NASCAR returns this weekend! After a week off for their top three series last week, the grueling 14-week run to crown a champion begins this weekend in the heart of America. “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet,” a ⅞ mile D shaped circuit in the middle of a bunch of cornfields in Newton, Iowa, will play host to this weekend’s race. While the track opened in 2006, it hosted its first Cup Series race here in 2024. Let’s dive in and take a look at this week’s NASCAR picks, odds, and best bets for the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway.
Ryan Blaney won that inaugural 2024 race. William Byron was victorious in 2025. Blaney is one of four Cup Series drivers locked into the Chase, which starts September 6th at the Southern 500 at Darlington. Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Ty Gibbs are also all locked in.
The two races at Iowa Speedway play the biggest part in my handicapping this week. There are also a handful of somewhat comparable tracks worth looking at that the series has been to this season. They include North Wilkesboro, Bristol, Martinsville, and Phoenix. I’ll be at Iowa Speedway this weekend covering the race for the NASCAR Gambling Podcast! Follow along with my coverage by subscribing to the YouTube, X page, and Facebook pages!
Odds to Win Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway
Denny Hamlin +470
Ryan Blaney +500
Christopher Bell +550
Joey Logano +850
Kyle Larson +900
William Byron +900
Chase Briscoe +950
Ty Gibbs +1000
Chase Elliott +1800
Tyler Reddick +1800
Brad Keselowski +2200
Bubba Wallace +2200
Carson Hocevar +2500
Alex Bowman +5000
Ryan Preece +6000
Chris Buescher +6000
Austin Cindric +7500
Austin Dillon +8000
Ross Chastain +10000
Daniel Suarez +10000
Shane Van Gisbergen +10000
Josh Berry +15000
Erik Jones +15000
Michael McDowell +15000
John Hunter Nemechek +30000
AJ Allmendinger +30000
Zane Smith +30000
Todd Gilliland +30000
Ty Dillon +50000
Austin Hill +50000
Riley Herbert +50000
Cole Custer +50000
Ricky Stenhouse Jr +50000
Noah Gragson +50000
Cody Ware +50000
Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway Best Bets
Joey Logano Top 5 Finish (+150)
The closer we get to race day, the more I get excited about backing Joey Logano. It’s been a tough season for the three-time Cup Series champion. He’s spent most of the season on the Chase cut line, or on the outside looking in. But after three strong top 10 finishes in a row, including a dominating win at North Wilkesboro. He finds himself 13th in the standings with a 65-point cushion over 17th-place Ryan Preece.
Logano is hitting his stride at the right time, as the Chase approaches. Now, with a string of short tracks on the schedule- here at Iowa, then Richmond, and New Hampshire. It’s prime time for Logano to capitalize and improve his spot. Logano has back-to-back top 10s here, with a sixth-place finish in 2024 and ninth last season. His dominating performance at North Wilkesboro, along with great runs at all four short tracks this season, gives me faith in Logano this week.
Austin Cindric Top 10 (+275)
I love Logano’s teammate, maybe even more than Logano this week. Austin Cindric can singlehandedly make my weekend. On the NASCAR Gambling Podcast, he is my “car lift” (like a ladder bet) this week. I’ll be riding him at the 75/1 you can still find him to win the race. His top 10 is a great starter bet. Austin Cindric easily had one of the best cars at Iowa Speedway last year. He started fourth and worked his way to second place quickly. He led 20 laps on the day, and had a strong car late. Getting caught on the wrong side of the strategy game unfortunately cost him at the end of the day.
Penske is strong on this track type; Ford is strong on this track type. Cindric has had a good season, consistently running in the top 15, and I expect them to bring back a combination of what he had last year and what his teammates have had this season at short tracks.
Ryan Blaney to Win (+500)
While we’re on the Team Penske topic. Let’s make it a clean sweep. This doesn’t happen in this article all that often, but for all we’ve already talked up Logano and Cindric. Blaney is the strongest car in this team and the top driver in the garage at short tracks.
Blaney won here in 2024, leading 201 laps. He had arguably the best car last season. He also got caught on the wrong side of the strategy game. A late charge got him back to fourth place, but wasn’t enough for the win. A speeding penalty sunk his day at North Wilkesboro, but he won at Phoenix and dominated Bristol, leading 190 laps. It’s a Penske week in Iowa!
Fueled by WIN THE RACE‘s Professional NASCAR Strategy Platform
More Racing Content
Be sure to tune into the NASCAR GAMBLING PODCAST for more bets for the NASCAR Cup, O’Reilly, and Truck Series, along with F1 and IndyCar bets, Underdog picks, DFS, and more! Join the Discord here.
