This weekend in NASCAR Fantasy, the Cup Series makes its highly-anticipated debut at Iowa Speedway for the Iowa Corn 350.
Constructed in 2006, the Newton racetrack had been host to NASCAR’s Xfinity Series (20 events) and Craftsman Truck Series (13 events) from 2009 to 2019. Rumors of closure surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the track saw revitalization with the ARCA Menards Series and NTT IndyCar Series returning in 2021.
The 2024 Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol will take place on Sunday, June 16th at 7:00 pm ET (4:00 pm PT). This will be the first race of NBCUniversal’s takeover with television coverage on USA Network. Radio listeners can tune in on the Motor Racing Network or SiriusXM’s NASCAR Radio.
NASCAR Fantasy Live gives fans the chance to partake in driver selection each Cup Series race weekend. One will pick five starters and one “garage” driver per event. The garage driver will not receive any points but can replace a starter who may face trouble in the first part of the race. At the end of stage two, picks will lock, and no changes can be made. Points are awarded based on stage points and finishing positions in addition to four “head-to-head” driver picks. A driver may only be picked ten (10) times across the 26-race Regular Season and five (5) times in the 10-race Playoffs. See NASCAR’s website here for rules of how to play.
My recommendations are NOT my personal lineup for Sunday. See immediately below my results from June 9th’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 from Sonoma Raceway. Further below are my picks for the 2024 Iowa Corn 350.
NASCAR FANTASY RECAP: Toyota/Save Mart 350
STARTERS
- Chase Elliott – 5 uses left
- 33 Place Points (4th) + 7 Stage Points (S1 – 4th, S2 – N/A) = 40 Total Points
- Ryan Blaney – 3 uses left
- 30 Place Points (7th) + 9 Stage Points (S1 – 2nd, S2 – N/A) = 39 Total Points
- Tyler Reddick – 3 uses left
- 29 Place Points (8th) + 10 Stage Points (S1 – 1st, S2 – N/A) = 39 Total Points
- Ross Chastain – 6 uses left
- 32 Place Points (5th) + 4 Stage Points (S1 – 7th, S2 – N/A) = 36 Total Points
- Joey Logano – 5 uses left
- 16 Place Points (21st) + 2 Stage Points (S1 – N/A, S2 – 9th) = 18 Total Points
- Ty Gibbs – KEPT IN GARAGE, 8 uses left
- 1 Place Point (37th) + 0 Stage Points (S1 – N/A, S2 – N/A) = 1 Total Point
FEATURED MATCHUPS
- Ty Gibbs vs. Kyle Busch
- PICK: Gibbs
- RESULT: Incorrect (Gibbs = 37th, Busch = 12th)
- Austin Cindric vs. Ross Chastain
- PICK: Chastain
- RESULT: Correct (Cindric = 22nd, Chastain = 5th)
- Chase Elliott vs. Tyler Reddick
- PICK: Elliott
- RESULT: Correct (Elliott = 4th, Reddick = 8th)
- Daniel Suarez vs. Michael McDowell
- PICK: McDowell
- RESULT: Correct (Suarez = 14th, McDowell = 2nd)
RANKING (after 16 of 36 races)
- Weekly Points = 202 PTS.
- Total Season Points = 3,223 PTS. (201.4 average points per race)
- Collective Rankings = 1,937TH (+241 positions from World Wide Technology Raceway)
IOWA STARTERS
PICK #1 – Christopher Bell
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell has started to find the consistency he needs. In the last five races, he has finished 13th or better including 175 laps led, a Kansas Speedway pole, and a rain-shortened victory in the Coca-Cola 600. Bell is a two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series winner at Iowa (2018 (2), 2019 (1)) and has finished second or better in four of his five starts.
Unfortunately, the No. 20 blew a tire in Friday practice and will start in the rear for Sunday’s event. However, Bell still managed a 10th-place qualifying effort, showing he has the speed needed to be a factor for the win.
PICK #2 – Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski is on a role. Victory at Darlington Raceway snapped a 110-race winless streak, and the team owner has finished 5th or better seven times this season already. Not many drivers have taken to the 0.875-mile oval as many times as Keselowski who has made seven Xfinity starts from 2009 to 2016. Three trophies have resulted, including his first track start and back-to-back in 2013 and 2014. In qualifying, Keselowski landed the 5th-best time.
Tire management will be critical for execution throughout the day. As shown at Bristol Motor Speedway, Keselowski is one to excel at doing such. He, as well as the priorly-mentioned Christopher Bell, both partook in May’s track tire test.
