season’s race.
  • Two weeks ago at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Suárez earned a venue-best starting position of second, next to Hocevar on the front row, missing the pole by just 0.056 seconds. He finished seventh in Stage 1 and 10th in Stage 2, before ultimately finishing 17th following a 34-lap green-flag run to end the race.
  • In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Suárez has made four starts at Iowa Speedway, earning one top-five and two top-10 finishes. He has started from the pole twice and from the second position in his other two starts, while leading 110 laps.
  • Suárez’s lone start in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at Iowa came in 2016, when he qualified 17th and finished sixth.
  • In the ARCA Menards Series East (formerly NASCAR K&N Pro Series East), Suárez recorded seven starts at Iowa from 2011-2014, earning one top five, four top-10 and seven top 20 finishes.
  • Suárez is a veteran of 345 Cup Series starts and has notched three wins, 26 top fives and 81 top 10s. He’s led 947 laps and earned three poles since making his series debut in 2017.

Daniel Suárez Quote
What does Iowa mean to you and what will it take to be successful this weekend?
“Iowa Speedway is a special place for me because I have a lot of history there. From my K&N days to my time in the O’Reilly Series, it’s a track where I learned a lot and built a lot of confidence. Coming back now with Spire Motorsports, the goal is to take everything I’ve learned over the years and use that experience to help our team keep improving. Iowa is the kind of place where myself, my crew, and the setup all have to work together, and that’s what makes it such a challenge and such a fun track to race.”

Ryan Sparks – Crew Chief, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Ryan Sparks is the crew chief for Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and driver Daniel Suárez in the NASCAR Cup Series. Sparks has called 224 Cup Series races where he’s earned one win, six top-five and 16 top-10 finishes.
  • In total, Sparks has called two Iowa Speedway races, where he earned a venue-best 21st-place in 2024 with Corey LaJoie at the controls.
  • Sparks joined Spire Motorsports in 2021, where he served as both Crew Chief and Competition Director, leading the organization’s competitive and technical efforts. In 2026, Sparks serves in a singular role as crew chief for Daniel Suárez. He brings more than a decade of experience across all three national series, highlighted by 13 seasons at Richard Childress Racing and contributions to title-winning campaigns in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (2011) and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2013).

Michael McDowell – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Delaware Life Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway.
  • Delaware Life is an insurance and annuity company that empowers financial professionals with a wide array of customizable solutions. A subsidiary of Group 1001 Insurance Holdings LLC, Delaware Life focuses on delivering a seamless experience for advisors. The company understands how important it is to find the right fit for every client, every situation and every individual need. Delaware Life is passionate about equipping advisors with annuities that give their customers peace of mind and a successful future, allowing them to plan with confidence for whatever’s next.
  • McDowell has made two Cup Series starts at Iowa Speedway. In his most recent outing in Newton, Iowa, he qualified 13th and finished 27th. His prior start resulted in a 23rd-place effort.
  • The Glendale, Ariz., native tallied eight O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS) starts at the 0.875-mile oval, collecting two top fives and seven top 10s, highlighted by a runner-up finish in August 2014.
  • The former NOAPS winner’s best average finish in the series came at Iowa with an average starting position of 8.3 and an average finishing position of 6.9, nearly a 10-position increase from his second-best track.
  • While transitioning from open-wheel racing to stock cars, McDowell made a pair of ARCA Menards Series appearances at Iowa in 2006 and 2007, finishing seventh and second.
  • In the Cup Series’ most recent race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the 2021 Daytona 500 Champion earned a career-best qualifying effort of sixth and finished 18th, respectively.
  • The No. 71 Spire Motorsports machine has collected two top-five and five top-10 finishes in 2026. Across the last 11 races, the 2021 Daytona 500 Champion holds an average finish of 16.2.
  • After 22 points-paying races on the 2026 calendar, McDowell is 20th in the Cup Series championship point standings. With four races remaining before The Chase begins in September at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, the father-of-five sits 76 points below the cutline.

Michael McDowell Quote
What makes Iowa Speedway so challenging?
“Iowa is great. The last few years have put on some fun shows. I’ve raced there a bunch in O’Reilly and ARCA. Even in years when I wasn’t running full-time in O’Reilly, I’d still do the standalone races for some of the bigger organizations or whoever had an open seat.

“It was honestly my best track from a results standpoint, but going back there with the Cup car was so different. The track had aged in some areas, then there were new asphalts and patches. It was a very different racetrack.

“The heat, surface, roughness, changes and grip differences from patch to patch or from old asphalt and newer asphalt. There’s so much going on in one lap there. It’s really hard to describe. Iowa is very tricky; it’s like a puzzle piece that you’re putting together, where you catch that grip strip and how you come off it, but I am looking forward to getting there and trying to get it right.”

