Green Flag: 3:00 PM ET (2:00 PM CT)
Broadcast: FOX • MRN • SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
The Cup Series returns to Iowa for the Anduril 250 — a short‑track, high‑intensity summer showdown that has quickly become one of the most entertaining races on the schedule. With championship implications tightening and several drivers peaking at the right time, this year’s edition sets up as a tactical, tire‑wear chess match with late‑race fireworks.
VENUE & TRACK PROFILE — IOWA SPEEDWAY
Track Specs
- Length: 0.875 miles (7/8‑mile short oval)
- Banking:
- Turns 1 & 2: 12–14°
- Turns 3 & 4: 10–12°
- Frontstretch: 1,075 feet
- Backstretch: 1,350 feet
- Surface: Worn asphalt
- Race Distance: 250 laps / 218.75 miles
- Stage Lengths: 70 • 70 • 110
Track Characteristics
- Progressive banking creates three usable grooves.
- High tire wear — long‑run speed is critical.
- Restarts are chaotic, especially into Turn 1.
- Drivers who can roll the middle lane often dominate late.
WEATHER CONDITIONS — JUNE 21, 2026 (NEWTON, IA)
- Temperature: 84–87°F
- Wind: 10–14 mph from the southwest, blowing across the backstretch
- Humidity: 50–55%
- Rain: <10% chance — clear, hot, slick track
- Impact:
- Hot track = loose conditions early
- Wind may unsettle cars entering Turn 3
- Expect fall‑off of 1.5–2 seconds over a long run
TEAM & DRIVER STATUS REPORT
Notable Cup Series Notes
- Kyle Larson: 100% after minor soreness from Gateway crash.
- Christopher Bell: Team brought a new chassis after Pocono mechanical failure.
- Ryan Blaney: No injury concerns; Penske focusing on qualifying trim.
- Chase Elliott: Running backup car after practice wall contact.
- Ty Gibbs: Crew chief returns after one‑race suspension.
RECENT DRIVER FORM — TOP CONTENDERS
Kyle Larson
- Last 5: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 3rd
- Best short‑track driver in the series; Iowa suits his style.
Christopher Bell
- Last 5: 3rd, 5th, 12th, 1st, 8th
- Elite on worn short ovals; JGR strong at Iowa historically.
Denny Hamlin
- Last 5: 7th, 9th, 2nd, 3rd, 6th
- Veteran mastery of multi‑groove tracks.
Ty Gibbs
- Last 5: 4th, 11th, 6th, 8th, 2nd
- Breakout season continues; Iowa fits his rhythm.
Joey Logano
- Last 5: 10th, 14th, 3rd, 5th, 9th
- Excellent on restarts — a major Iowa advantage.
RACE HISTORY — ANDURIL 250 / IOWA CUP EVENTS
Cup Series returned to Iowa in 2024; the Anduril 250 has quickly become a fan favorite.
Last 3 Iowa Cup Winners
- 2025: Kyle Larson
- 2024: Christopher Bell
- 2023: (No Cup race — track reintroduced in 2024)
Key Trends
- Toyota has won 2 of the last 3 Iowa Cup races.
- Average green‑flag run: 42 laps.
- Late cautions common: 2 of last 3 races ended with a restart inside 15 laps.
- High lane becomes dominant in the final 50 laps.
DRIVER MATCHUPS TO WATCH
Kyle Larson vs. Christopher Bell
- The two best short‑track drivers in the field.
- Larson dominates the high lane; Bell excels on the bottom.
Denny Hamlin vs. Joey Logano
- Both elite restarters.
- Hamlin better on long runs; Logano better on short sprints.
Ty Gibbs vs. William Byron
- Gibbs has better corner entry; Byron has better exit speed.
- Both trending upward.
Ross Chastain vs. Ryan Blaney
- Chastain aggressive in traffic; Blaney smoother on long runs.
- Iowa rewards both styles depending on lane choice.
PROJECTED RACE OUTLOOK & MODEL PREDICTION
Race Shape
- Early: Bottom lane preferred
- Middle: Middle groove comes alive
- Late: Larson, Bell, and Gibbs migrate to the high lane
- Expect long green‑flag runs with late‑race chaos
Model Top 5 Prediction
- Kyle Larson
- Christopher Bell
- Ty Gibbs
- Denny Hamlin
- Joey Logano
Dark Horse: Ross Chastain (P6–P8 range)
DRIVER ODDS
Shane Van Gisbergen − 190
Tyler Reddick + 700
Kyle Larson + 850
Connor Zilisch + 850
Ty Gibbs + 1000
Chase Elliott + 1600
Michael McDowell + 2200
Chase Briscoe + 2500
Chris Buescher + 2800
William Byron + 2800
Christopher Bell + 3000
AJ Allmendinger + 3000
Kevin Magnussen + 3500
Ross Chastain + 4000
Ryan Blaney + 4500
Denny Hamlin + 4500
Daniel Suarez + 4500
Joey Logano + 7500
Corey Heim + 9000
Carson Hocevar + 9000
Austin Hill + 9000
Alex Bowman + 9000
Ryan Preece + 10000
Austin Cindric + 11000
Brad Keselowski + 12000
Erik Jones + 13000
Bubba Wallace + 13000
Todd Gilliland + 20000
John Hunter Nemechek + 20000
Jimmie Johnson + 20000
Noah Gragson + 25000
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. + 30000
Austin Dillon + 30000
Zane Smith + 30000
Cole Custer + 40000
Ty Dillon + 50000
Riley Herbst + 50000
Josh Berry + 50000
Cody Ware + 60000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, June 20, 2026
