After two weeks of road course racing the Xfinity Series goes short track racing with a return to Iowa Speedway after a five year absence and a new paving surface.

A new track on the circuit, the drivers will get a full 50 minute practice session in preparation for the Hy Vee Parks 250.

A total of 38 teams have brought cars to the near 7/8 mile track including The Melon Man himself.

Last week FOX Sports signed off for the 2024 racing season; this week NBC picks up the cameras and microphone with Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, and Steve Letarte.

Justin Allgaier is the only driver in the field who has a previous win at Iowa Speedway.

Sheldon Creed has had nine second place finishes since coming to the Xfinity Series without a win.  He is approaching tying the record of 10 second place finishes without a win with Dale Jarrett.

Several of the drivers are reporting tight conditions that are keeping them from getting down to the bottom of the track.

Shane van Gisbergen gets loose and hits the wall during practice and has some damage to his car.  After hitting the wall, Shane van Gisbergen’s team is moving to the backup car.

After the practice session, Corey Heim ran the fastest lap with Justin Allgaier leading in multiple lap averages.

As has happened all too often this season, NASCAR is in a holding pattern for the weather.  The cars have been covered as some wet weather moves in.  There are wet weather tires at the track if needed for the race.

After 14 races the playoff picture has begun to take shape with six of the available 12 spots taken by race winners.

Playoff Standings:
Justin Allgaier
Chandler Smith
Austin Hill
Shane van Gisbergen
Jesse Love
Sam Mayer

NASCAR has cancelled qualifying for the Xfinity Series and the lineup will be set by the rule book with Austin Hill sitting on the pole with Shane van Gisbergen starting alongside on the front row.  However, van Gisbergen crashed during practice and has to move to a backup car and will have to start the race from the back of the field.

The starting lineup for the Hy Vee Parks 250:
Austin Hill
Shane van Gisbergen
Sheldon Creed
Justin Allgaier
Sam Mayer
Chandler Smith
Cole Custer
John Hunter Nemechek
Jesse Love
Parker Kligerman
AJ Allmendinger
Riley Herbst
Parker Retzlaff
Brennan Poole
Ryan Sieg
Jeremy Clements
Sammy Smith
Blaine Perkins
Anthony Alfredo
Ryan Ellis
Kyle Sieg
Corey Heim
Kyle Weatherman
Matt DiBenedetto

Leland Honeyman
Brandon Jones
Josh Williams

Ross Chastain
Brett Moffitt
Jeb Burton
David Starr
Patrick Emerling
Hailie Deegan
Dawson Cram
Garrett Smithley
Joey Gase
Daniel Dye
Glen Reen

After issues with tires during practice on Friday, NASCAR has given the teams an extra set of tires for the race.  The crews now have four sets of tires.

Stages one and two of the race are 75 laps each with stage three lasting 100 laps for a total of 250 laps around the 7/8 mile track.  The drivers can run 95 to 100 laps on a single load of fuel.

Patrick Emerling’s crew made some unapproved adjustments to his car and Shane van Gisbergen had to move to a backup car after a crash in practice; both drivers will have to start the race from the back of the field.

Cole Custer is having some radio issues.

Austin Hill brings the field down for the green flag start of the race before a sellout crowd from the inside lane with Justin Allgaier alongside.  Hill gets out in front but Justin Allgaier comes up on the outside to take the lead.

Drivers are getting three wide in a battle for position.

Lap two, Justin Allgaier has a lead of over half a second on Austin Hill; Sheldon Creed, Chandler smith, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.

Brennen Poole got loose but saves the car.  The drivers are in a close quarters battle with lots of contact throughout the field.

Lap six, Justin Allgaier holds a lead of just under half a second on Austin Hill; Chandler Smith, Sheldon Creed, and John Hunter Nemechek round out the top five.

Lap 10, Justin Allgaier holds on to the lead with Austin Hill in second; Chandler Smith, Sheldon Creed, and John Hunter Nemechek round out the top five.

John Hunter Nemechek passes Sheldon Creed for fourth.

