The NASCAR Cup Series will mark its inaugural run at the Iowa Speedway. To stage a successful racing event, the mile-and-half racetrack underwent big changes. For the first time since opening its doors to race fans in 2006, the track underwent a major repave job, one that has got the NASCAR community buzzing.

The images of the repaved race track were concerning. Even Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell, who were part of the Goodyear tire test at Iowa, spoke in length about how the repave could lead to problems for the Cup race. But Ryan Blaney’s hilarious dig at the repave job was the highlight of all the responses. And it seems like he’s still not over it.

Why is the repave at Iowa Speedway a big concern?

Repaves are notoriously unpopular among drivers and fans alike. The smooth racing surface leads to single-groove racing and less tire wear. These two factors combined to lead to boring racing, one that does not allow drivers to make a pass. The strange thing about the repave at Iowa was that only the corners and inside lane of the track were worked upon. Raising more questions about the track conditions.

The Iowa Speedway is sort of the second home for Ryan Blaney, who has fond memories of winning at the track back in 2015 in the Xfinity Series race. However, he just couldn’t hold his sentiment (intrigued/happy) when he was asked about his view of the newly paved racing surface ahead of Sunday’s Cup Series race at Gateway Motorpark.

“I like a Cup race is going there; that’s a great venue. My mother’s from just outside Des Moines, so I have a lot of family up there too. So, special track for me, I got my first truck win there over 10 years ago. The repave job is interesting; I’d like to know the mindset behind that, but I’m still going to enjoy going there,” Blaney said in an interview with FrontStrech.

However, amid all the concerns and backlash the newly paved Iowa Speedway is receiving, veteran driver Brad Kesleowski’s feedback was pretty optimistic. One that could potentially save the Next Gen from damages and drivers from injuries.

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The new NASCAR repave so far has helped weed out the bumps off the racetrack

An old, worn-out surface does allow for a more thrilling race when compared to a brand-new racing surface. But there are times when repairs are indeed necessary, especially to ease out the racing experience for the drivers and the safety of the race cars. The Next-Gen race car features an aerodynamic body, and the underwing of the body is just a few inches off the race track. So with the old worn-out surface at Iowa that had not seen modifications in the last eighteen years, repaving became essential to ensure a safe racing experience.

Keselowski was among the drivers featured in the Goodyear tire testing at Iowa Speedway, sharing his experience and stating, “A lot changed with the track surface. It used to have this really wicked tunnel bump down in the turns, and now that’s kind of taken car of which is nice. Because the Next-Gen car doesn’t really play well with bumps, kind of like an IndyCar. But I think it’ll make the car more race-able.”

The mile-and-a-half NASCAR Cup race has turned out to be a huge success this season. While there are concerns regarding the racing conditions in Iowa, hopefully, the new repave isn’t a deal breaker.