The 2013 U.S. Cellular 250 presented by the Enlist Weed Control System was the 20th stock car race of the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series and the second iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, August 3, 2013, in Newton, Iowa at Iowa Speedway, a 7⁄8 mile (1.4 km) permanent D-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 250 laps to complete. At race's end, Brad Keselowski, driving for Penske Racing, would pull away on the final restart with 35 to go to win his 23rd NASCAR Nationwide Series win and his third win of the season. To fill out the podium, Sam Hornish Jr. of Penske Racing and Brian Vickers of Joe Gibbs Racing would finish second and third, respectively.

Background

Iowa Speedway is a 7/8-mile (1.4 km) paved oval motor racing track in Newton, Iowa, United States, approximately 30 miles (48 km) east of Des Moines. The track was designed with influence from Rusty Wallace and patterned after Richmond Raceway, a short track where Wallace was very successful. It has over 25,000 permanent seats as well as a unique multi-tiered Recreational Vehicle viewing area along the backstretch.

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
#DriverTeamMakeSponsor
00Blake KochSR² MotorsportsToyotaSR² Motorsports
01Mike WallaceJD MotorsportsChevroletG&K Services
2Brian ScottRichard Childress RacingChevroletShore Lodge
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevroletAdvoCare
4Daryl HarrJD MotorsportsChevroletiWorld
5Brad SweetJR MotorsportsChevroletGreat Clips
6Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFordFastenal
7Regan SmithJR MotorsportsChevroletTaxSlayer
10Jeff GreenTriStar MotorsportsToyotaTriStar Motorsports
11Elliott SadlerJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaSport Clips Haircuts
12Sam Hornish Jr.Penske RacingFordPenske Rental
14Eric McClureTriStar MotorsportsToyotaReynolds Wrap, Hefty
15Carl LongRick Ware RacingFordClawdog.com
19Mike BlissTriStar MotorsportsToyotaTweaker Energy Shot
20Brian VickersJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaDollar General
22Brad Keselowski (i)Penske RacingFordDiscount Tire
23Richard HarrimanRick Ware RacingFordRick Ware Racing
24Brett ButlerSR² MotorsportsToyotaTaylor Brooks Salon
29Kenny WallaceRAB RacingToyotaU.S. Cellular
30Nelson Piquet Jr. (R)Turner Scott MotorsportsChevroletWorx Yard Tools
31Justin AllgaierTurner Scott MotorsportsChevroletBrandt Professional Agriculture
32Kyle Larson (R)Turner Scott MotorsportsChevroletEveready
33Ryan GiffordRichard Childress RacingChevroletMenards, Rheem
40Reed SorensonThe Motorsports GroupChevroletSwisher E-Cigarette
42T. J. BellThe Motorsports GroupChevroletThe Motorsports Group
43Michael AnnettRichard Petty MotorsportsFordNorthland Oil
44Cole WhittTriStar MotorsportsToyotaTriStar Motorsports
46Jason BowlesThe Motorsports GroupChevroletThe Motorsports Group
50Danny EflandMAKE MotorsportsChevroletA-1 Bail Bonds
51Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet
52Joey GaseJimmy Means RacingToyotaIowa Donor Network
54Drew HerringJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaMonster Energy
60Travis PastranaRoush Fenway RacingFordX Games Los Angeles
70Johanna LongML MotorsportsChevroletForetravel Motorcoach
74Kevin LepageMike Harmon RacingChevroletCountry Roads Ride Grouping, I-Car Gold Class
77Parker KligermanKyle Busch MotorsportsToyotaToyota
79Kyle FowlerGo Green RacingFordSarges' Tailgate Grille
87Travis SauterNEMCO MotorsportsToyotaLester Buildings
89Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesChevroletRacing with Jesus
99Alex Bowman (R)RAB RacingToyotaToyotaCare

Practice

First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, August 2, at 3:30 PM CST, and would last for an hour and 20 minutes. Austin Dillon of Richard Childress Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.374 and an average speed of 134.765 miles per hour (216.883 km/h).

Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
13Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet23.374134.765
229Kenny WallaceRAB RacingToyota23.539133.820
332Kyle Larson (R)Turner Scott MotorsportsChevrolet23.562133.690

Second and final practice

The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Friday, August 2, at 6:00 PM CST, and would last for an hour and 20 minutes. Austin Dillon of Richard Childress Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 23.181 and an average speed of 135.887 miles per hour (218.689 km/h).

Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
13Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet23.289135.257
232Kyle Larson (R)Turner Scott MotorsportsChevrolet23.329135.025
377Parker KligermanKyle Busch MotorsportsToyota23.338134.973

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Saturday, August 3, at 4:05 PM CST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap.

Drew Herring of Joe Gibbs Racing would win the pole, setting a time of 23.270 and an average speed of 135.367 miles per hour (217.852 km/h).

No drivers would fail to qualify.

Full qualifying results

Pos.#DriverTeamMakeTimeSpeed
154Drew HerringJoe Gibbs RacingToyota23.270135.367
27Regan SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet23.349134.909
399Alex Bowman (R)RAB RacingToyota23.364134.823
42Brian ScottRichard Childress RacingChevrolet23.391134.667
522Brad Keselowski (i)Penske RacingFord23.393134.656
620Brian VickersJoe Gibbs RacingToyota23.418134.512
76Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord23.445134.357
83Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet23.470134.214
931Justin AllgaierTurner Scott MotorsportsChevrolet23.501134.037
1011Elliott SadlerJoe Gibbs RacingToyota23.525133.900
1132Kyle Larson (R)Turner Scott MotorsportsChevrolet23.528133.883
1229Kenny WallaceRAB RacingToyota23.535133.843
1330Nelson Piquet Jr. (R)Turner Scott MotorsportsChevrolet23.558133.713
1412Sam Hornish Jr.Penske RacingFord23.579133.593
1560Travis PastranaRoush Fenway RacingFord23.585133.559
1644Cole WhittTriStar MotorsportsToyota23.602133.463
1743Michael AnnettRichard Petty MotorsportsFord23.667133.097
1840Reed SorensonThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet23.712132.844
195Brad SweetJR MotorsportsChevrolet23.727132.760
2077Parker KligermanKyle Busch MotorsportsToyota23.758132.587
2170Johanna LongML MotorsportsChevrolet23.797132.370
2251Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet23.827132.203
2333Ryan GiffordRichard Childress RacingChevrolet23.835132.159
2419Mike BlissTriStar MotorsportsToyota23.867131.981
2524Brett ButlerSR² MotorsportsToyota23.936131.601
2614Eric McClureTriStar MotorsportsToyota24.100130.705
2752Joey GaseJimmy Means RacingChevrolet24.216130.079
2801Mike WallaceJD MotorsportsChevrolet24.252129.886
2910Jeff GreenTriStar MotorsportsToyota24.308129.587
3079Kyle FowlerGo Green RacingFord24.313129.560
3100Blake KochSR² MotorsportsToyota24.494128.603
324Daryl HarrJD MotorsportsChevrolet24.527128.430
3346Jason BowlesThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet24.622127.934
3474Kevin LepageMike Harmon RacingChevrolet24.694127.561
3542T. J. BellThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet24.798127.026
3687Travis SauterNEMCO MotorsportsToyota24.833126.847
3789Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesChevrolet24.929126.359
3850Danny EflandMAKE MotorsportsChevrolet24.943126.288
3923Richard HarrimanRick Ware RacingFord25.206124.970
4015Carl LongRick Ware RacingFord25.422123.908