Chandler Smith passes Austin Hill for second.

Lap 13, after starting in 22nd, Corey Heim has entered the top 10 after leading practice on Friday.

Lap 15, Chandler Smith and Justin Allgaier battle for the lead with Smith getting out in front.

Justin Allgaier reports that he is working to save his right front tire.

Before the race, Shane van Gisbergen noted that since he was going to start the race from the back of the field, he was going to take his time and work his way through the field.  He has moved up five spots since the race start.

Lap 21, John Hunter Nemechek passes Justin Allgaier for second.

Glen Reen makes an unscheduled trip down pit road on lap 22 for what he believes is a fuel issue.

Lap 25, the top five are Chandler Smith, John Hunter Nemechek, Sheldon Creed, Justin Allgaier, and Austin Hill.

Parker Kligerman reports that his car “is just ill”; adding that he now has a significant vibration.  Kligerman is currently in 13th place.

Lap 32, Austin Hill passes Justin Allgaier for fourth.

Chandler Smith has a lead of nearly two seconds on John hunter Nemechek; Sheldon Creed, Austin Hill, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.

AJ Allmendinger brings out the first caution flag of the race after getting into the wall with a flat tire.  He comes to a stop in the infield.

Several of the drivers are reporting possible tire issues.

There are 30 cars on the lead lap.

Several of the drivers come down pit road for service with Chandler Smith winning the race off of pit road.

Brandon Jones’ car is smoking as he comes off of pit road and has taken his car to the garage.  The hood is up with zero voltage.

After staying out on the track, John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart with Jeremy Clements alongside on lap 42.  Nemechek moves oup the track with a loose car; giving the lead ot Jeremy Clements.

Lap 43, the top five are Jeremy Clements, Chandler Smith, Sheldon Creed, Sam Mayer, and Austin Hill.

Glen Reen and Brandon Jones are off the track with AJ Allmendinger out of the race.  There are 29 cars on  the lead lap.

Lap 47, Jeremy Clements leads the race with Chandler Smith in second; Sheldon Creed, Sam Mayer, and Austin Hill round out the top five.

Jeremy Clements and Chandler Smith battle for the lead.

Chandler Smith is the new leader with Sheldon Creed n second; Jeremy Clements, Sam Mayer, and Austin Hill round out the top five.

Sam Mayer passes Jeremy Clements for third.

John Hunter Nemechek passes Jeremy Clements for fourth.

Tires on pit road show some serious blistering.

Lap 54, Chandler smith has over a half second lead on Sheldon Creed; Sam Mayer, John Hunter Nemechek, and Jeremy Clements round out the top five.

Lap 56, Chandler Smith has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Sheldon Creed.

Lap 65, Chandler Smith has a near two second lead on Sheldon Creed; Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, and Sammy Smith round out the top five.

There are 29 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 68, Chandler Smith continues to increase his lead and is now nearly three seconds out in front.

Austin Hill reports a serious vibration; adding that it is getting worse.  He continues to fall through the field as he tries to nurse the car around til the end of the stage.

Jeb Burton gets into the wall on lap 73 with a flat tire to bring out the caution flag.

Stage one ends under caution with Chandler Smith winning stage one for his fourth stage win of the season.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Chandler Smith
Sheldon Creed
Sam Mayer
Justin Allgaier
Sammy Smith
Cole Custer
Brett Moffitt
Corey Heim
John Hunter Nemechek
Jesse Love

Out of the infield care center, AJ Allmendinger said there was no warning over the tire going.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Chandler Smith winning the race off of pit road; followed by Sheldon Creed.

Chandler Smith brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 83.  Chandler Smith and Sheldon Creed go side by side before Smith gets out in front. 

Lap 84, Cole Custer comes up to battle with Chandler Smith for the lead.

Top 85, the top five are Chandler Smith, Cole Custer,  Sammy Smith, Riley Herbst, and Sheldon Creed.

Shane van Gisbergen spins out and gets into the wall to bring out the caution flag on lap 88.  Blaine Perkins and Kyle Weatherman also have some damage after van Gisbergen gets turned around.