PICK #3 – Ryan Blaney
Bad luck is hopefully a thing of the past for Ryan Blaney. Last weekend’s 7th-place finish at Sonoma was only his second Top 10 in the last eight races. Iowa brings promise to the 2023 Champion who has found great success at the racetrack. Blaney crossed the finish line first in only his third career Truck Series race in 2013 and led 252 of 260 laps (~97%) in the 2015 Xfinity running (II).
He is one of only three possible drivers who can find an Iowa win in all three of NASCAR’s competition Series. P-2 is where Blaney starts the 350-mile event.
PICK #4 – William Byron
2024 has slowed for William Byron, but success at a short track seems imminent for the driving talent. Likely Blaney, he has won at Iowa in the 2016 Truck Series and 2017 Xfinity Series seasons. In Friday’s practice, his 10-lap average saw a jump of five positional ranks (13th to 8th) over the field from 5-lap averages. This can be a precursor towards a sharp car later in runs.
Byron is always a strong pick for NASCAR Fantasy. Can he find his fourth win of the year and first since Martinsville Speedway? On Sunday, he rolls off in 4th.
PICK #5 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
There was a time Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was the King of Iowa Speedway. During his time in Xfinity, the former Roush Fenway Racing driver won three consecutive times at the oval. Both his first and second wins, respectively, occurred in his 2011 Iowa races. His victory in 2012 was the fifth of his career, and in both years, Stenhouse Jr. went on to claim the Series Championship.
Out of the 29 cars in practice from Friday, the No. 47 held the 10th-best 15-lap average. It does not tell the full tale of the tape, but I think Stenhouse Jr. is in for a solid points day. He will, though, start deep from 35th.
ALTERNATE OPTIONS
Kyle Larson
- Two 5ths in only Xfinity Iowa starts (2013)
- Second-best 20-lap average in Friday practice
- Part of May tire test with Christopher Bell and Brad Keselowski
- Qualified pole position for Sunday’s race
Kyle Busch
- 2nd and 1st in 2009 and 2010 Xfinity Series events, respectively
- 7th in qualifying
- 10th-ranked 10-lap Friday practice average
Chase Elliott
- 2012 K&N Pro Series East (ARCA East) Spring winner
- Four Top 10s in four Xfinity starts from 2014 to 2015
- Starting 9th on Sunday
HIDDEN GEM?
Erik Jones
- Joins Ryan Blaney as one of two drivers with Iowa win in both Xfinity (x1) and Trucks (x2)
- Four podiums and seven Top 10s in combined Series starts (including ARCA)
AVOID!
Martin Truex Jr.
- 32nd-ranked 5-lap and 10-lap Average Running Position (A.R.P.) from Friday practice
- Announced full-time retirement preceding race weekend
Daniel Suarez
- Failed to lead laps from either 2015 or 2016 Race II despite starting from pole both events
- No Top 10 on non-drafting or non-mile-and-a-half since Gateway of 2023
A.J. Allmendinger
- Only running part-time schedule in 2024 Cup Series season
- DNF and 37th in Saturday Xfinity race; only Iowa start
HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUPS
Kyle Larson vs. Denny Hamlin
An exciting matchup kicks off NASCAR Fantasy between Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin. As mentioned, Larson appears to have an edge on the field entering Sunday race day. Hamlin, as shown at Bristol, is one to showcase his abilities when it comes to tire management. Depending on how tires hold up, there is a chance the two are running 1st and 2nd coming to the white flag.
This is a coin flip, but I am going with Larson.
William Byron vs. Martin Truex Jr.
William Byron gets around Iowa so very well. Hendrick Motorsports entered this weekend ahead of the eight ball, and I am worried about Martin Truex Jr.’s chances. His announcement from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition was followed by slow speed in practice. So many various distractions can amplify frustrations, and we saw it show last Sunday at Sonoma.
Tires are a question of uncertainty, but what is certain is my Byron pick.
Ryan Blaney vs. Joey Logano
Penske Racing drivers clash in our third NASCAR Fantasy matchup. Ryan Blaney’s lap averages in practice took a sour turn, but when looking at his numbers, he has yet to slump. I did not talk about Joey Logano above, as he has not competed in a top-three NASCAR Series or ARCA race. He did best Kevin Harvick in a Busch East showdown in May of 2007.
Overall, I believe Blaney has a successful day in the Midwest.
Chase Elliott vs. Christopher Bell
Could this be the pairing of the weekend? Chase Elliott is looking for win number two of the season as Christopher Bell aims for number three. Both know how to get to victory lane at the racetrack, although Bell has seen it once more. Survival may become the name of the game if the drivers are not careful.
With minimal confidence, I am taking Bell from the rear.
