Kyle Larson surveys the situation during qualifying for Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
NEWTON, Iowa — Kyle Larson, starting third in Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway, enters the race with a compelling case to add another trophy to his 2025 campaign.
With three NASCAR Cup Series victories already this year and a berth near the top of the regular-season standings, Larson’s momentum, experience and recent performance on short ovals make him a formidable contender.
Larson, 32, has started 23 Cup races this season and amassed three wins, one pole and 11 top-five finishes. He ranks third in points with 711 points and trails leader Chase Elliott by just 15 markers. He has led 873 laps—far and away the most of any driver—demonstrating his ability to control races on a consistent basis.
At Iowa Speedway he’s already proven quick. Larson earned the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole there in June 2024, clocking a lap of 136.458 mph, and led 80 laps before contact on Lap 220 knocked him out of contention. He ultimately finished 34th, but the early pace highlighted his potential at the newly added short track.
Larson’s history at Iowa extends to two NASCAR XFINITY Series races, both in 2013, where he finished fifth on each outing. While not recent, those results suggest comfort with the tight quarters and traffic typical of Iowa Speedway.
Kyle Larson was among the top 10 fastest in Saturday’s practice session ahead of the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
On Saturday, Larson’s comments during media availability convey respect for the unpredictability of the Next Gen car and the tight competition on short ovals. Responding to a question about why polesitters seldom convert to wins in these races, he said, “The field’s just tighter now so there’s more teams that have an opportunity to win … Next Gen races are a little bit more chaotic.”
When pressed on his surprise at the drought since 2019, he admitted, “That’s wild.”
With Hendrick Motorsports drivers holding the top three positions in the regular-season standings, Larson says the team’s consistency has been impressive but cautioned that there’s still a lot of racing ahead.
“Our team was really, really strong to start the year. We kind of had those … five or six weeks where we had fallen off a little bit, but these last two have gone well,” he said. He added that Iowa’s surface has aged since last year’s repave, and while “grip would be a little bit different,” he and his crew are confident in their preparation.
Larson is also juggling dirt racing commitments, as he noted logistics surrounding the Knoxville Nationals and local nationals. “It’s always a fun time of year for me,” he said. Staying in Knoxville allowed him to compete in the 360 Nationals at Knoxville Speedway on Saturday night, finishing runner-up to Rico Abreu.
Kyle Larson enters Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway looking for his fourth win of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
Asked about Iowa’s aging track and tire changes, Larson pointed out that last year’s repave made passing easier, but this year he expects margins to tighten. “You know, execution is going to mean even more than it did last year … we’re a little bit different setup this year, and hopefully it’s better.” He emphasized the improvement of other teams, like RFK and Spire, narrowing the gap at all fronts.
Larson’s preparation mindset is grounded in realism. Reflecting on his strong showing at Iowa in 2024, when he led 80 laps before the incident with Daniel Suárez, he downplayed harboring a grudge. He acknowledged others have improved. “I think your team’s just … some teams missed the setup last year … RFK cars are way better … Spire Motorsports has gotten so much better … I’d imagine the field would be way tighter.”
As the field ascends Sunday, Larson’s blend of track knowledge, season-long dominance and composure under pressure make him a top-tier threat. Iowa’s history suggests that poles don’t guarantee victory—Ryan Blaney started second and won last year—but Larson’s comfort in qualifying and ability to lead laps positions him well to contend on Sunday afternoon.
Briscoe—who claimed another pole just yesterday—is a threat and leads the field at the green. But according to Larson, the key will be how the Next Gen cars handle traffic, tire wear and execution late in stages. With its smoother surface and aim toward parity, Iowa demands precision under pressure. As Larson said of polesitter victories: they’ve become rare, because “the field’s just tighter now.”
Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 offers Larson another chance to translate raw speed into another trip to victory lane. With experience on the track, championship form and a mature perspective on what it takes to win in the chaotic Next Gen era, Larson very much emerges as a favorite—so long as circumstances align and execution holds.