Travis Peterson – Crew Chief, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • ravis Peterson is the crew chief of Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series with driver Michael McDowell.
  • During his time as a race engineer at JR Motorsports, Peterson collected one top five and three top 10s, highlighted by a fourth-place result with Chase Elliott in May 2014.
  • The West Bend, Wisc., native is a 2012 mechanical engineering graduate of the Williams States Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Carson Hocevar will race Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway, his third start at “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet” in NASCAR’s premier division.
  • Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 88 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all the domestic and majority of the imported manufacturers. Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company. The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.
  • Through 22 races, the Portage, Mich., native sits fifth in the NASCAR Cup Series point standings and has already set career-highs in multiple categories:
  • Season-to-date results of one win, five top fives, nine top 10s
  • 638 points scored
  • 10.4 average start
  • 14.1 average finish
  • The 23-year-old driver has been the most improved driver on the circuit compared to 2025. The team’s average starting and finishing positions have each improved by over eight spots compared to this point in 2025. Hocevar is on pace to improve his average finish by 7.5 positions at the end of the season, while his fifth position in the series’ points is an 18-position improvement compared to the end of 2025. He leads all drivers in both categories.
  • In two previous Iowa starts, Hocevar has collected finishes of 14th and eighth in 2024 and 2025, respectively, while collecting a seventh-place qualifying effort last season.
  • In addition to his two Iowa Cup Series starts, Hocevar also owns a sixth-place effort in last season’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race and a fourth-place finish in the 2019 ARCA Menards Series event at the venue.
  • Last time out at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Hocevar collected his third-career pole award and paced the field for the opening 31 circuits. He tallied fourth- and sixth-place finishes in Stage 1 and Stage 2, respectively, adding 12 stage points to his total on the day. After restarting 12th following a caution on Lap 121, Hocevar battled to a ninth-place finish, his ninth top-10 result of the season.
  • The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year registered his first-career victory earlier this season at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. He survived a late-race restart with three laps remaining and brought home the checkered flag to register Spire Motorsports’ second Cup Series win and first since the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Carson Hocevar Quote
What makes Iowa a difficult track to race?
“It is difficult to race because everyone is fighting for two lanes and you’re all on top of each other. It is really bumpy getting into Turn 1. When you are three or four wide on a restart, if you bottom out over those bumps it is very unpredictable. The lane also moves around a little with the patch, so you are constantly racing the bumps and surface changes. It is a really challenging track, but super fun to race at.”

Luke Lambert – Crew Chief, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Luke Lambert is the crew chief of Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series with driver Carson Hocevar.
  • Lambert is in his third season at Spire Motorsports and fourth with Hocevar. The duo has logged three pole awards, one win, eight top-five and 24 top-10 finishes in 102 races.
  • The 43-year-old called a pair of O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races at Iowa Speedway in 2012, both with driver Elliott Sadler. After a second-place finish in May, the duo returned to the facility in August to take victory from the pole position. Sadler took the lead with 58 laps remaining and held off a late-race charge to claim the checkered flag. The victory marked the fourth and final for the pairing in their championship runners-up campaign.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports fields full-time entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing.

The team, co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executive Jeff Dickerson and TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss, earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado its first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent victory came May 24, 2026, when Daniel Suárez won the NASCAR Cup Series Series’ Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

In 2026, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series and the Nos. 7 and 77 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The Mooresville, N.C., organization also fields the No. 77 410 sprint car in Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing competition.

Garrett Smithley Welcome GARSEN Golf To SS-Greenlight and BRK Racing

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Official Release
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Garsen Golf, in collaboration with Sports Chain, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Garrett Smithley, a veteran stock car series racer with more than 300 professional starts across NASCAR’s O’Reilly, Truck, and Cup Series. Through this partnership, Garsen and Sports Chain will work alongside Smithley to showcase the shared commitment to performance, innovation, and precision that defines both motorsports and golf.

Performance plays a pivotal role in the success of racers on the track and golfers on the course. Dynamic design and state-of-the-art engineering ensure that drivers perform at their peak abilities. Capitalizing on the moments where inches mean the difference between first and second. At Garsen, we approach our putter grips in a similar manner. Our designs help golfers maximize their capabilities on the greens by reducing or removing the variables that prevent a player from taking advantage of every opportunity to score. “The Garsen-Sports Chain LLC-Smithley partnership represents an opportunity to align science and technology across motorsports and golf. Garsen’s scientifically proven design and rich understanding of performance-based products is complementary to what Garrett brings to the racetrack, week in and week out. We see this as a unique opportunity to connect with race fans who know the importance of finely tuned vehicles and highlight the same important components in golf,” said Sports Chain CEO and Garsen General Manger, Andrew Doeck. “With our focus on providing tour quality products and Garrett’s extensive experience and understanding of performance vehicles, we see this not only as an opportunity to connect audiences but also work closely in a way that benefits both sides mutually.”

“I’m proud to be partnering with such great brands as Garsen and Sports Chain. I’ve been a long-time fan of golf, but have only recently begun playing and taking the game more seriously. I can say with confidence that I believe in the Garsen products and what they offer to golfers, having used the products myself,” said Garrett Smithley. “I look forward to working, collaborating, and representing Garsen and Sports Chain each week, and couldn’t be happier to partner with such great companies.” As a part of this partnership, branding for both Garsen and Sports Chain will be displayed on Garrett’s vehicles through the remainder of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season. We look forward to connecting and showcasing our performance capabilities to fans and followers across both the racetrack and the golf course.

About Garsen
Garsen was founded in 2014 by Bernerd Garsen with the goal of delivering a product that would instantly improve a golfer’s putting performance. Since launching the company, Garsen has recorded over 100 worldwide wins, including 3 Major Championships and 3 Olympic Medals. Our innovative putter grips include the QUAD Tour, Ultimate, and MAX, all uniquely designed to provide the same benefit of consistency and confidence in every stroke.

Garsen is a leader within the golf industry as a creator and innovator, having gained the trust of golfers and tour professionals worldwide for the quality and performance of its products.

About Sports Chain
Sports Chain is a sports industry operations, logistics, and growth partner dedicated to helping emerging and established brands scale their businesses. From warehousing and fulfillment to sales strategy, marketing, distribution, and operational support, Sports Chain provides the infrastructure and expertise that allows companies to focus on innovation while accelerating growth.
Built on decades of experience in the sporting goods industry, Sports Chain partners with brands, manufacturers, distributors, and athletes to create meaningful relationships and sustainable growth opportunities. By combining operational excellence with strategic business development, Sports Chain serves as the bridge between great products and the customers who rely on them.

NHRA ADDS MOTION PERFORMANCE RACEWAY TO MEMBER TRACK NETWORK

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Official Release
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GIMLI, MANITOBA, CANADA (Aug. 4, 2026) – NHRA officials are pleased to announce that Motion Performance Raceway at Gimli Motorsports Park has joined the NHRA Member Track Network as part of the West Central Division (Division 5).

