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Newsstaff

IOWA CORN 350

Leading a career-high 201 laps, Ryan Blaney fought off the likes of Kyle Larson to take the Stage 1 victory and stuffed the hopes of other Hendrick Motorsports competitors William Byron and Chase Elliott to score his first victory of 2024 and 11th at NASCAR’s top level.

Blaney back in Victory Lane with two-tire run

NEWTON, Iowa — This time, there was no unpleasant surprise waiting for Ryan Blaney near the finish line of a Cup Series race. Grabbing the lead on crew chief Jonathan Hassler’s two-tire call under the final caution of Sunday night’s Iowa Corn 350, Blaney led the final 88 laps of the inaugural Cup race at 0.875-mile Iowa Speedway.

XFINITY RECAP

• Saturday’s HYVEE PERKS 250, Iowa Speedway NEWTON, Iowa — In a race of tire management and hurt feelings, Sam Mayer held o_ Riley Herbst in overtime to win Saturday’s Hy-Vee Perks 250 in the X…nity Series’ return to Iowa Speedway a‡er a four-year hiatus. Mayer’s No.

2024 CUP SERIES SCHEDULE

FEB. 3, 8 PM, FOX: Busch Light Clash at the (LA) Coliseum ( D. Hamlin) FEB. 15, 7 PM, FS1: Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at DAYTONA ( T. Reddick) FEB. 15, 9 PM, FS1: Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2 at DAYTONA ( C. Bell) FEB. 19, 4 PM, FOX: DAYTONA 500 ( W. Byron) FEB. 25, 3 PM FOX: Ambetter Health 400 at ATLANTA ( D. Suarez) MARCH 3, 3:30 PM, FOX: Pennzoil 400 at LAS VEGAS ( K. Larson) MARCH 10, 3:30 PM, FOX: Shriners Children’s 500 at PHOENIX ( C. Bell) MARCH 17, 3:30 PM, FOX: Food City 500 at BRISTOL ( D. Hamlin) MARCH 24, 3:30 PM, FOX: EchoPark at CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS ( W. Byron) MARCH 31, 7 PM, FOX: Toyota Owners 400 at RICHMOND ( D. Hamlin) APRIL 7, 3 PM, FS1: Cook Out 400 at MARTINSVILLE ( W. Byron) APRIL 14, 3:30 PM, FS1: Auto Trader EchoPark 400 at TEXAS ( C. Elliott) APRIL 21, 3 PM, FOX: GEICO 500 at TALLADEGA ( T. Reddick) APRIL 28, 2 PM, FS1: WURTH 400 at DOVER ( D. Hamlin) MAY 5, 3 PM, FS1: AdventHealth 400 at KANSAS ( K. Larson) MAY 12, 3 PM, FS1: Goodyear 400 at DARLINGTON ( B. Keselowski) MAY 19, 8 PM, FS1: NASCAR All-Star Race at N. Wilkesboro, NC ( J. Logano) MAY 26, 6 PM, FOX: Coca-Cola 600 at CHARLOTTE ( C.Bell) JUNE 2, 3:30 PM, FS1: Enjoy Illinois 300 at WORLD WIDE TECH ( A. Cindric)

IOWA WINNER QUOTE

“We had a lot of people here tonight cheering us on, so they willed us to that one. Overall, I really appreciate the whole (No. 12 team). I mean, our car was really fast all night and we got a little bit better through the night, and two tires was a good call there.”

Bulldog Bowl undergoing upgrades

Bulldog Bowl has been undergoing a few upgrades in preparation for the 2024 season. At left, crews work to replace the stadium’s light fixtures with new-and-improved (and brighter!) lights that will also offer up a few surprises for fans when the ‘Dogs score that first TD of the new season. Below, the east parking lot is also coming up in preparation for a much-needed re-pave.