Iowa Speedway Practice Session Highlights
Iowa Speedway – Christopher Bell emerged as the standout performer in the NASCAR Cup Series practice session at Iowa Speedway, clocking a lap time of 23.511 seconds (133.979 mph). This achievement positions him favorably following a fourth-place finish in his Cup debut at the 0.875-mile oval last season, as he seeks to build on his earlier three consecutive wins this year.
Top Performers:
- 2nd Place: Bubba Wallace, riding the momentum from his recent Brickyard 400 victory, recorded a speed of 133.894 mph.
- 3rd Place: Chase Briscoe followed closely at 133.780 mph, contributing to a Toyota sweep of the top three positions.
- 4th Place: William Byron led the Chevrolet contingent with a time of 133.752 mph.
- 5th Place: Kyle Larson rounded out the top five with 133.678 mph.
Other noteworthy performances included:
- 6th Place: Tyler Reddick (133.638 mph)
- 7th Place: Alex Bowman (133.616 mph)
- 8th Place: Brad Keselowski (133.599 mph)
- 9th Place: Chase Elliott (133.525 mph)
- 10th Place: Denny Hamlin (133.497 mph)
Byron demonstrated consistency, posting the fastest five, 10, and 15-lap averages, while Elliott had the top figures for 20, 25, and 30-lap averages.
Incidents:
The session was interrupted by a significant red flag after Kyle Busch crashed his No. 8 Chevrolet hard into the Turn 1 wall. Busch reported losing control and overcorrecting, resulting in a head-on collision. He was released from the infield care center after the crash but will need a backup car for the race on Sunday. Busch stated post-incident, “Went off into Turn 1 with too much trust… Not real sure how to find more trust.”
Other drivers also faced challenges, with Denny Hamlin lightly making contact with the wall and Ross Chastain struggling to maintain control of his car.
The field is set for the Iowa Corn 350, with 37 cars entered for the event.