Under new ownership, the revitalized facility, which is located in Gimli, Manitoba, Canada, has enjoyed a thrilling rebirth in 2026, recently holding a successful grand opening weekend Aug. 1-2.

“Breathing life back into this track that was left for dead has not been easy, but it certainly has been rewarding,” Motion Performance Raceway Owner Sheldon Root said. “We are looking forward to growing this with the NHRA.”

The team, which also includes track manager Cheryl Sinclair, has put in significant work at the facility, making numerous upgrades and renovations. Following the grand opening over the weekend, the facility has plans for four more weekend events in 2026 and the introduction of several new race programs.

By joining the NHRA Member Track Network, Motion Performance Raceway will be eligible to offer racers in the area a variety of NHRA-sanctioned racing opportunities when the facility opens, including the NHRA Summit Racing Series presented by Hoosier, the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, NHRA Street Legal, NHRA Jr. Street and more. Additionally, the track will have the chance to host NHRA specialty events like the NHRA Summit King of the Track and more.

The facility will also receive access to NHRA’s extensive support programs as part of the member track network, insurance benefits and national marketing platforms as the track continues to grow.

The track is also eager to work with a standout group of local racers in the area, providing a top-tier facility to competitors in Central Canada.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Motion Performance Raceway and the racers of Manitoba, Canada back to the NHRA West Central Division family,” West Central Division Director Nick Duty said. “Sheldon and his team have been working non-stop on improvements to the facility and creating new programs. The support they’ve received from the racers and the community has been amazing. The future of drag racing in Manitoba is in great hands.”

For more information on NHRA, including the full 2026 schedule, visit www.NHRA.com.

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series presented by Hoosier and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

ECHOPARK SPEEDWAY HOSTING TWO THRILLING NASCAR WEEKENDS IN 2027

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Official Release
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  • The Autotrader 400 headlines EchoPark Speedway’s Spring race weekend Feb. 26–28, 2027.
  • Atlanta’s Night Race weekend returns July 17–18, featuring thrilling NASCAR action in primetime on Sunday night, July 18, in the Dollar Tree 400.
  • For the first time since 2008, EchoPark Speedway will host two NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series events in a single season.

HAMPTON, Ga. (Aug. 4, 2026) – EchoPark Speedway will host two thrilling NASCAR weekends in 2027, giving fans two opportunities to experience the high-speed, action-packed racing Atlanta is known for in the spring and summer next year.

EchoPark Speedway will once again host the second points-paying race of the year during its spring race weekend February 26–28, 2027. Fresh off the season-opening DAYTONA 500, the Autotrader 400 will be a highly anticipated event for fans and racers alike. Renowned for its intense and dynamic racing, Atlanta’s Spring NASCAR Cup Series race has set new records for lead changes at the Hampton, Ga., track in each of the last three years. The stars of the Cup Series will hope to perform the final lead change and start their 2027 season with a victory at one of the series’ most competitive venues.

NASCAR will return to EchoPark Speedway July 17–18, 2027, for primetime racing under the lights in Atlanta’s Night Race weekend. The weekend is headlined by Cup Series action in the Dollar Tree 400 on Sunday night, July 18, and features the fast and furious racing EchoPark Speedway is known for, enhanced by the spectacle and intensity of competition under the lights.

“We can’t wait to welcome fans back to EchoPark Speedway for two unforgettable NASCAR weekends in 2027,” said EchoPark Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Hutchison. “Whether it’s paired with spring sunshine or the electric atmosphere of racing under the lights on a summer night, fans are enjoying some of the best racing in the world when NASCAR comes to Atlanta. We’re looking forward to delivering more white-knuckle, edge-of-your-seat excitement to everyone who joins us in February and July next year.”

For the first time since 2008, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will make two trips to Hampton, Ga., for its 2027 season. The spring race weekend will see the trucks hit the track on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2027; on Saturday night, July 17, 2027, the rising stars of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will battle under the lights.

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will make one visit to Georgia in 2027. During Atlanta’s Spring NASCAR weekend, the Bennett Transportation and Logistics 250 will run alongside the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race for the 13th year of EchoPark Speedway’s same-day NASCAR doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2027.

Green flag times, weekend entertainment, and complete broadcast information for EchoPark Speedway’s 2027 NASCAR events will be announced at a later date.

Season tickets for all five NASCAR races at EchoPark Speedway in 2027, weekend ticket packages, and single-event tickets are available now at EchoParkSpeedway.com or by calling 770-946-4211.

About the Autotrader 400 weekend:

Atlanta’s Spring NASCAR weekend is headlined by the Autotrader 400 on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2027, with intense superspeedway pack racing that challenges NASCAR’s best and dazzles fans.

The race weekend also features the 13th year of Atlanta’s same-day NASCAR doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2027. The thrills of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and the Bennett Transportation and Logistics 250 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race all happen in one action-packed day.

More information on the Feb. 26–28, 2027 Autotrader 400 weekend and ticket availability can be found online at EchoParkSpeedway.com.

About the Dollar Tree 400:

Atlanta’s Night Race returns with the Dollar Tree 400 on Sunday night, July 18, 2027. Sparks will fly as NASCAR’s best duel into the night on EchoPark Speedway’s challenging high banks.

Before Sunday night’s main event, competitors will hit the track for Sunbelt Rentals Qualifying and the rising stars of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will race under the lights on Saturday night, July 17, 2027.

More information on the July 17–18 Dollar Tree 400 weekend and ticket availability can be found online at EchoParkSpeedway.com.

About EchoPark Speedway:

EchoPark Speedway is a premier entertainment venue located about 30 miles south of Atlanta, Ga.

Since 1960, EchoPark Speedway has been a staple of the NASCAR calendar and currently hosts two weekends of racing in the spring and summer each year. When NASCAR isn’t in town, EchoPark Speedway’s versatile facility hosts an assortment of events that attract visitors from near and far, from Monster Jam to the Georgia State Fair and everything in between.

