Cup drivers recap Indianapolis race won by Wallace
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New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
NASCAR Cup Series at Iowa odds, predictions: Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell favored. How likely is an upset?
The NASCAR Cup Series is in Iowa this weekend, with just four races left before the playoffs commence. Drivers on the points bubble will be extra hungry for a win to clinch their playoff spot, and hoping that another new winner doesn't emerge from the field to push the cut line down. There's a lot to unpack about the Iowa race, the standings, the controversies around the playoff format and more. So, ahead of Sunday's race, we're bringing those questions, as we always do, to our resident NASCAR experts, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi. Take it away, guys! We've talked about Bubba Wallace a lot — what a thrilling way to see him finally clinch a win! Can you frame this from a historic standpoint for NASCAR and a career standpoint for Wallace? How much of an upset was this? Jeff: It feels like it was an upset simply in the sense that the Brickyard 400, barring some fluky weather or fuel-saving situation, was going to be about the best of the best on the top teams. And ultimately, you had a second-tier team (23XI Racing) with its B driver (instead of Tyler Reddick) beating everyone straight up — then holding off Kyle Larson on two overtime restarts when Wallace could have choked it away. When you consider Wallace had never won a regular-season race at all (his two victories came during the playoffs when he was a non-playoff driver), let alone one of NASCAR's crown jewels, this felt pretty significant for a driver who has been trying to break through. Advertisement Jordan: There's always pressure, but when you drive for a team co-owned by Michael Jordan, that pressure is amplified considerably. Then, when you factor in that Wallace hadn't won in 100 races, all while teammate Tyler Reddick has won multiple times and nearly the 2024 championship, Wallace needed that victory in a big, big way. And that he won at Indy of all places, and in the manner that he did, only enhances his accomplishment. This was huge. Now the perhaps-unanswerable: Do you think he pushed through a mental block with this win? Should we expect a better trajectory/focus? (Jeff said in early June that 'Maintaining track position up front and avoiding miscues are the two areas Wallace's No. 23 needs to improve upon.') Jeff: Wallace has been very vocal about his own confidence issues and mental weaknesses, which he has been working on over the years. Even after Indianapolis, Wallace said he spent the last 20 laps telling himself he couldn't get it done; at times, he can be his own worst enemy. But after a moment like Sunday, you would think going head-to-head with the best and not coughing it up — I personally thought he would lose the race once his lead was erased and it was headed to an overtime restart against Larson — has to be a major boost for his psyche. Next time he's in a clutch situation like that, he'll know for sure he can execute and deliver a win. Jordan: You'd think out-dueling Larson on multiple late-race restarts would give Wallace all the confidence in the world. It should. But a similar sentiment existed in 2022 when he won at Kansas, seemingly sticking it to all the naysayers. Then he went another 100 races between victories. So while Indianapolis should be a launching pad to bigger, sustained success, let's see what happens going forward. Nonetheless, let's again acknowledge how impressive Wallace was on Sunday in earning a win he certainly deserved. You wrote about a NASCAR playoff committee this week, noting that, at one point, the playoff format seemed certain to change for next year, but now it may not. One question: Is anyone in NASCAR still in favor of keeping the current one-race championship format? Jeff: There are certainly some on the TV side, the racetrack side and perhaps a few in the driving corps who like the format as-is and don't want to change it. I've spoken to them, at least privately. The argument is that the current format maximizes drama and excitement and forces drivers to step up, and they think it has created incredible moments (which is fair). But when it came time for anyone to vouch for it in the second meeting of the playoff committee in May, no one raised their hand to make their case for retaining it. That's not to say no one likes it privately, just that no one in the room spoke up for it. Advertisement In June, I did a poll on X that received more than 30,000 votes, and only 8.5 percent of fans voted in favor of keeping the current format. You can see the results here. Similarly, NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin did a poll, and only 7 percent voted for that option. Among fans, I'd confidently say it is the least desirable option — and that opinion is shared by the majority of the committee. The bottom line is the one-race format hasn't felt credible enough as a championship, and the playoff committee members are seeking a way to add more legitimacy to such an important part of the sport. Jordan: (Pours a drink. Then another. Long sigh.) The current playoff format deserves to be thoroughly dissected and examined. And if, from that, a better playoff format can be conceived, then wonderful. But to sit there and say with broad strokes that this format is primarily about luck and diminishes the championship feels a bit disingenuous. Last year, Joey Logano rose to the occasion when it mattered the most, effectively willing himself to the championship. Yet, instead of praising this as would've likely happened had it been a fan-favorite driver, he's cast as an 'undeserving champion' by a large swath of people. That's ridiculous. And if you look back on the history of this format, a valid case can be made that the eventual champion in most years was deserving. How likely is it that this race puts a new race winner in the playoffs? Jeff: I would have said the Brickyard only had a 20 percent chance or