Iowa

Can you guess which Iowa motorsport race is one of the best in the country?

Published

2 years ago

May 11, 2024

Press Room

Can you guess which Iowa motorsport race is one of the best in the country?

Iowa has one of the best motorsport races in the country.

With 10 raceways around the state and Iowa hosting the NASCAR Cup Series in 2024, it is safe to say Iowans enjoy the thrill of motorsports. The NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Iowa sold out nearly four months before the race.

So out of all the races in Iowa, which one is the best in the state and one of the best in the country?

What Iowa motorsport race won is one of the best in the country?

Iowa’s NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals was ranked as the second-best race in the country by USA TODAY 10Best.

Also known as the “granddaddy of them all,” the Knoxville race beat out eight other races across the country including the Indianapolis 500 and the King of the Hammers. The only race ranked better than Knoxville’s is Sick Week in Orlando Florida.

A panel of industry experts submitted nominations for the annual rankings. 10Best editors narrowed down the list and reader votes determined the final rankings.

What is the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals race?

The race started in 1961, according to the Knoxville Nationals website. It’s a four-day format with a total purse reward of $1 million. Every lap around the track builds points for the racers and whoever has the most points wins the purse.

The track was originally used for horse racing and is located on the Marion County Fairgrounds. The first automobile race was held in 1901, according to the raceway’s website.

More: Hy-Vee-sponsored Christian Lundgaard stops at Grimes Hy-Vee ahead of 108th Indianapolis 500

When is the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals Race?

The 63rd NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals begins Aug. 7, 2024, and runs until Aug. 10.

The current champion of the race is Kyle Larson. Tickets are still available for all four days and they start at $47, according to the Knoxville Nationals’ website.

What were the top 10 motorsports races?

The top 10 motorsport races according to USA TODAY 10Best included:

Sick Week -Orlando, Florida
NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals – Knoxville, Iowa
King of the Hammers- Johnson Valley, California
SCCA National Championship Runoffs – Plymouth, Wisconsin
NHRA U.S. Nationals – Indianapolis, Indiana
Holley LS Fest West – Las Vegas, Nevada
Chili Bowl Nationals Powered by NOS Energy Drink – Tulsa, Oklahoma
Indianapolis 500 – Indianapolis, Indiana
Grant Park 165 – Chicago, Illinois
Daytona 500- Daytona Beach, Florida

Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.

Source link

Click to comment

Iowa

Staind, Hoobastank and BigXthaPlug to perform at Iowa State Fair

Published

8 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

Staind, Hoobastank and BigXthaPlug to perform at Iowa State Fair

Ready to rock out? Multi-platinum rock band Staind will take the Iowa State Fair Grandstand stage with special guest Hoobastank on Monday, Aug. 17.

That’s not all: breakout Texas rapper BigXthaPlug will deliver his hard-hitting southern hip-hop anthems to the Grandstand on Saturday, Aug. 22.

Here’s what to know about the performances:

Who is Staind?

Staind is a multi-platinum rock band that’s toured alongside names like Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit and Filter. Their 1999 album “Dysfunction” contained their hit song “Mudshovel,” their major-label debut, according to Musician Guide.

In 2000, Staind contributed tracks to two compilation albums: the “Scream 3” film soundtrack and a rock tribute to rap music entitled “Take A Bight Outta Rhyme: A Rock Tribute To Rap.”

Who is Hoobastank?

Hoobastank’s debut and sophomore albums have topped the Billboard charts. Their song “The Reason” hit a billion views on YouTube. Netflix also used “The Reason” in the hit series “Beef,” according to Grammy.com.

Originally a mixture of rock, metal, ska, and funk influences (with saxophones!), Hoobastank is now bristling hard rock. Their platinum-selling debut album in 2001 broke the Top 20 on Billboard charts, which included their popular anthem “Crawling in the Dark.” Their next album, “The Reason” – which pushed them into the mainstream – hit No.3 on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart, where it stayed for more than a year.

Who is BigXthaPlug?

Dallas rapper BigXthaPlug is mixing rap and country alongside big-name country artists like Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll, Darius Rucker and more. He’s gone from solitary confinement to Nashville’s biggest rapper, according to The New York Times.

“Hip-hop and country music both have the same base, which is storytelling,” he told The New York Times.

When is Staind performing at the Iowa State Fair? When is BigXthaPlug performing?

Staind will perform with special guest Hoobastank on Monday, Aug. 17 at 8 p.m.

BigXthaPlug will perform on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 8 p.m.

Where do I get tickets for the Iowa State Fair concerts?

Tickets for both acts go on sale Friday, April 3 at 10 a.m. and can be found online at the Iowa State Fair website.

Tickets to see Staind and Hoobastank range between $54.40 and $89.40. Tickets for BigXthaPlug range between $29.40 and $69.40.

What’s the current Iowa State Fair Grandstand lineup?