For more information on EchoPark Speedway and to see upcoming events at the facility, visit EchoParkSpeedway.com.

ARCA Menards Series / ARCA Menards Series East at Iowa Speedway: JR & CO 150

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Official Release
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THE RACE: JR& CO 150
THE PLACE: Iowa Speedway
THE DATE: Friday, August 7, 2026
THE TIME: 7 pm ET / 6 pm CT
TV: FS1, Live
Radio: MRN, Live

ARCA Menards Series / ARCA Menards East at Iowa Speedway:
JR & CO 150 Pre-race Notes

  • The ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East will come together for the third of four 2026 combination races in Friday’s JR& CO 150 at Iowa Speedway. The race will pay full points through the field for both series, and the winner will be credited with a victory in both series. The JR & CO 150 will be the 14th race of 20 for the ARCA Menards Series and seventh of eight for the ARCA Menards Series East.
  • The battle for the ARCA Menards Series points lead has heated up immensely over the last month, with Jake Bollman (No. 20 Nitro Motorsports Toyota) still in command, but his lead has been cut to just three points over his Nitro Motorsports teammate Thomas Annunziata (No. 70 JBL.com Toyota). Bollman is still on the hunt for his first career series victory, while Annunziata notched his second career victory with his second straight win at Lime Rock Park two races ago.
  • Max Reaves (No. 18 Cook Out Toyota) extended his lead in the ARCA Menards Series East standings last Saturday night with his second East win of the season. Reaves, who has ARCA Menards Series wins at Berlin Raceway and Elko Speedway and East wins at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and Flat Rock, will be making his first career appearance at Iowa Speedway. Joe Gibbs Racing has three wins at Iowa Speedway, two with Ty Gibbs in 2020 and 2021, and one with Brandon Jones in 2022.
  • Pinnacle Racing Group has won at Iowa Speedway the last three years with three different drivers. Luke Fenhaus earned the organization’s first ARCA Menards Series victory in 2023, Connor Zilisch won in 2024, and reigning series champion Brenden “Butterbean” Queen won in 2025. The team has entered Phoenix Raceway winner Carson Brown (No. 28 DWC Distributor Wire & Cable Chevrolet), who will also be making his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut for Jordan Anderson Racing on Saturday, and Tristan McKee (No. 77 Chili’s Chevrolet).
  • McKee, who became the second-youngest ARCA Menards Series winner with his victory at Watkins Glen International in 2025 at 15 years, 4 days of age, turned 16 earlier this week. McKee has ARCA Menards East wins this season at Hickory Motor Speedway, Rockingham Speedway, and Toledo Speedway; the Toledo win was also a combination race with the ARCA Menards Series.
  • Jason Kitzmiller (No. 97 A.L.L. Construction / Carter CAT Chevrolet) heads to Iowa third in the ARCA Menards Series standings. His son Isaac (No. 79 A.L.L. Construction / Carter CAT Chevrolet) also sits third in the ARCA Menards East standings. The elder Kitzmiller has seven top-ten finishes so far in 2026, including a career-best short track finish, fifth, at Elko Speedway. Isaac, who also enters third in the East standings and is the reigning ARCA Menards East champion, is coming off a third-place finish at Flat Rock, which matched his career-best set earlier this season at Hickory and Rockingham.
  • Isabella Robusto (No. 55 Yahoo! Toyota) dropped to fourth in the ARCA Menards Series standings after an early race incident at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. When Lady Luck has been on her side, Robusto has performed well with a pair of top-fives including a season-best fourth at Talladega Superspeedway. Unfortunately, finishes outside the top-20 have cost her in the standings; she’s had five finishes of 21st or worse which have left her 103 points out of the lead in fourth.
  • Gavan Boschele (No. 25 Toyota Racing Toyota) returns for the second consecutive ARCA Menards Series race. He finished fourth last time out at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park before scoring an eighth-place finish in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut. Boschele has a 4.83 average finish across his six ARCA Menards Series starts in 2026, including a career-best second at Pocono Raceway.
  • Talladega Superspeedway winner Andy Jankowiak (No. 71 USNE Power Chevrolet) returns for the first time since a 14th-place finish at Lime Rock Park. Jankowiak finished fifth at Iowa Speedway in 2024, his only previous start at the 0.875-mile oval.
  • Previous ARCA Menards Series winners at Iowa Speedway include Steven Wallace (2006), Frank Kimmel (2007), Matt Hawkins (2008), Parker Kligerman (2009), Tom Hessert III (2010), Ty Dillon (2011), Alex Bowman (2012), grant Enfinger (2013), Mason Mitchell (2015), Chase Briscoe (2016), Dalton Sargeant (2017), Sheldon Creed (2018), Chandler Smith (2019), Ty Gibbs (2020, 2021), Brandon Jones (2022), Luke Fenhaus (2023), Connor Zilisch (2024), and Brenden Queen (2025).
  • Former ARCA Menards Series East winners at Iowa Speedway include Joey Logano (2007), Brian Ickler (2008), Kyle Busch (2009), David Mayhew (2009), Max Gresham (2010), Brett Moffitt (2011), Chase Elliott (2012), Corey Lajoie (2012), Michael Self (2013), Cole Custer (2013), Ben Rhodes (2014), Brandon Jones (2014), Brandon McReynolds (2015, twice), Todd Gilliland (2016, 2017), Tyler Ankrum (2018), and Sam Mayer (2019).
  • The ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards East track qualifying record at Iowa Speedway was set by Brent Crews in 2025 at 22.901 seconds/137.549 miles per hour.
  • The 33 entries are the most for an ARCA Menards Series race at Iowa Speedway since 2012.
  • The ARCA Menards Series track race record at Iowa Speedway was set by Tom Hessert III in 2010 at 105.634 miles per hour.
  • The ARCA Menards East track standalone race record at Iowa Speedway was set by Kyle Busch in 2009 at 100.800 miles per hour.
  • The race will be run under the Break Pit Stop format; there will be a five-minute break at or near laps 50 and 100 in which teams can change tires, add fuel, make adjustments and repairs.
  • Should the race be extended into overtime, there will be unlimited attempts at a two-lap “green-white-checkered” finish. Should the caution be displayed after the white flag has been shown, there will be unlimited attempts at a one-lap “green and white together” finish.
  • The JR & CO 150 is set for 7 pm ET / 6 pm CT on Friday, August 7. The race will be televised live on FS1 and broadcast live on select affiliates of the MRN Radio network nationwide. Live timing & scoring data and live race audio will be available on ARCARacing.com; for up-to-the-minute updates please follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly known as Twitter).