less — and I was wrong — so I'll go with 30 percent for Iowa. It's the second time NASCAR has raced at Iowa Speedway, but look at last year's inaugural race: Ryan Blaney dominated and won it, Larson led 80 laps and William Byron, Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell all finished in the top four. No surprises there. That said, we haven't seen a track like Iowa yet this season — it's sort of a hybrid short track — so you can't count out a surprise driver hitting on something. But I don't think it's very likely at all, personally. Jordan: Unlikely. Expect a repeat winner on Sunday as Iowa is just not the kind of track conducive to producing an upset. When the checkered flag waves, bet on a familiar face celebrating in victory lane. Advertisement Who do you like to win this Sunday? Jeff: Before I looked at the odds, I thought I was going to have a sneaky little pick for you: Christopher Bell. Then I realized he is already the No. 3 favorite (+475), just behind Blaney and Larson (who are tied at +450). So I guess my pick isn't exactly going out on a limb. I just thought, given Bell's two self-spins while racing for the lead at Dover two weeks ago and then his huge gaffe at Indianapolis that cleaned out Zane Smith, maybe bettors would have soured on Bell a bit. After all, he's gone winless since winning three straight races (Nos. 2-4 of the season) — which seems like a lifetime ago. But Bell is a terrific short-track racer, and he won at Phoenix, which is probably the closest thing we've seen to Iowa so far this year. So I'll go with him. Jordan: Having broken out of his mid-summer swoon, Kyle Larson is back to having a consistent presence toward the front of the field. He was fast at Dover two weeks ago and nearly won last week at Indy. He's long due for another win, and Iowa is the place it happens, setting up a late-push run to the regular-season championship. Who is a long shot you like? Jeff: Shout it from the rooftops: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at +15000. The long-shot talk heading into the Iowa race last year was about Stenhouse, who once won three straight Iowa races during his Xfinity Series days. Then at the inaugural Iowa Cup race, Stenhouse went out and finished fifth — his only top-five finish on a paved non-superspeedway in the last three-plus seasons. Heck, Stenhouse is +350 to even finish in the top 10 at Iowa. Sometimes drivers just click with certain tracks, and it feels like Iowa could be one of those for Stenhouse. Jordan: Ty Gibbs is listed at +4400, which is too high for a driver at a top organization that has had speed to win a handful of races this summer. The same applies to Alex Bowman, who's at +5000. Neither of these drivers is a likely winner on Sunday, but it certainly wouldn't be a shock if it happened. And for a deep sleeper, go with Erik Jones (+20000). He and his Legacy Motor Club team have been much improved to the point that he's both qualifying and racing better, and if he can get a little luck, Jones could turn some heads. Betting/odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Kyle Larson: James Gilbert / Getty Images)
Newsweek
13 hours ago
- Newsweek
How to Watch Atlas 150: Live Stream ARCA Menards Series, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The ARCA Menards Series heads to Newton, Iowa, on Friday for part of a big weekend of racing action at Iowa Speedway. Tune in to FOX Sports 1 to watch the Atlas 150. Brenden Queen, driver of the #28 Best Repair Chevrolet enters his car during practice for the ARCA Menards Series Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan International Speedway on June 06, 2025 in Brooklyn, Michigan. Brenden Queen, driver of the #28 Best Repair Chevrolet enters his car during practice for the ARCA Menards Series Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan International Speedway on June 06, 2025 in Brooklyn, to Watch Atlas 150 Date: Friday, August 1, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM EDT Channel: FOX Sports 1 Stream: Fubo (watch now) Entering this race, Brenden Queen leads the point standings with 554 points. He's won four times in 11 races. Lawless Alan is in second place with 528 points and has one victory. Lavar Scott has been the most consistent driver in ARCA with a series-high 10 top 10s, but he has yet to find Victory Lane and sits third with 517 points. The championship battle between the three drivers remains tight. Last year, Gio Ruggiero won the pole for this race, while eventual winner Connor Zilisch started in second place. Zilisch led 102 of 150 laps, while William Sawalich led the other 48 and finished second. Ruggier was third, followed by Mason Mitchell and Any Jankowiak. Iowa Speedway is a 0.875-mile short track that opened in 2006. The asphalt track has been owned by NASCAR since 2013 and hosted its first NASCAR Cup Series race in 2024; however, it has consistently hosted ARCA events during its existence. Connor Zilisch set the track record for fastest ARCA lap here in 2024 at 0:23.554. Live stream the Atlas 150 on Fubo: Start your subscription now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
Fox News
14 hours ago
- Fox News
How to watch 2025 NASCAR Iowa: Iowa Corn 350 schedule, start time, TV channel
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Iowa Speedway for the 2025 Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol on August 3rd, 2025. This 0.875‑mile D‑shaped oval in Newton, Iowa, features steep 12‑ to 14‑degree banking through its four turns and a narrow, bumper‑to‑bumper racing groove that rewards bold throttle application and precision. Here's what you need to know about the race, how to watch and more. The Iowa Corn 350 is scheduled for Sunday, August 3rd at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Iowa Corn 350 will take place at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, IA. The Iowa Corn 350 will consist of 350 laps across 306.25 miles. The race will be broadcast live on USA. The Iowa Corn 350 can be streamed on USA. There are 37 drivers entered into the Iowa Corn 350. Qualifying starts on Friday, 8/1.
