As the anticipation builds for the NASCAR Cup Series at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, the racing community is abuzz with concerns about the newly paved short track. While NASCAR officials are eager to see how the teams perform on this unique track, drivers from Hendrick Motorsports are ready to leverage their experience on short tracks to gain an edge.

William Byron, Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, and Chase Elliott share their strategies for tackling the challenges of driving on a short track, from setting up their cars for performance to using data to improve their lap times.

Short tracks can change the game

Short tracks in NASCAR, such as Iowa Speedway, require precise lane choices during restarts to gain an edge over competitors. Each driver in the NASCAR series has had a unique experience that helps them navigate the tracks and aids them in a winning finish.

Following NASCAR rules, it is true that the shorter length of these tracks requires drivers to quickly adjust their speed and braking, which tests their reflexes and instincts. This is essential to promoting high-speed racing; short tracks often come with a specific package of engine power, aerodynamics, and tire compounds that drivers must adapt to. All this with the newly paved roads? This might just be the most intense and interesting race of the season!

However, William Byron believes that lane choice is crucial at any track. He emphasizes that it assists the car with good launches and precise corner placement to gain an advantage. On the other hand, Alex Bowman highlights the importance of lead choices. If a driver gets caught in the outside lane, it could cause trouble for their progress. Kyle Larson and Chase Elliot gave a more experience-based explanation that drivers must weigh the benefits of different lanes at different tracks. This would make sense, as only after racing on different tracks would the team have an understanding of how to navigate the car and create strategies.

“It depends on the track, you know,” Elliot says about the importance of lane choice. “Bristol, you have one loop; sometimes you’re already at the top and it’s better instead of fighting for the top. And then in a place like Martinsville, yeah, you probably would want to be at the bottom. But sometimes, you can make some ground on the top at Martinsville as well. It totally just depends on the track.”

It only makes sense to hear it from the best now that the Iowa Speedway race is just around the corner. So better buckle up and pick a lane because these drivers are not messing around.

Are the newly paved roads going to be a problem?

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NASCAR’s Elton Sawyer revealed that although there were no initial plans to repave Iowa Speedway’s race tracks, there were some “problem areas” that needed attention. However, this may have led to some inconvenience as the tracks are now uneven, causing the bottom lane and certain areas to extend higher up.

Kevin Harvick has expressed his uncertainty around this issue, as he believes they could have run the race on the original asphalt without paving only half the course.

“It is one of the biggest mess-ups we could possibly have this year,” Harvick said on the Iowa Weekend preview by FOX. “I’m not sure who made that decision to repave that race track like that. I’m sure there was a scenario that says, ‘Oh, the asphalt was sliding or this or that.’ Big a** patches somewhere in there and at least got through one race with the way the asphalt was.”

Despite this insight, NASCAR still plans to proceed with the race on Sunday, stating that the track is fully operational, albeit not visually appealing. The answer will reveal itself during the NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway. What do you think?