About ARCA 
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing). 

About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states.  Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building.  You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more.  To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
 
Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture.  Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries.  And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more. 
Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too!  For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

ARCA Menards West at Portland International Raceway: Portland 112

By
Official Release
-

THE RACE: Portland 112
THE PLACE: Portland International Raceway
THE DATE: Saturday, August 8, 2026
THE TIME: 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT
TV: FloRacing, Live

ARCA Menards West at Portland International Raceway:
Portland 112 Pre-Race Notes

  • The ARCA Menards Series West will race on a road course for the second and final time in 2026 in Saturday’s Portland 112 at Portland International Raceway. The previous road course stop, the series’ most recent round at Sonoma Raceway, was won by Sam Corry over his Nitro Motorsports teammate Mia Lovell.
  • Corry (No. 25 Ben Carver Toyota) dominated the Sonoma race, leading all 47 laps from the Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole. He will be making his first West start at Portland International Raceway.
  • Lovell (No. 15 Pine Health Toyota) was the only driver who could keep Corry in sight at Sonoma. She even made a brief pass for the lead into the hairpin but couldn’t hold the lead to officially lead a lap. She is one of only six female drivers who have finished second or better in an ARCA Menards Series West race; Hailie Deegan and Gracie Trotter have both scored victories, while Nicole Behar, Julia Landauer, Isabella Robusto, and Lovell all have runner-up finishes.
  • Trevor Huddleston leads the ARCA Menards West standings heading into the Portland 112, but he is searching for his first career series road course victory. Huddleston finished fourth at Sonoma and fifth at Portland in 2025, his first top-five finishes on road course; he finished ninth in June at Sonoma.
  • Cole Denton (No. 71 Jan’s Towing Ford) finished fourth at Sonoma in his first career ARCA Menards West road course start. Denton, who sits second in the West series championship standings, trails Huddleston by 34 points with six races remaining in the 2026 season.
  • Robbie Kennealy (No. 1 Jan’s Towing Ford) finished seventh at Sonoma and maintained fourth in the ARCA Menards West standings, 39 points out of the lead. The only race this season Kennealy finished outside the top ten was the opener at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway where he suffered from transmission issues that left him 20th at the end.
  • Nitro Motorsports will field four entries in the Portland 112. In addition to Corry and Lovell, the team will field cars for Ethan Tovo (No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Toyota), son of team co-owner Joe Tovo, and Graham Jacobson (No. 90 Skilled Nation Toyota).
  • Ryan Vargas (No. 77 King Taco / REX MD / Wallace Sign / Dozy Boy Toyota) will be doing double duty over the course of the weekend. Vargas will compete in the ARCA Menards Series / ARCA Menards East JR & CO 150 at Iowa Speedway on Friday before an early morning flight to Portland to drive for Joe Nava’s Performance P1 Motorsports team on Saturday. Should he take the green flag in both races, Vargas will become the first driver to compete in all three ARCA Menards Series platform divisions on the same weekend.
  • Kyle Steckly (No. 53 APC Auto Parts Centres / Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet) will take the reigns for team owner Robert Torriere, substituting for the team’s regular driver Andrew Ranger. Steckly, son of former NASCAR Canada Series champion Scott Steckly, made his ARCA Menards Series road course debut earlier this season at Watkins Glen International and finished 15th. Torriere has seven career road course victories across the ARCA Menards Series platform, all with Ranger at the wheel.
  • Dale Quarterley (No. 32 Van Dyk Recycling Solutions Chevrolet) and Jeff Anton (No. 44 Deer Park Recycling / Squid Decals Chevrolet) will both make the trek from the northeast to compete in the Portland 112. Quarterley is a two-time ARCA Menards East winner at Lime Rock Park and finished third at Portland in 2023. Anton has finished in the top ten at Sonoma in each of the last two years and finished tenth at Lime Rock in July.
  • When she takes the green flag, Hailie Deegan (No. 16 Columbia Bank Chevrolet) will set the record for most ARCA Menards Series starts by a female driver with 35. Deegan, a three-time West winner in her career, matched the record set by Nicole Behar with her last start at Sonoma Raceway where she finished 20th. Deegan will be making her first West start at Portland; she finished 33rd in her only appearance at Portland in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2024.
  • Todd Souza (No. 13 Central Coast Cabinets Toyota) will make his second start of the season in the Portland 112. Souza, who scored his only career West victory on the road course at Utah Motorsports Campus in 2008, finished sixth in his only other 2026 start at Sonoma Raceway.
  • The race will be run under the Break pit stop format. There will be no scheduled tire changes; any tire changes must be for a damaged tire and must be approved by an ARCA official. There will be a scheduled caution at or near lap 29.
  • Derrike Cope holds the ARCA Menards West track qualifying record at Portland International Raceway, set in 1986, at 71.275 seconds / 98.440 miles per hour.
  • Hershel McGriff holds the ARCA Menards West track race record at Portland International Raceway, set in 1986, at 82.080 miles per hour.
  • The 25 entries for the Portland 112 are the most for an ARCA Menards West race at Portland International Raceway since 2012.
  • The Portland 112 at Portland International Raceway is set for 9 pm ET/6 pm PT on Saturday, August 8. The race will be streamed live on FloRacing. Live timing & scoring data and live race audio will be available on ARCARacing.com; for up-to-the-minute updates please follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly known as Twitter).

