The NASCAR schedule for next season hasn’t been officially released, in part because the playoff committee is still trying to push for changes to the one-race championship format in 2026. When the schedule comes out later this month, there’s a chance that Iowa Speedway won’t be on it.
On Saturday, ahead of the Iowa Corn 350, well-known insider nascarumornostalgia shared on Instagram that there is currently no confirmation that Iowa Speedway will be on the schedule in 2026. Some have even questioned if Iowa will have a NASCAR race next season.
Related: NASCAR Xfinity Results from Iowa Speedway
In 2023, it was announced that Iowa Speedway would host its first-ever Cup Race the following year. Race weekends in Iowa brought over 80,000 fans to the track, per The Des Moines Register, and the Iowa Corn 350 on Sunday is sold out for the second consecutive year.
However, there might need to be room made for a sixth road course race in 2026. NASCAR is dumping the Chicago Street Race in 2026 in favor of the road course race at Naval Base Coronado, which might be a one-and-done, but there also won’t be a road course race at Mexico City next year.
Earlier this season, Brad Keselowski voiced his displeasure over the number of road course races in the Cup Series and suggested more are coming. If NASCAR wants to have both six road course races next season and a points race at North Wilkesboro, that would leave two tracks that have to be taken off the schedule.
Related: NASCAR starting lineup for Sunday’s Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway
NASCAR taking a race away from Iowa Speedway would be a questionable choice, considering the track has delivered sellouts in consecutive years and brings huge crowds for the Xfinity Series race on Saturdays. Next season could be particularly important to the state since IndyCar won’t race there next season.
There should be clarity in a matter of weeks when the 2026 schedule is released. If all goes well, maybe an exciting Cup Series race on Sunday could influence NASCAR to stay in Iowa for another season.
Related: NASCAR Predictions for Iowa Speedway
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