On Sunday, August 3, NASCAR returns to the short track of Iowa Speedway for the Iowa Corn 350. This marks the second ever Cup Series race at this venue. Last year was the first edition of the Iowa Corn 350 and Ryan Blaney took the checkered flag.

This weekend, Blaney enters the race right behind Christopher Bell at the top of the NASCAR betting boards. Following that duo as pre-race favorites are Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, William Byron and Chase Elliott.

Sunday’s Iowa 350 also marks the 23^rd race of the regular season. That means, following this event, there will only be three races left before the Cup Series Playoffs begin and we crown a new NASCAR Cup Series Champion. So, the on-track racing will definitely heat up as we enter the month of August.

For the first time since the end of June, we’ll witness a Cup Series race that doesn’t involve the In-Season Challenge which concluded last weekend in the Brickyard 400.

With that said, let’s take a look at the latest NASCAR Iowa Corn 350 odds, courtesy of the top sports betting sites, and make our Iowa Corn 350 predictions for this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Iowa Speedway. You can also compare my picks with the best handicappers.

Lap the Competition

Gain the Inside Edge with Expert NASCAR Picks

Get Free Trial

Iowa Corn 350 Race Profile

The Iowa Speedway first entered the Cup Series calendar in 2024. Prior to that, the Xfinity Series raced there from 2011 to 2019, and the Craftsman Truck Series from 2009 to 2019.

This asphalt speedway, which has similarities to Richmond Raceway, is a 7/8-mile short track with four turns of 12 to 14 degrees banking, a frontstretch of 10 degrees, and a backstretch with four degrees banking.

Sunday’s Iowa 350 breaks down as follows:

• Total Miles: 306.25 miles
• Total Laps: 350 laps
• Stage 1: 70 laps
• Stage 2: 140 laps
• Stage 3: 140 laps

The Iowa Corn 350 can be seen live on USA Network beginning at 3:30pm ET.

Previous Iowa Corn 350 Winners

As mentioned, there has been only one Cup Series race held at this venue. And, Ryan Blaney ended up surprising the favorites to win the 2024 Iowa 350.

Iowa Corn 350 Betting Odds

Check out the latest Iowa Corn 350 odds:

Iowa Corn 350 Favorites

The following drivers are considered by oddsmakers to be the odds-on favorites to win the Iowa Corn 350:

Christopher Bell +400

• Standings: 5
• Win: 3
• Top 5: 8
• Top 10: 13

Christopher Bell was the race favorite last year, as well. And, he was my pick to win. Unfortunately, Bell ended up 4^th. He won the 2018 and 2019 races at this venue, which made me a big believer in his chances last year.

With that said, I also like his chances this year, as well.

Sure, Bell hasn’t won since taking three of the first four races on the season. However, he has put up two Top 8 finishes in the last three weeks. And, he also led 67 laps at Dover two weeks ago before fading late in the race.

The #20 car should be a Top 5 driver with a race-winning ceiling on Sunday.         

Ryan Blaney +450

• Standings: 7
• Win: 1
• Top 5: 7
• Top 10: 10

Ryan Blaney’s lone win on the season was at Nashville. And, that victory ensured him a spot in the Playoffs. However, it didn’t ensure him more success following that race. In fact, he has two DNFs and three finishes of 32^nd or worse in the eight races since then.

Yet, Blaney has two straight Top 8 finishes and seems to be gaining some traction heading into Iowa this weekend. Furthermore, he has a 5.4 average finish and a victory at Iowa in the Xfinity Series. That’s two victories at this venue when combining both Series.

I don’t see Blaney winning this weekend, but a Top 5 result wouldn’t be too hard to imagine.

Kyle Larson +500

• Standings: 3
• Win: 3
• Top 5: 11
• Top 10: 14

Kyle Larson is just 15 points behind his teammate Chase Elliott in the standings. Yet, Larson is second in wins (3), tied for first in Top 5s (11), and first in Top 10s (14).

More importantly, the #5 car is regaining his early-season mojo after some poor showings. He finished 4^th at Dover two weeks ago and runner up last weekend at Indy.