About ARCA 
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing). 

About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states.  Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building.  You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more.  To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
 
Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture.  Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries.  And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more. 
Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too!  For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

Ford Racing NASCAR – Iowa Advance

By
Official Release
-

IOWA

Sunday, August 9 — NASCAR Cup Series, 3:30 p.m. ET (USA)

After a rare weekend off, the NASCAR Cup Series is back in action this weekend as Iowa Speedway hosts the Iowa Corn 350 on Sunday afternoon. Ryan Blaney won the inaugural event at the track in 2024 and followed that with a fourth-place finish last season. Overall, three Ford drivers have posted Top-10 finishes in both Iowa Cup races.

BACK-TO-BACK IOWA TOP 10’S

As mentioned above, three Ford Racing drivers have posted Top 10 finishes in each of the first two NASCAR Cup Series races at Iowa Speedway. In addition to Ryan Blaney (first and fourth), Joey Logano (sixth and ninth) and Brad Keselowski (10th and third) have achieved that feat. Besides their Cup success, Blaney and Keselowski have also been to Victory Lane at Iowa in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with Keselowski winning three times (2009, 2013, 2014) and Blaney once (2015).

MUSTANG CONTINUES WINNING TRADITION

The victory by Blaney at Iowa Speedway in 2024 marked the 19th different track in which Mustang has won a NASCAR Cup Series race since hitting the circuit in 2019. There are currently only three tracks on this year’s schedule where Mustang hasn’t gone to Victory Lane, not including Naval Base Coronado. Those three are Circuit of The Americas, Homestead-Miami Speedway and Sonoma Raceway. Overall, Mustang has 75 Cup points wins and three championships with Joey Logano (2022 and 2024) and Ryan Blaney (2023).

FOUR TO GO

August represents the final month of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series regular season as only four races remain before the field of 16 drivers is locked in for the final 10-race Chase. Ryan Blaney has already clinched a postseason berth and is currently third in the point standings. Chris Buescher (ninth), Joey Logano (13th) and Austin Cindric (16th) are also holding spots with Ryan Preece (17th) and Brad Keselowski (19th) still within striking distance.

RYAN PREECE: “I feel confident because I’ve had success at Iowa. I’ve had success at New Hampshire and Richmond as well. Short tracks are my thing. The caution (at North Wilkesboro) fell and luck was on our side with some things, but it also kind of lit a fire that ‘hey, let’s go to the simulator and try to work through some things and make whatever we’re doing a little better. What can I change from my driving style for this tire,’ so it’s everybody on our team trying to find some speed because even though there are four races left, I don’t go down until it’s done. I’ll keep swinging.”

BLANEY WINS INAUGURAL IOWA CUP RACE

Ryan Blaney dominated the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway in 2024, leading 201-of-350 laps as he completed a sweep by winning in all three of NASCAR’s top series at the ⅞-mile short track. In addition, it was the second time Blaney won an inaugural Cup race, following his triumph on the Charlotte Roval in 2018. Ultimately, Blaney and Penske teammate Joey Logano faced off against each other on a restart with 84 laps to go. As both drivers filled the front row, they battled door to door before Blaney eventually got clear and set sail to the checkered flag as the race went without a caution down the stretch.

FORD NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS

AT IOWA

2024 – Ryan Blaney

The Ford Mustang® coupe is America’s best-selling sports car and has a global racing presence. With Mustang-based race cars competing in international sports car competition (GT3 and GT4), NASCAR, NHRA, Formula Drift, in Supercars, at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and in its own bespoke regional one-make series – Mustang Cup and Mustang Challenge – the platform has an unprecedented global reach. This weekend, 10 Mustang race cars are scheduled to compete across all active disciplines. Learn more about Mustang at www.FordRacing.com.

The Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway Outlook and Picks

By
SM Staff
-

The NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) heads to Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa, for the Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol this Sunday, August 9 at 3:30 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

In 2025, William Byron led 141 laps and utilized a fuel strategy to win the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway. Chase Briscoe finished second, Brad Keselowski won the first two stages and finished in third, while Ryan Blaney and Ryan Preece rounded out the top five finishers.

The Chase For The NASCAR Cup Series Standings Outlook after Indianapolis Motor Speedway

RankDriverPointsLdrNext+/- Chase CutoffStartsWinsStage WinsTop 5Top 10Poles
1Denny Hamlin88600Clinched224512145
2Tyler Reddick802-8484Clinched225110146
3Ryan Blaney766-12036Clinched22244153
4Ty Gibbs751-13515Clinched22159141
5Carson Hocevar638-2481131582210592
6Chase Elliott635-25131552222580
7Chase Briscoe623-2631214322109110
8Kyle Larson617-269613722048110
9Chris Buescher613-273413322002100
10Christopher Bell609-277412922039101
11Daniel Suarez583-303261032211260
12William Byron568-31815882203490
13Joey Logano545-34123652211481
14Bubba Wallace540-34656022023100
15Shane Van Gisbergen537-3493572221572
16Austin Cindric518-36819382201140

Track & Race Information for the Iowa Corn 350

Season Race #: 23 of 36 (August 9, 2026)
Race Purse: $11,233,037
Track Size/Type: 0.875 Mile – Asphalt Paved Oval
Number of Turns: 4
Degrees of Banking Turns: 12-14 degrees (progressive banking)
Degrees of Frontstretch: 10 degrees
Degrees of Backstretch: 4 degrees