Brandon Jones is out of the race due to a mechanical failure.

Shane van Gisbergen said that he got loose…again; adding that it was his fault; adding that it has been a difficult weekend but they would go at it again next week.

Chandler Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 97 with Sammy Smith alongside.  Chandler Smith edges out for the lead from the outside lane but Sammy Smith moves up to battle for the position.

Chandler Smith holds on to the lead with Cole Custer taking second; Sammy Smith, Ross Chastain, and Brett Moffitt round out the top five.

Lap 103, Chandler Smith leads the race with Cole Custer in second; Sammy Smith, Brett moffitt, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Parker Retzlaff makes an unscheduled trip down pit road with reports of smoke in the cockpit and no power.

Lap 107, Chandler Smith has a near half second lead on Cole Custer; Sammy Smith, Brett Moffitt, and Jesse Love round out the top five.

Lap 111, Chandler smith now has a lead of over a second on Cole Custer; Sammy Smith, Brett Moffitt, and Jesse Love round out the top five.

Sammy Smith passes Cole Custer for second.

The caution flag comes out on lap 124 when Patrick Emerling is stopped on the track and has trouble getting the car refired.

A few drivers come down pit road for service.  Parker Kligerman is reporting a significant vibration.

Parker Retzlaff reports that one of the power wires burned through and caused a fire.

Chandler Smith brings the field down for the green flag restart with 17 laps remaining in stage two.  Smith jumps out in front for the lead with Samm Smith in second as cars get three wide.

Lap 134, the top five are Chandler smith, Sammy Smith, Ross Chastain, Justin Allgaier, and Sam Mayer.

Lap 136, the Smith boys battle for the lead with Chandler holding off Sammy.

Lap 138, Chandler Smith leads the race with Sammy smith in second; Ross Chastain, Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed round out the top five.

Corey Heim is now in the top 10 and in a battle with Justin Allgaier for seventh.

Lap 143, there are 26 cars on the lead lap with seven cars out of the race.

With five laps remaining in stage two, Chandler Smith has a one second lead on Sam Mayer; Sammy Smith, Ross Chastain, and Sheldon Creed round out the top five.

Justin Allgaier gets way loose but saves the car and keeps it off the wall.

The caution flag comes out with one lap to go in stage two when Jesse Love gets into the wall with a flat tire.

Jesse Love’s car is on fire on the two truck being taken to the garage

Chandler Smith wins stage two under caution for the stage sweep.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Chandler Smith
Sam Mayer
Ross Chastain
Corye Heim
Sammyu Smith
Sheldon Creed
Justin Allgaier
Riley Herbst
Cole Custer
Austin Hill

Jeremy Clements is stalled on the track and is getting a push from one of the tow trucks.

The drivers come down pit road for service on lap 155.

Ryan Sieg took fuel only and wins the race off of pit road.

Leland Honeyman was charged with an uncontrolled tire on pit road.

Josh Williams stayed out on the track.

Ross Chastain and Riley Herbst made contact on pit road.

Josh Williams brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with Ryan Sieg alongside on lap 161.  In a three wide battle for the lead, Ryan Sieg gets out in front for the lead with Sam Mayer in second; Josh Williams, Sheldon Creed, and Cole Custer round out the top five.

Chandler Smith has fallen through the field and is now out of the top 10.

With 86 laps to go, Ryan Sieg has a narrow lead on Sam Mayer; Sheldon Creed, Cole Custer, and Bret Moffitt round out the top five.

With 81 laps to go, Sam Mayer passes Ryan Sieg for the lead; Sheldon Creed takes second.

There are 77 laps remaining in the race with Sam Mayer leading the way by over half a second on Sheldon Creed; Ryan Sieg, Cole Custer, and Brett Moffitt round out the top five.

Cole Custer passed Ryan Sieg for third.

Ryan Sieg is beginning to fall through the field on older tires.

There are 72 laps to go with Sam Mayer out in front; Sheldon Creed, Cole Custer, Brett Moffitt, and John Hunter Nemechek round out the top five.