Larson didn’t have a good showing in this race last year as he finished 34^th. He does have two Xfinity appearances at Iowa where he finished 5^th in both races.

I thought last weekend and Dover were the two races that Larson had a strong shot at winning. He came close but couldn’t close the deal.

I don’t see the #5 car in victory lane this weekend. However, I can see him carrying his momentum from the last two weeks to score a Top 10 finish.

Denny Hamlin +600

• Standings: 4
• Win: 4
• Top 5: 11
• Top 10: 12

Like Larson, Denny Hamlin had a poor showing in last year’s Iowa Corn 350 where he finished 24^th. However, he comes into this weekend’s event with a ton of momentum on the season.

In the last eight Cup races, Hamlin has two wins and six Top 5s, which also includes five Top 3 finishes. He was 3^rd at Indy last weekend and won at Dover two weeks ago.

Hamlin leads the Cup Series in victories on the year, and I expect the #11 car to be a contender this weekend. Put him down for a Top 5 finish with a shot at winning the race.

William Byron +800         

• Standings: 2
• Win: 1
• Top 5: 7
• Top 10: 11

William Byron used to rule the top of the standings but he has gone through a slump over the last two months which has dropped him to second overall.

Byron has five finishes of 27^th or worse in the last eight races. He also has three DNFs in the last five Cup races. He was able to finish 16^th last weekend but I am not sold on the #24 car breaking out of his slump this weekend.

Byron did finish as the runner up in last year’s Iowa Corn 350 race. He’s also snagged a win and two Top 10s in two Xfinity races at this track.

If he wasn’t in such a slump, I would’ve picked Byron to contend for the checkered flag. Instead, I will cautiously pick him to finish in the Top 10.

Chase Elliott +1000

• Standings: 1
• Win: 1
• Top 5: 7
• Top 10: 12

As mentioned, Chase Elliott sits on top of the Driver Standings. He’s been a model of consistency all season long as Elliott has not scored a DNF yet this season. Furthermore, he has a 10.1 average finish and has not finished outside of the Top 20 this year.

Elliott won in Atlanta five races ago, and has one Top 5, two Top 10s, and four Top 16s since then.

At Iowa Speedway, Elliott was third in last year’s race. In four Xfinity appearances at this venue, Elliott has two Top 5s and four Top 10s with a 5.8 average finish.

I think Elliott is highly overlooked this weekend and could be a contender for the victory. His floor is a Top 10 finish.

The Best Iowa Corn 350 Betting Value

The following drivers are my NASCAR picks for the best betting value in the Iowa Corn 350 based on their previous success at the Iowa Speedway:

Ross Chastain +2500

• Standings: 13
• Win: 1
• Top 5: 3
• Top 10: 9

Although he’s 13^th in the standings, Ross Chastain has already locked himself into the Playoffs by virtue of his victory at Charlotte two months ago. However, the #1 car has run into some bad luck over the last six races. During that span, he has five finishes of 24^th or worse along with three DNFs. Two of those DNFs came in the last two races.

In last year’s Iowa Corn 350, Chastain finished 11^th. He’s competed in nine Xfinity Series races at this venue and has two Top 5s, four Top 10s and a 14.2 average finish at Iowa Speedway.

I think Chastain is a longshot to win, despite his odds. However, I do like his Top 10 value at +140. I think he could turn things around this weekend and crack the Top 10.

Bubba Wallace +3300

• Standings: 11
• Win: 1
• Top 5: 4
• Top 10: 8

Bubba Wallace was one of my top picks last weekend at Indy. Although I didn’t pick him to win, I did have Wallace in a number of prop bets along with being my favorite Top 10 finish.

I feel similar to Wallace this weekend, as I really like his Top 10 odds once again. Wallace was 17^th in this race last year, but has competed in six Xfinity races at Iowa. He’s cracked the Top 10 in four of those races and has an 11.5 average finish.

With a race win, two Top 7s, and a spot in the Playoffs locked up over the last two weeks, Wallace has momentum coming into this race and no pressure. With +175 odds to finish in the Top 10, I really like his value.