Race Schedule, Length and Stages for the Iowa Corn 350

Race Length: 350 laps (306.25 miles)
Stage 1 Length: 70 laps (Ends on Lap 70)
Stage 2 Length: 140 laps (Ends on Lap 210)
Final Stage Length: 140 laps (Ends on Lap 350)

THE IOWA SPEEDWAY WEEKEND SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM: AMS PRACTICE (TIMED – 45 MINUTES)
3:30 PM – 3:50 PM: AMS QUALIFYING (IMPOUND) (TIMED – ALL ENTRIES)
5:35 PM: AMS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
6:00 PM: AMS RACE (150 LAPS, 131.25 MILES)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8
10:30 AM – 11:20 AM: NOAPS PRACTICE
11:35 AM – 12:30 PM: NOAPS QUALIFYING
1:05 PM – 1:55 PM: NCS PRACTICE (COMBINED GROUP 1 & 2 (IMPOUND))
2:10 PM – 3:00 PM: NCS QUALIFYING (IMPOUND)
3:25 PM: NOAPS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
4:00 PM: NOAPS RACE (STAGES 60/120/250 LAPS = 218.75 MILES

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9
1:50 PM: NCS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS
2:30 PM: NCS RACE (STAGES 70/210/350 LAPS = 306.25 MILES)
*All times are Eastern. NASCAR Cup Series (NCS), NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS), NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS), ARCA Menards Series (AMS)

Who and what should you look out for at Iowa Speedway?

The second starting position or outside front row has led to winning both 2024 and 2025 races in the NCS.

Both William Byron (2024) and Chase Briscoe (2025) have finished in the runner-up spot, and Ryan Blaney and Byron are the only two drivers that have finished inside the top five in both NCS races.

A total of eight different drivers have finished in the top five in the two NCS races: Blaney (2), Byron (2), Brad Keselowski (1), Chase Briscoe (1), Chase Elliott (1), Christopher Bell (1), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (1), and Ryan Preece (1).

Blaney leads the NCS in laps led with 230 laps led (33% of his laps completed).

The Driver Picks for the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway

Driver Picks for the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway
  • Christopher Bell has one top five, one top 10, and an average finish of 10.500.
  • Joey Logano has two top 10s and an average finish of 7.500.
  • Ryan Blaney has one win, two top fives, two top 10s, and an average finish of 2.500.
  • Chase Elliott has one top five, one top 10, and an average finish of 8.500.
  • William Byron has one win, two top fives, two top 10s, and a series-best average finish of 1.500.

Sowing Speed in Corn Country: Cody Ware Brings Firsthand Experience to Iowa Corn 350

By
Official Release
-

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 4, 2026) – Ahead of last year’s Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway in Newton, all Cody Ware had to go on was his work in the simulator. The NASCAR Cup Series driver had never made a start at Iowa in any series.

In 2026, Ware returns to the .875-mile oval with firsthand experience, allowing the 30-year-old racer to juxtapose his sim sessions with the reality of what he felt a year ago in the Hawkeye State.

“I learned the track is very abrasive,” said Ware when asked about the difference between racing Iowa in simulation and turning actual laps on its asphalt. “They’ve done some asphalt work, but it’s disconnected as far as where the new patches of pavement are compared to the old, and so that created a lack of forward drive. It definitely was one of the tougher races we had last year. But it was also tangible experience, too. We didn’t have that before.”

Simulation is incredibly valuable. The immersive, full-motion platform technology allows drivers and their teams to optimize their setups for individual track configurations, and for drivers to log practice laps ahead of an upcoming race weekend. It is as close to the real thing as drivers and teams can get, with a massive wrap-around, high-definition video screen that mimics the track from a driver’s perspective, complete with all the markers needed to note brake points and acceleration zones.

“For any race weekend, the sim is crucial,” Ware said. “It gives the team a chance to get the car dialed in, get us right for qualifying and, hopefully, get us a decent starting position. Without the sim, it would take me all of practice and qualifying to even have a semblance of what I need in the car.”

In this brave new world of computer and video technology, simulation is incredibly realistic, and drivers go to extra lengths to make it even more authentic.

“I wear my driving shoes to replicate the pedal feel inside the racecar, but the main thing is just the repetition and learning,” Ware said. “For me, the biggest thing is just the muscle memory, getting visuals, picking up markers, knowing what I need to look for on the racetrack before I actually get to the racetrack.”

Located less than 40 miles east of Des Moines, Iowa Speedway is a D-shaped oval that features variable banking. Its turns are banked between 12-14 degrees, the frontstretch is banked at 10 degrees, and the backstretch has just 4 degrees of banking.

Its layout was designed by NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace, and its similarity to the .75-mile Richmond (Va.) Raceway is no coincidence. Wallace claimed Richmond as one of his favorite tracks, and when he joined Iowa’s design team in 2003, Wallace used Richmond as his baseline.

Construction of Iowa began on June 21, 2005, and the facility made its public debut on Sept. 15, 2006, with a Hooters Pro Cup Series race during which driver Woody Howard became the track’s first victor. ARCA Menards Series races followed in 2006 and the IndyCar Series joined Iowa’s lineup in 2007.

The facility hosted the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from 2009 through 2019, holding a total of 33 races (20 O’Reilly Series races and 13 Truck Series races). NASCAR had been absent from Iowa since 2020, with the 2024 Cup/O’Reilly double bill providing a welcome return to a track many in the industry have come to love.

“I was probably one of the only guys last year that hadn’t competed in a national series race at Iowa before, so to be able to go back with a Cup race under my belt is going to be pretty huge. That will definitely lessen that learning curve this time around,” Ware said.

Ware brings this familiarity to Iowa along with a familiar partner on his No. 51 Chevrolet for Rick Ware Racing (RWR) – Costa Oil 10-Minute Oil Change and its growing line of Costa Oil Filters.

