Motorsport

NASCAR Cup Series: Ryan Blaney Wins Inaugural Race At Iowa Speedway - In Pics

Ryan Blaney dominated the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway on Sunday night for his first victory of the season and a spot in the playoffs. Blaney led four times for a career-high 201 laps, finishing 0.716 seconds ahead of William Byron for his 11th Cup victory. The defending series champion came into the race 12th in the standings. Blaney regained the lead on Lap 263 after taking just two tires on a caution-flag pit stop. He led the rest of the way, getting through lapped traffic as Byron tried to close. It was fitting the first Cup Series race at the 0.875-mile track would go to a Team Penske driver — Penske cars have won seven IndyCar Series races and three NASCAR Xfinity Series races at the track.

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
NASCAR Iowa Auto Racing photos_
NASCAR Cup Series | Photo: AP/Charlie Neibergall

Ryan Blaney celebrates in victory lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

1/8
NASCAR Iowa Auto Racing photos_2
Ryan Blaney celebrates victory | Photo: AP/Charlie Neibergall
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social

Ryan Blaney celebrates in victory lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

2/8
NASCAR Iowa Auto Racing photos_3
Ryan Blaney Photo: AP/Charlie Neibergall
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social

Ryan Blaney does a burnout after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

3/8
NASCAR Iowa Auto Racing photos_4
Kyle Larson | Photo: AP/Charlie Neibergall
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social

Kyle Larson (5) drives on pit road after hitting a wall during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

4/8
NASCAR Iowa Auto Racing photos_5
Josh Berry | Photo: AP/Charlie Neibergall
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social

Josh Berry drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

5/8
NASCAR Iowa Auto Racing photos_6
Chase Elliott | Photo: AP/Charlie Neibergall
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social

Chase Elliott drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

6/8
NASCAR Iowa Auto Racing photos_8
Kyle Larson (5) hits a wall during the race | Photo: AP/Charlie Neibergall
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social

Kyle Larson (5) hits a wall during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

7/8
NASCAR Iowa Auto Racing photos_7
Ryan Blaney leads the race | Photo: AP/Charlie Neibergall
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social

Ryan Blaney leads during an early lap of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

8/8
NASCAR Iowa Auto Racing photos_9
NASCAR Iowa Auto Racing | Photo: AP/Charlie Neibergall
  • Facebook Social
  • Twitter Social
  • Google Plus Social
  • WhatsApp Social

Drives pass the grandstand at the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.