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NASCAR explains 'Frankenstein' re-pave at Iowa, Ryan Blaney voices displeasure

JHby:Jonathan Howard•06/13/24•

Jondean25

Ryan Blaney
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

This weekend the NASCAR Cup Series will make the trip to Iowa Speedway for the first time ever but it is with mixed feelings. The track has been repaved, but only two and a half lanes. It’s more than patchwork but just short of a full repave.

For drivers like Ryan Blaney, that is a huge issue. If a repave is not done the right way, it can ruin the racing. With the Next Gen car, multiple grooves are needed to create good racing. Iowa is a short track that races like an intermediate. But that might not be the case now.

When images like this were shown online, it got everyone worried, not just Blaney.

The word is, NASCAR had to repave the Iowa track this way due to weather. With the race so soon and the track so worn out, they were worried about not being able to put a reliable tire that could hold up to the abrasion.

However, there wasn’t enough time for a full repave. In Iowa and other states, it can be difficult to complete a repave because of the cold weather that bleeds into the Spring. So, we ended up with this Frankenstein-looking racetrack.

Ryan Blaney doesn’t really care about that explanation. He would want a full repave or nothing at all. Now, there is a risk that the track will be one-grooved and the racing lacking in passes and action.

“In my mind, you either leave it or you pave the whole thing,” Blaney explained to Jeff Gluck of The Athletic. “… You had two choices, and I would have been fine with both choices. And they went with the third choice. That doesn’t really make much sense to me.”

NASCAR, Ryan Blaney returning to Iowa

NASCAR’s return to Iowa Speedway is going to be somewhat special for Ryan Blaney. For those who don’t know, Blaney is the youngest national series winner ever at the racetrack. He was 18 years old.

We have to go back to 2012 before Blaney was even full-time in the Truck Series. He had picked up a few starts with Brad Keselowski and his Truck Series organization. In just his third start ever in the Truck Series, Blaney took the win at Iowa and let everyone know that he was the real deal.

Now, it has clearly been some time since then. Now, Blaney is with Team Penske. He has 10 wins in the Cup Series and is the defending champion. The track at Iowa is a lot different as well, especially with this random repave.

Ryan Blaney needs a good run to get back on track this season. He has just two top-10s in the last eight races and the same amount of DNFs. A top-5 would be just what the doctor ordered, and with the short-track package on the Team Penske cars, I think Blaney has a real shot at the win.