Lap 185, Brett Moffitt comes down pit road with a possible tire issue.  Moffitt needed a push from the crew to get the car moving.

Sam Mayer has a lead of over half a second on Sheldon Creed; Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek, and Corey Heim round out the top five.

Ryan Sieg comes down pit road for fresh tires.

Sixty to go, Sam Mayer has a one second lead on Sheldon Creed; Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek, and Corey Heim round out the top five.

Just 56 laps to go; Sam Mayer has a lead of over half a second on Sheldon Creed; John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, and Corey Heim round out the top five with just 19 cars on the lead lap.

Josh Williams brings his car down pit road for service.

More drivers are making green flag pit stops for fresh tires.

There are now just 1 6 cars on the lead lap.

Fifty to go!  Sam Mayer leads the race. 

The caution flag comes out on lap 202 when Justin Allgaier gets into the wall hard with a blown tire.

Drivers come down pit road for fresh tires.   John Hunter Nemechek wins the race off of pit road after  Sam Mayer stopped too long in his pit stall and lost two spots trying to get out.

John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart with 40 laps remaining in the race.  Nemechek gets out in front as the drivers get three wide.  Parker Kligerman gets loose but keeps it off the wall.

John Hunter Nemechek leads the race with Cole Custer in second; Austin Hill, Sheldon Creed, and Sam Mayer round out the top five.

Austin Hill passes Cole Custer for second.

There are 17 cars on the lead lap.

Austin Hill brings out the seventh caution flag of the race when he gets into the wall with a blown tire on lap 219.  Hill is very apologetic to his crew on the radio.

John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane and Sam Mayer alongside with 26 laps remaining in the race.  Nemechek edges out Mayer for the lead.  Cole Custer takes second.

Sam Mayer and Cole Custer battle for second.

The top five are John Hunter Nemechek, Sam Mayer, Cole Custer, Riley Herbst, and Sheldon Creed.

Riley Herbst passes Cole Custer for third.

The caution flag comes out with 20 to go when Brennan Poole blows up.

John Hunter Nemechek brings the field down for the green flag restart with Riley Herbst alongside with just 13 laps remaining in the race.  Nemechek gets out in front with Herbst in second.

Riley Herbst passes John Hunter Nemechek for the lead.

John Hunter Nemechek slides up by the wall and his car is smoking.

Ten to go, Riley Herbst has the lead with Sam Mayer on his bumper; Corey Heim, Cole Custer, and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Seven to go Riley Herbst and Sam Mayer battle for the lead.

Sam Mayer leads the race with six laps to go.

John Hunter Nemechek is in the wall and brings out the ninth caution flag of the race with five to go.

The race goes into overtime!

Sam Mayer brings the field down for the overtime shootout for the win with Riley Herbst alongside for the seventh overtime race of the season.  Sam Mayer gets out in front with Riley Herbst in second and Corey Heim in third.

Sam Mayer takes the white flag.

Sam Mayer wins the race for his second win of the season!  This is Mayer’s first short track win.

Riley Herbst bumps Sam Mayer and cuts his left rear tire.

The unofficial results of the Hy Vee Perks 250:
Sam Mayer
Riley Herbst
Corey Heim
Sammy Smith
Sheldon Creed
Cole Custer
Matt DiBenedetto
Chandler Smith
Ross Chastain
Daniel Dye
Parker Kligerman
Ryan Sieg
Leland Honeyman
Ryan Ellis
Anthony Alfredo
Joey Gase
David Starr
Brett Moffitt
Kyle Sieg
Josh Williams
Jeremy Clements
Dawson Cram
Patrick Emerling
Jeb Burton
Hailie Deegan
Garrett Smithley
John Hunter Nemechek
Brennan Poole
Austin Hill
Justin Allgaier
Jesse Love
Parker Retzlaff
Kyle Weatherman
Shane van Gisbergen
Blaine Perkins
Brandon Jones
AJ Allmendinger
Glen Reen