In front of around 80 family members at Iowa Speedway, Ryan Blaney secured his first win of the season in the inaugural Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol NASCAR Cup Series race, leading a career-high 201 laps on Sunday night. Blaney's victory ended a 17-race winless streak, opting for two tires during the final pit stop, while most competitors, including runner-up William Byron, took four.
At 30 years old, Blaney became the 10th different winner of the season, edging out Byron's No 24 Chevrolet by 0.716 seconds in the 17th event of the season. This win marks Blaney's 11th career victory, with previous wins at short tracks, including Iowa Speedway in the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series.
Expressing his delight after the win, Blaney credited his victory to the tire strategy and the support from the crowd, particularly his mother, Lisa, who is from Chariton, Iowa. Despite some struggles towards the end, Blaney managed to hold on for the win, stating, "They willed us to that one."
Following Byron's second-place finish were Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., with tire issues surfacing during the race, particularly evident after the 70-lap Stage 1 when several cars experienced tire failures, leading to cautions and strategic pit stops.
Kyle Larson's strong performance was hindered by a tire issue and a collision with Daniel Suarez, ending his chances of winning. Larson's incident brought an end to his bid for victory after leading significant portions of the race, ultimately finishing outside the top positions.
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