NASCAR at Iowa live updates, leaderboard, highlights from race today

After a week off and with just four races remaining until the start of the postseason Chase, the NASCAR Cup Series is back in action on Sunday with a short-track race in Newton, Iowa. Ryan Blaney — winner of the Iowa race in 2024 — is the pole-sitter for the Iowa Corn 350. The driver of the No. 12 F

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What is the story about?

After a week off and with just four races remaining until the start of the postseason Chase, the NASCAR Cup Series is back in action on Sunday with a short-track race in Newton, Iowa.

Ryan Blaney — winner of the Iowa race in 2024 — is the pole-sitter for the Iowa Corn 350. The driver of the No. 12 Ford for Team Penske finds himself in third place in the point standings entering this weekend and is one of four drivers who have clinched a spot in the Chase.

“I had a lane in mind that I wanted to run, and I missed it on my first lap,” said Blaney, who placed fourth in last year’s race at Iowa. “Between the car getting a little better, and I kind of sneaked my lane down a little bit and hit a better lap, it was kind of a perfect storm of a couple

of things coming together.”

With just four races to go before the Chase begins, Blaney trails points leader Denny Hamlin by a manageable 120 points. With Hamlin suffering brake issues in qualifying, saddling him with a starting spot of 29th, Blaney has the chance to make up some ground this weekend.

“Things swing up and down,” Blaney said. “(Hamlin’s team) is obviously incredibly good right now. They’re going to work their way through the field. I’m just trying to focus on how the start of the race is going to be tomorrow and what I think the track is going to go to. One lap at a time.”

The big change coming to Cup Series races this weekend is NASCAR altering how it will handle cautions that happen close to stage breaks. If a natural caution flag comes out within 10 laps of the stage finishing, the stage will be deemed complete and that same caution period will serve as the scheduled stage break.

Previously, if cautions happened close to stage breaks, green flag racing would resume if the caution was cleared before the stage break, often resulting in a one-lap shootout for the stage win. While a shootout can be exciting, that also created an extra caution period, which extended the run times of races and resulted in more yellow-flag racing than was necessary.

This change will remain through the end of the 2026 season.

“I think it’s good. Because, dude, it sucks for all of us when you’re out there and you get a caution with five to go in the stage,” said Kyle Larson, who qualified second for Sunday’s race. “You got all that time in the caution, then you got a one-lap shootout, then it takes 15 minutes for them to do their stupid stage stuff. It’s just like, roll on with it. This is a step in that direction.”

Around the bubble for the Chase cutline, Iowa could be a crucial race for veteran Brad Keselowski. He’s 50 points behind RFK teammate Austin Cindric for the 16th and final spot, but Iowa has been a track he’s performed well at. Last year he notched the fastest lap and finished third, and in 2024 he finished 10th. He’ll start Sunday’s race fourth.

Follow along here for live updates on Iowa’s NASCAR race:

First caution flies as Tyler Reddick and Erik Jones crash

The first caution flag of the Iowa Corn 350 came out when Tyler Reddick and Erik Jones collided between turns 1 and 2 on the fourth lap of the race. Reddick got loose, turned into the wall and Jones couldn't avoid him. Both cars were sent to the garage, with Jones driving there and Reddick's being towed. Both drivers will also get checked out by the infield care center.

It's a critical wreck for both Toyotas, as Reddick is still chasing Denny Hamlin for the top spot in the standings while Jones is trying to get inside the Chase cutline.

Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott to start at rear

Three key drivers will move to the rear at the start of the race for making unapproved adjustments after their incidents during practice and qualifying on Saturday. Hamlin had brake issues, while Keselowski and Elliott both damaged their cars.

Ryan Blaney races with helmet that is a tribute to Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch rides with @Blaney today. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/HB2uCwkI6V
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 9, 2026

Ryan Blaney explains the design behind the tribute helmet for Kyle Busch and that it will go to Brexton Busch and the Busch family after this weekend: pic.twitter.com/7yf7qA638Y
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) August 9, 2026

Engines fired on the Iowa Corn 350

The command has been given for drivers to start their engines at 3:34 p.m. ET. We're moments away from green flag racing.

What time does the NASCAR Cup race at Iowa start?

The Iowa Corn 350 powered by Ethanol is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. local) on Sunday, Aug. 9, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

What TV channel is the NASCAR Cup race at Iowa on?

The Iowa Corn 350 will be broadcast on USA Network. Pre-race coverage will start at 3 p.m. ET, with the green flag expected to drop around 3:40 p.m. ET.

Leigh Diffey will have the call alongside analysts Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte. Burton and Letarte will join host Marty Snider and 1999 Winston Cup champion Dale Jarrett on pre- and post-race shows. Former Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne will debut as the pace-car analyst.

USA Sports will produce the final 14 races of the season, with 10 on USA Network and four on NBC.

Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR Cup race at Iowa?

Unlike last season, NASCAR races broadcast by USA Network cannot be streamed on Peacock. Subscribers to YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and Sling can watch through those services, or fans can log into the USA Network app with their cable provider information.

HBO Max will continue to provide live streams of in-car cameras, while MRN will carry the live radio broadcast.

How many laps is the NASCAR Cup race at Iowa?

The Iowa Corn 350 is 350 laps around the 0.875-mile track for a total of 306.25 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 70 laps; Stage 2: 140 laps; Stage 3: 140 laps.

Who won the NASCAR Cup race at Iowa last year?

William Byron won last year’s Iowa Corn 350, finishing ahead of Chase Briscoe and Brad Keselowski. Byron is still searching for his first victory of the 2026 season in the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.