There’s a lot of unknown when it comes to Iowa Speedway after it underwent a partial repave, but Kyle Larson is embracing the challenge.
Larson, who sits on the pole for Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol, said he believes the newness of Iowa Speedway will create more opportunity for teams who haven’t found their way to Victory Lane thus far this season.
“There’s still so much unknown,” Larson said, via Claire B. Lang. “So, I think that’s exciting for race fans and even drivers. There’s probably more drivers in the field that feel like they have an opportunity to have a good run because if this place was old, wore out, bumpy — your Hendrick teams, your Gibbs teams, like they’re gonna be the ones dominating.
“Where now, I feel like and especially with qualifying getting — you’re shaking up the order and all that, I think the starting lineup is a little bit off. So, I think more teams probably feel like they have an opportunity. Then there’s pit strategies stuff that goes along with this. There’s just more opportunity across the board. I think the drivers would have more fun with the old surface, but we can’t worry about that at this point. We can’t put the old surface back down.”
Kyle Larson going for win No. 4 in 2024 season
Perhaps Sunday’s race will yield a first-time winner just as Gateway did two weeks ago, but there’s no doubt Larson will be a factor. Larson, the current points leader, is less than one week removed from capturing the checkered flag at Sonoma, his third win of the season. Heading into Iowa, Larson has several things going for him. For starters, Larson participated in the Goodyear tire test last month at Iowa, which underwent a partial repave in preparation for the race.
Larson has been dominant at short tracks recently, finishing sixth or better in nine of his last 10 starts. He won at Martinsville and Richmond last season and could be poised to get it done at Iowa Oh, and it should be noted Father’s Day is on Sunday. Larson won on Father’s Day back in 2021 at Nashville.
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