The NASCAR Cup Series has competed twice at Iowa Speedway, with its first race held last year and the most recent event taking place this past Sunday, where William Byron claimed victory. Despite finishing a close second, Chase Briscoe expressed frustration about the track conditions and suggested a significant change to improve racing.

Briscoe, who trailed Byron by just 1.192 seconds, highlighted the challenge of competing on the short 0.875-mile oval and pushed for a complete repaving of the track to enhance racing dynamics.

Briscoe’s Take on Race Strategy and Track Limitations

After the race, Briscoe reflected on his performance and the challenges he faced.

“I feel like we kind of maximized the strategy that played out there,”

he said.

“I got to William and once I got there, just kind of died. I didn’t really have anything else left. He was able to drive away there. So he did a really good job.”

This honest assessment underscored how the current track surface restricts overtaking opportunities, despite intense competition.

Criticisms About Partial Repaving and Track Narrowness

Briscoe also addressed the track’s condition, particularly the incomplete repaving done prior to last year’s initial Cup race. Only the four corners were resurfaced, leaving the front and back stretches unchanged. This partial update limited drivers’ options on the track.

Briscoe explained,

“I wish they’d repave this place all the way to the wall, just so we could have more room to move around. This is such a track position race, with the dirty air and stuff and you’re kind of limited with where you can run. So maybe we’ll come back next year and hopefully they’ll repave it all the way to the wall…”

The existing racing surface, he noted, is narrow—only two or three lanes wide—and significantly hampers passing, as drivers lose aerodynamic efficiency when trying to follow closely.

Desire to Restore Old Track Characteristics for Better Racing

According to Briscoe, the old pavement allowed more tire spin and different racing lines, which made for more exciting, competitive events. He expressed hope for a full repave of the track surface to restore that experience.

“It would be awesome but obviously we don’t have that, but hopefully they can repave it to the wall just because then you can at least get out of the way, run some different places and I think it’d be back to the old Iowa real quickly,”

Briscoe said.

Briscoe’s Strong Record at Iowa Speedway

Chase Briscoe has a notable history at Iowa Speedway, which adds weight to his opinions. Beyond his second-place finish in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race, he finished 28th in last year’s inaugural Cup event. His experience also extends to the Xfinity Series, where he has three starts, including one victory and three top-10 finishes. Additionally, Briscoe earned a top-10 result in a single Truck Series race at the track.

Impact of Potential Repaving on NASCAR Racing at Iowa

The call for a full track resurfacing aims to broaden racing lines and enhance passing, which could lead to more engaging competitions in future NASCAR events at Iowa Speedway. If the repaving occurs, fans and drivers alike may witness increased excitement and strategic opportunities, helping elevate the stature of this relatively new Cup Series venue.