One act remains to be announced for Friday, Aug. 21. Tickets for the following shows are already on sale:

Thursday, Aug. 13: HARDY with special guest McCoy Moore
Friday, Aug. 14: Rod Stewart with special guest Richard Marx
Saturday, Aug. 15: The Red Clay Strays
Sunday, Aug. 16: Lainey Wilson with special guest Tigirlily Gold (sold out)
Monday, Aug. 17: Staind with special guest Hoobastank
Tuesday, Aug. 18: TLC and Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue
Wednesday, Aug. 19: AJR
Thursday, Aug. 20: Riley Green with special guest Mackenzie Carpenter
Friday, Aug. 21: Not yet announced
Saturday, Aug. 22: BigXthaPlug
Sunday, Aug. 23: Josiah Queen with special guest Ben Fuller

Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter at the Des Moines Register. Contact her at lcheng@gannett.com or 515-284-8132.

Source link

Iowa

Iowa Boys High School Tennis Team Rankings Released

Published

20 hours ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

Iowa Boys High School Tennis Team Rankings Released

The Iowa Boys Tennis Coaches have released team rankings for the start of the 2026 season in Iowa boys high school tennis.

Starting off the year in the No. 1 spots will be Waukee Northwest in Class 2A and Cedar Rapids Xavier in Class 1A.

Iowa City West, Johnston, Pleasant Valley and Linn-Mar round out the Top 5 in 2A while Dubuque Wahlert Catholic, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Decorah and Waverly-Shell Rock complete the 1A Top 5 behind Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Both Waukee Northwest and Cedar Rapids Xavier claimed the team state titles a year ago. The Wolves earned 5-0 wins over both Dowling Catholic and Iowa City West before besting Cedar Rapids Prairie in the finals, 5-1.

Cedar Rapids Xavier silenced Boone and Decorah, earning a 5-3 victory over Dubuque Wahlert Catholic in the championship match.

State Team Tennis Makes Change For 2026

New for 2026 Iowa boys tennis season will be substate team tennis, as the Top 32 teams from each classification advance to participate. Previously, all teams started play in team state just like individual state qualifiers.

Eight substates with up to four teams each will compete. There will be one host site for each substate for the semifinal round and the substate final.

Here are the Iowa boys high school tennis team rankings from the Iowa Boys Tennis Coaches.

Iowa Boys High School Tennis Team Rankings

Class 2A

Waukee Northwest
Iowa City West
Johnston
Pleasant Valley
Linn-Mar
Ames
Dowling Catholic
Cedar Rapids Prairie
Cedar Rapids Washington
West Des Moines Valley

Class 1A

Cedar Rapids Xavier
Dubuque Wahlert Catholic
Sergeant Bluff-Luton
Decorah
Waverly-Shell Rock
Pella
Central DeWitt
Boone
Ballard
Shenandoah

Source link

Iowa

Iowa basketball forward planning to return if granted extra season

Published

1 day ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

Iowa basketball forward planning to return if granted extra season

Iowa basketball just capped one of its most magical seasons in years with its first trip to the Elite Eight since 1987.

While the Hawkeyes’ Cinderella run through March Madness closed with a 71-59 loss against No. 3 seed Illinois, Iowa reached the doorstep of the Final Four and that should pay dividends for years to come. Head coach Ben McCollum and Iowa will work to retool for another NCAA Tournament run as soon as next season.

Cooper Koch and Tate Sage each authored enthusiasm for the future with their performance as underclassmen over the course of the season and during March Madness in particular. Iowa will return forwards Alvaro Folgueiras and Cam Manyawu and guard Kael Combs from the core that led the Hawkeyes to 24 wins and an Elite Eight berth.

Iowa head coach Ben McCollum had mentioned earlier in the year that it wasn’t ruling out the possibility of forward Tavion Banks returning for the 2026-27 season either. Banks would need a waiver for additional eligibility, stemming from his career beginning in the JUCO ranks at Northwest Florida State for two seasons.

“If I get another year, I will be here next year on their side to help them out,” Banks said.

The hope is that Banks could get a Diego Pavia ruling, which earned Pavia another season of football eligibility at Vanderbilt. Pavia sued the NCAA in November of 2024, arguing that his JUCO seasons shouldn’t count toward his overall years of NCAA eligibility. A federal judge in Tennessee granted Pavia an injunction in December of 2024, opening the door for other former JUCO athletes to potentially receive waivers for more NCAA eligibility.

But, Banks is aware of the uncertainty surrounding whether or not he will indeed receive another season of eligibility.

“I don’t know the future. God will plan it all out for me. I wish them the best of luck and I’ll be cheering for them and I’m sure I’ll be a part of Hawkeye nation,” Banks said.

It would be a major boon for McCollum and for the Hawkeyes if Banks is inded able to return for the 2026-27 men’s college basketball season. Banks has played with McCollum each of the past two seasons at Drake and at Iowa, and the 6-foot-7 forward was Iowa’s second-leading scorer this past season, averaging 10.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on 52% field goal shooting.

Banks keyed Iowa’s second-round upset of top-seeded Florida, scoring a team-high 20 points in the win over the Gators.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnHawks

Source link