Race results

FinSt#DriverTeamMakeLapsLedStatusPtsWinnings
1522Brad Keselowski (i)Penske RacingFord25035running0$73,740
21412Sam Hornish Jr.Penske RacingFord2500running42$61,000
3620Brian VickersJoe Gibbs RacingToyota2508running42$52,000
483Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet250116running42$44,850
51132Kyle Larson (R)Turner Scott MotorsportsChevrolet2500running39$35,725
6154Drew HerringJoe Gibbs RacingToyota25026running39$32,775
7399Alex Bowman (R)RAB RacingToyota2500running37$27,835
81011Elliott SadlerJoe Gibbs RacingToyota2500running36$27,795
92333Ryan GiffordRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2500running35$25,675
1076Trevor BayneRoush Fenway RacingFord2506running35$25,975
1127Regan SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet25059running34$24,200
121743Michael AnnettRichard Petty MotorsportsFord2500running32$23,650
1342Brian ScottRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2500running31$25,125
141330Nelson Piquet Jr. (R)Turner Scott MotorsportsChevrolet2500running30$22,600
15195Brad SweetJR MotorsportsChevrolet2500running29$23,050
162077Parker KligermanKyle Busch MotorsportsToyota2500running28$22,125
17931Justin AllgaierTurner Scott MotorsportsChevrolet2500running27$21,700
182419Mike BlissTriStar MotorsportsToyota2480running26$21,450
192170Johanna LongML MotorsportsChevrolet2470running25$21,225
201644Cole WhittTriStar MotorsportsToyota2470running24$21,675
212251Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet2470running23$20,875
221229Kenny WallaceRAB RacingToyota2460running22$14,750
232614Eric McClureTriStar MotorsportsToyota2460running21$20,600
242801Mike WallaceJD MotorsportsChevrolet2460running20$20,475
25324Daryl HarrJD MotorsportsChevrolet2460running19$20,825
262752Joey GaseJimmy Means RacingChevrolet2440running18$14,225
271560Travis PastranaRoush Fenway RacingFord2430running17$20,100
283079Kyle FowlerGo Green RacingFord2420running16$19,950
293923Richard HarrimanRick Ware RacingFord2400running15$19,825
303687Travis SauterNEMCO MotorsportsToyota2380running14$20,000
311840Reed SorensonThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet2280running13$19,550
323474Kevin LepageMike Harmon RacingChevrolet1350vibration12$19,455
332524Brett ButlerSR² MotorsportsToyota740brakes11$19,335
343850Danny EflandMAKE MotorsportsChevrolet260brakes10$13,215
353789Morgan ShepherdShepherd Racing VenturesChevrolet230brakes9$13,097
364015Carl LongRick Ware RacingFord130handling8$12,125
373542T. J. BellThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet60vibration7$12,015
383100Blake KochSR² MotorsportsToyota50brakes6$11,936
393346Jason BowlesThe Motorsports GroupChevrolet40vibration5$11,745
402910Jeff GreenTriStar MotorsportsToyota30vibration4$11,630

Standings after the race

PosDriverPoints
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Austin Dillon 698 2 Regan Smith 684 (-14) 3 Sam Hornish Jr. 684 (-14) 4 Elliott Sadler 679 (–19) 5 Brian Vickers 670 (–28) 6 Kyle Larson 651 (–47) 7 Justin Allgaier 648 (–50) 8 Brian Scott 641 (–57) 9 Trevor Bayne 627 (–71) 10 Parker Kligerman 617 (–81) 11 Alex Bowman 553 (–145) 12 Nelson Piquet Jr. 537 (–161) Note: Only the first 12 positions are included for the driver standings.
1Austin Dillon698
2Regan Smith684 (-14)
3Sam Hornish Jr.684 (-14)
4Elliott Sadler679 (–19)
5Brian Vickers670 (–28)
6Kyle Larson651 (–47)
7Justin Allgaier648 (–50)
8Brian Scott641 (–57)
9Trevor Bayne627 (–71)
10Parker Kligerman617 (–81)
11Alex Bowman553 (–145)
12Nelson Piquet Jr.537 (–161)
Previous race: 2013 Indiana 250NASCAR Nationwide Series 2013 seasonNext race: 2013 Zippo 200 at The Glen