With a national footprint of more than 70 locations, Costa Oil specializes in no-appointment, drive-through, 10-minute oil changes. It is one of the fastest-growing models in the quick-lube space, and Iowa represents a strategic race for Costa Oil, with multiple 10-Minute Oil Change locations throughout the state, including one less than a 10-minute drive from Iowa Speedway at 1217 1st Ave. East in Newton.

“Founder and CEO Costa Kapothanasis is a big fan of the sport and a big supporter of RWR,” Ware said. “My brother, Carson, did a really good job cultivating the relationship. Today, they’re a primary partner of our Cup program, and every race I wear my Costa Oil helmet.

“Costa 10-Minute Oil Change is a family-run business, just like us, and they’re using motorsports to grow their business. We have similar mindsets and that’s what makes it such a good partnership.”

Ware’s Iowa race weekend begins with practice at 1:05 p.m. CDT/2:05 p.m. EDT on Saturday followed by qualifying at 2:10 p.m. CDT/3:10 p.m. EDT. TruTV and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will provide live coverage of both. The Iowa Corn 350 goes green on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. CDT/3:30 p.m. EDT with flag-to-flag coverage delivered by USA Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Rick Ware Racing:

Rick Ware has been a motorsports mainstay for more than 40 years. It started at age 6 when the third-generation racer began his driving career and has since spanned four wheels and two wheels on both asphalt and dirt. Competing in the SCCA Trans Am Series and other road-racing divisions led Ware to NASCAR in the early 1980s, where he finished third in his NASCAR debut – the 1983 Warner W. Hodgdon 300 NASCAR Grand American race at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway. In 1995, Rick Ware Racing was formed, and with wife Lisa by his side, Ware transitioned out of the driver’s seat and into full-time team ownership. He has since built his eponymous organization into an entity that competes full-time in the elite NASCAR Cup Series while simultaneously campaigning winning teams in the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, Progressive American Flat Track (AFT), FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX) and zMAX CARS Tour.

Black’s Tire Teams with Tanner Gray for Black’s Tire 250 at Richmond

By
Official Release
-

Down East Heating & Air Joins BTS on No. 15 Toyota Tundra for Black’s Tire 250

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (August 4, 2026) – TRICON Garage (TRICON) is excited to have Black’s Tire (BTS) as primary partner on Tanner Gray’s No. 15 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro at Richmond Raceway, featuring a distinct “Black Magic” livery to celebrate their entitlement partnership for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) race, the Black’s Tire 250.

BTS will also welcome Down East Heating & Air as a partner on the truck, marking the second time the two companies have teamed up with Gray during the 2026 season. For more than 40 years, Down East Heating & Air has kept homes and businesses comfortable across coastal North Carolina and South Carolina, providing heating and cooling systems built to withstand the region’s salt air, humidity, and severe storms.

The special wrap will highlight key independent tire dealers, wholesale customers, and partner dealers that have helped fuel BTS’ company’s growth, reinforcing its commitment to supporting locally owned businesses and delivering industry-leading products and services. The event also showcases the company’s growing network of partner dealers throughout the Richmond market, Central Virginia, the Southeast, and beyond.

BTS Rewards, fueled by Elite Rewards, will be featured throughout the Black’s Tire 250 race weekend as the official rewards platform for Black’s Tire Service and BTS Tire & Wheel Distributors. The program rewards our partner dealers with exclusive benefits, VIP experiences, and valuable incentives while reinforcing our commitment to building stronger partnerships and delivering exceptional value.

“We’re honored to team up with both Tanner Gray and Richmond Raceway for this exciting event,” said Rick Benton II, Vice President of Black’s Tire Service. “The Black’s Tire 250 is an opportunity to celebrate the independent tire dealers, wholesale customers and BTS Partner Dealers who are the backbone of our business. As we continue expanding our wholesale presence throughout Virginia, we’re thrilled to bring our dealer partners on-board Tanner’s truck from across the region to Richmond for a weekend that recognizes the relationships that drive our success.”

The Black’s Tire 250 presented by BTS Rewards at Richmond Raceway will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 on Friday, August 14 at 7:30 P.M. ET, with radio coverage provided by SiriusXM and the NASCAR Racing Network.

About TRICON Garage

TRICON Garage is a professional racing organization fielding five full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entries. Serving as the flagship Truck Series partner of Toyota Racing Development, the team plays an integral role in the NASCAR development ladder. Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, TRICON has quickly established itself as the premier home for cultivating the next generation of motorsports industry professionals. Actively involved in three different industries – racing, fabrication and transportation, the team operates out of three buildings totaling 60,000 square feet.

About Black’s Tire

Black’s Tire Service (BTS) was founded as Black’s Service Station by W. Crowell Black in Whiteville, N.C. in 1929 and celebrating 97 years of business in 2026. With more than 75 locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia & Eastern Tennessee, Black’s remains a local, family owned- and -operated tire sales and service and vehicle repair business. In addition to the retail and commercial locations, Black’s also operates 15 warehouse/distribution centers, BTS Tire & Wheel Distributors, a commercial sales division, and a tire-retreading business, Carolina Retreads. Today, the Black’s Tire family includes more than 1,200 team members. To learn more about Black’s Tire or to find a location, visit www.blackstire.com. Follow Black’s Tire on social media: Twitter at @BlacksTire, Instagram at @BlacksTire and Facebook at facebook.com/blackstire.

About Down East Heating and Air Conditioning

Down East Heating and Air Conditioning has proudly been keeping homes and businesses comfortable for over 40 years and proud to be the #1 Bryant Cooling and Heating Products Dealer of the Carolina’s. Down East is ready to help you with your Cooling or Heating needs offering quality products and service whenever the situation arises. Down East where employees and clients have always been treated like family. Integrity. Knowledge. Dedication. A family-first mindset. Teamwork. These principles guided the business in 1986 when it first opened, and they continue to guide it today.

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