The Top Iowa Corn 350 Longshot

Austin Dillon (+15000) is my longshot pick this weekend. Despite finishing 19^th in the Cup race last year, Dillon has a very compelling Xfinity Series resume at Iowa Speedway. In six appearances, Dillon has three Top 5s and four Top 10s for a 10.5 average finish.

Yes, I am thinking of an Austin Dillon Top 10 finish this weekend. The odds are a juicy +500, which means a 5X on your wager. I think he’s worth a small flier this Sunday.

Iowa Corn 350 Predictions

There are a handful of drivers that I like this weekend at Iowa like Bell, Elliott, Hamlin, Larson, Wallace, and Logano. The defending Cup Series champ finished 6^th in last year’s race. A Top 10 this weekend is not out of the question.

I really want to pick Elliott to win because I like his consistency, but that might be better for a Championship futures bet instead of winning this race.

So, we took a big swing last year on Bell, and I think this is a good spot for the #20 car to regain some momentum going into the Playoffs. He’s been a strong driver at this track in both of NASCAR’s top Series.

His last four Xfinity Series races at Iowa (2018-19) produced two wins and two runner ups. In fact, in five career Xfinity appearances at this short track, Bell has a 4.4 average finish and has led laps in every start. For the Cup Series, Bell finished 4^th in this race last year and led laps.

When it comes to short track racing, anything can happen. It’s a war of attrition. So, Bell is as solid of a pick as anyone else.

Bet: Christopher Bell (+400)

NASCAR Iowa 350 Prop Bets

Check out our analysis for some of the top Iowa Corn 350 prop bets:

Either To Finish In The Top 3 at Iowa

All of the pairings for Bell finishing in the Top 3 don’t offer any value. With that said, I really like this pairing of Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin. Both drivers are highly proficient on the short tracks which includes a number of victories. I like both drivers to contend for the checkered flag, as well.

Bet: Chase Elliott or Denny Hamlin (-115)

The Best Top 5 Bet for the Iowa Corn 350

It should come as no surprise that Christopher Bell is my pick for the best Top 5 bet. I’m high on the joe Gibbs Racing driver this weekend. With four Top 2s in five Xfinity starts, and a 4^th in the 2024 Iowa Corn 350 race, Bell’s chances of a Top 5 finish are better than 99.9% of the field.

Bet: Christopher Bell (-125)

The Best Top 10 Bet for the Iowa Corn 350

I’ve hinted at a number of drivers for Top 10 bets like Wallace, Larson, Chastain, and Dillon. The odds are rough for this race with the pre-race favorites sporting large betting lines. So, let’s roll with Bubba Wallace for a second straight week.

Wallace was 17^th in this race last year, but has a ton of momentum coming into this weekend’s event and no pressure. Additionally, he has four Top 10s and an 11.5 average finish in six Xfinity Series starts at this venue.

Bet: Bubba Wallace (+175)

Winning Manufacturer

• Chevrolet (+160)
• Toyota (+170)
• Ford (+200)

This really is a toss-up between Chevy and Toyota. With that said, I am leaning towards Toyota this Sunday. I really like Bell, Hamlin and Wallace. Additionally, I wouldn’t count out Tyler Reddick or Ty Gibbs. Both drivers have the skills to win a short track race.

Bet: Toyota (+170)

Team of Race Winner

• Joe Gibbs Racing (+175)
• Hendrick Motorsports (+180)
• Team Penske (+350)
• RFK Racing (+1000)
• 23XI Racing (+1200)
• Woods Brothers Racing (+1800)
• Trackhouse Racing (+2000)
• Spire Motorsports (+2800)
• Richard Childress Racing (+2800)

I’m taking Joe Gibbs Racing for this prop bet. As mentioned above, Hamlin and Bell are strong contenders this weekend and they both driver JGR. Ty Gibbs is a sleeper this weekend, as well.

Bet: Joe Gibbs Racing (+175)

Winning Car Number

• Over 12.5 (-115)
• Under 12.5 (-115)

I’m going to hedge my bet here. I picked Bell to win and he drivers the no. 20 car. So, let’s go with the Under for this one as we lean heavily on drivers like Hamlin (11), Larson (5), Elliott (9), and Blaney (12) who won this race last year.

Bet: Under 12.5 (-115)