Hamlin Opens as Favorite for Iowa Cup Race
NXTbets Pro | Published On: August 6, 2026
Hamlin Favorite
Denny Hamlin opens as the betting favorite for Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway, with DraftKings listing him at +400. Christopher Bell and Ryan Blaney are next on the board at +500, followed by Kyle Larson at +750, William Byron and Joey Logano at +900, Chase Elliott at +1000, Alex Bowman at +4000 and Ryan Preece at +6000.
The odds match Hamlin’s strong regular season. He leads Tyler Reddick by 84 points in the standings, owns four wins and 12 top-five finishes and has already locked up a postseason berth for a record 20th time. Bell sits near the top of the board too, but his season has carried a different edge. He has finished second six times and is still chasing a playoff berth. That mix gives the front of the market a clear shape, with Hamlin sitting in the most secure position and Bell and Blaney close behind on the odds sheet.
Iowa Speedway
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Iowa Speedway for the Iowa Corn 350, the series’ third Cup race at the 0.875-mile track. The green flag is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET, with coverage on USA Network and Motor Racing Network.
Iowa Speedway gives the Cup Series a compact layout that has already produced two previous races in the series. This time, the event lands with a full field of contenders carrying different levels of urgency. Hamlin arrives as the betting leader. Bell and Blaney sit right behind him. Larson, Byron, Logano and Elliott also land inside the early market as the Cup Series settles into one of its late-summer dates. The broadcast lineup stays straightforward. Fans can watch on USA Network or follow along on Motor Racing Network as the race builds toward the start. For a track making only its third Cup appearance, the race carries the kind of attention that comes with a short list of previous reference points and a field loaded with familiar names near the top of the board.
Hamlin History
Hamlin’s past results at Iowa Speedway do not match his season-long form. He finished 24th in both of his previous Cup starts at the track. That history stands in sharp contrast to the numbers he brings into this race, where he owns four victories, a strong top-five total and the points lead over Reddick.
The playoff picture already includes four drivers who have clinched spots, Hamlin, Reddick, Blaney and Ty Gibbs. That leaves Bell still working to secure his place despite a season that has brought six second-place finishes. The odds reflect that split. Hamlin enters with a comfortable cushion and a locked-in berth. Bell remains among the top favorites, but his playoff status is still unresolved. Blaney also sits among the early favorites and is already in the field, while Reddick’s place in the postseason is secure as well. Iowa gives those drivers another chance to stack results before the postseason race begins to harden, and it gives Hamlin a chance to turn a track that has not been kind to him into another step in a season that has already delivered steady results.
