The trucks have another short break, while the Xfinity and Cup Series teams headed to Iowa Speedway. The track, stuck somewhere between a short track and a regular oval, is usually a scene for some drama. This is also amped up for both series, as the race to make the playoffs ticks down.
Xfinity Series | HyVee Perks 250
Winner: Sam Mayer
#41 Sam Mayer: This season, Mayer moved to the newly formed Haas Factory team after spending the last few seasons in JR Motorsports’ Chevrolets. While the team has shown speed all season, Iowa provided the #41 Ford team it’s first Xfinity Series win. Starting 5th, Mayer showed yet again why he is strong at the track, picking up his eighth career win.
Mayer has one previous win at Iowa with JR Motorsports in 2024.
#19 Justin Bonsignore: NASCAR Whelen Modified Series standout Bonsignore made his sixth Xfinity start of the season in Iowa, as part of a limited schedule with Joe Gibbs Racing. While results in 2025 have been hard to come by, Bonsignore had a strong showing, bringing his Toyota home 12th.
After debuting in 2024 with JGR, 2025 has not been quite as kind in the limited starts. Bonsignore’s best run before Iowa was a 16th-place run in Homestead.
Photo Credit: Jayski and Joe Gibbs Racing
#4 Parker Retzlaff: Iowa also provided a boost to Parker Retzlaff. Retzlaff joined Alpha Prime Racing in 2025, signing to drive their new #4 Chevrolet. While the season has certainly seen some growing pains (including a DNQ in Daytona), Iowa provided the team with a 13th place run, after starting 28th.
Iowa was Retzlaff’s second straight top fifteen run, after finishing no better then 22nd in a seven race stretch most of the summer.
Cup Series | Iowa Corn 350
Winner: William Byron
#60 Ryan Preece: One of the biggest surprises of 2025 has been the successful arrival of RFK Racing’s new #60 Ford team. Driver Preece has experienced a career resurgence this season as well, which continued in Iowa. Starting 33rd, Preece had a solid day and brought his Ford home 5th.
While the #60 RFK team is still searching for their first win, Preece has 10 top ten finishes in 21 starts with Iowa.
Photo Credit: Jayski and Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
#3 Austin Dillon: With the struggles of Richard Childress Racing well documented this season, Iowa may have been a turning point for Dillon. After starting his Chevrolet in 18th, Dillon solidly moved his way forward and was 10th by race’s end.
In 21 races run this season, Dillon’s 10th-place effort was just his fourth top ten this season. The last was a 7th place finish in Texas.
#2 Austin Cindric: Cindric and his Penske Ford team have felt the competition this season, as the team hovers just on making the playoffs. While Cindric’s Iowa results were not necessarily what was hoped for, the Penske driver was able to lead 20 laps and finish 12th.
After a strong start to the season, that included his Talladega win, Cindric results fizzled greatly as the playoffs loom. However, Cindric has not finished worse then 16th in the last three races.