When images of the Iowa Speedway repaving surfaced online, NASCAR fans and drivers like Chase Elliott were skeptical.
Ahead of this weekend’s race, Elliott shared his thoughts on the Frankenstein-like new repaving. Many of Chase Elliott’s generation of NASCAR Cup Series drivers raced in lower series at Iowa.
Whether it’s the Truck Series, Xfinity Series or ARCA, they all have some experience at the track.
Speaking with The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck, Elliott said he’s slowly starting to get to grips with the repaving. Maybe it’s not such a disaster after all.
“Initially, I thought it was literally as wide as a car, and I thought, ‘That’s ridiculous.'” Why resurface it? It looks like there’s at least a chance we could get a second groove that’s better than the first,” Elliott explained. “But anything outside of the area of fresh asphalt underneath is too old (to drive on).”
As I mentioned, drivers like Elliott have raced at Iowa before, though not in the Cup Series.
It may not be the biggest facility in the program, but it should have a lively atmosphere. “I remember being there (in the lower series) and for some reason the fans were always talking about how much they wanted a Cup race,” Elliott said, “so I’m just excited that they’re finally going to have a Cup race.
It’s been a valuable facility for a long time and whatever the reason or length of stay, it’s good that they’ve gotten it right over the years.
They’ve been given it, so I hope they make the most of it.”
Chase Elliott is hoping for a win, regardless of the surface.
Chase Elliott quietly vying for regular season championship
Looking at Elliott and the No. 9 team’s season, this is a far cry from the disappointing 2023 season for Elliott. The win at Texas cleared that cloud, and now he’s focused on running well every week.
Chase Elliott has been the most consistent driver in the Cup Series this season. It just took him a while to get really fast.
But the No. 9 car has never finished worse than 19th this season, which is impressive. It has six top-five finishes, eight top-10 finishes and is just 14 points behind championship leader Kyle Larson.
Larson has been the epitome of greatness this season. He’s had his down periods, but with three wins, 675 laps led and seven stage wins — there’s a reason he’s still the championship leader after missing the Coke 600.
Chase Elliott showed up, did the job and the results spoke for themselves. Elliott has raced in the Xfinity Series at Iowa four times and has never finished worse than ninth, so he’s the favorite this weekend, as he is most weekends.
Report: Chase Briscoe expected to replace Martin Truex Jr. at Joe Gibbs Racing
It has been revealed that Martin Truex Jr. will retire at the end of this season, and Chase Briscoe may take over as his replacement. NASCAR’s stupid season has just begun.
This will be one of the first big shocks. In recent years, Martin Truex Jr. has had to make decisions about his future near the end of the season. He returned in 2023.
And then back again in 2024. Well, it’s finally over. Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic broke the news of Truex, mentioning Chase Briscoe as a possible successor. “The team (Joe Gibbs Racing) has no immediate plans to name a replacement for Truex, but sources familiar with the team’s plans say Chase Briscoe is considered one of the leading candidates to take the job,” Bianchi reported. NEWS: Martin Truex Jr. plans to announce retirement on Friday, sources report @Athletic
. https://t.co/7701A1OIq8
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi)
June 13, 2024
Chase Briscoe started 124 games and did pretty well. If Stewart-Haas Racing was still around in the future, Briscoe would have been a part of their team in the future. Tony Stewart really liked Briscoe as a driver and protected him since he was a kid from Indiana.
Whether JGR keeps Bass Pro Shops or not, I think it could work either way for Briscoe. He fits the brand very well. On the other hand, I think he could potentially get sponsors himself and maintain his relationship with Mahindra Tractors. Martin Truex Jr. will be a tough successor for any driver. Briscoe is in his fourth year in the Cup Series with one win.
He doesn’t have any fancy stats or anything at this point, but his talent is well-regarded in the Cup garage.
Is this a good hire for Joe Gibbs? Could Briscoe succeed in the ’19 car, or perhaps a renamed ’18 car?
Chase Briscoe is looking for a ride in 2025
Until something is announced one way or another, Chase Briscoe is applying for the job in 2025. Stewart-Haas is closing up shop. Charter has been sold to Front Row Motorsports. It is unclear at this time where the remaining three will go.
There have been rumors that Briscoe will drive for the Wood brothers. Maybe even one of the cars on the front row. If the Gibbs rumors are true, it’s clear which team Brisco would prefer. JGR is one of two or three teams that will have to drop everything when the call comes.
Those who know more about racing than I do believe Brisco has the talent to be a winner. He is considered a rare talent, one of the few dirt racers turned stock car drivers. This wasn’t always clear during his last four years at SHR. On the one hand, there was no one particularly good at the time other than Kevin Harvick.
And it was for a limited time. It would be great to see Chae Briscoe with JGR. It would definitely put him in a position to please everyone, prove he has the talent to win races regularly and be a playoff threat every year. At 29 years old, Briscoe hasn’t yet reached his peak, which may ultimately be what attracts Gibbs.
