This weekend will undoubtedly be a challenge for Juncos Hollinger Racing. Rounds 11 and 12 of the season make up the only double-header of 2023, with the Hy-Vee Homefront 250 held on Saturday and the Hy-Vee One Step 250 run a day later. Callum Ilott and Agustín Canapino will face 223 miles of wheel-to-wheel racing in each of the Iowa races, providing a stern physical test for both men.

The Iowa Speedway is the penultimate oval course that INDYCAR will race on this year, and with average speeds hitting 140 mph per lap, the course is affectionately known as ‘The World’s Fastest Short Track’. The banked 0.875-mile oval requires skill and nerve to succeed, and lap times can be completed in under 18 seconds.

With Ilott having raced here just last season (2 races) and Canapino a rookie, they have the daunting task of figuring this place out with just one 90-minute practice session on Friday.

However, in saying that, Canapino is as confident as one could be heading there. He took part in the test last month so despite a rookie status, he’s turned laps here and knows what to expect.

“I’m really excited to race at Iowa this weekend, as it will be a good challenge,” said the Argentinian rookie. “I have tested at the track before, and that was a great experience. Last year, Callum and the team did a really good job across the two races there. I think we have a great opportunity to perform well again this weekend. The ovals this year have been good for us, so hopefully I will be able to take home some points.”

He’s not wrong. Remarkably, Canapino has been stout on ovals. He qualified 19th but finished an impressive 12th at Texas and in Indy finished 26th.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that his best performances have been on tracks he’s been too or have had a lot of laps on.

He tested at Texas this spring. Indy is a place you log a lot of laps. Toronto last weekend was his fourth street course of the season.

Now, he’s heading to a place where Ilott was 11th and 12th at last season and with Canapino bringing some momentum.

“Agustín earned a really good result, and the strategy for the #78 car was well executed,” Ricardo Juncos said last week in Toronto.” I’m really happy for him, as this matches his best result of the season so far.

“Now, we are gaining traction for the remainder of the season. This weekend we showed our potential, so we will keep moving onwards as a team. I’m looking forward to a double-header of racing next weekend at Iowa Speedway.”

The strong pace last weekend was also a massive boost for this team in the points. Canapino sits in a tie for 21st in the drivers standings but in a tie for 20th in the more important leaders circle.

See, the top 22 cars in entrant points get the massive payout for the bonus program. Fail to make the top 22, it could do further harm to the organization.

Being in the top 22 at seasons end helps supplement for the smaller budgets of these smaller teams and for JHR, they now have both cars on the plus side.

That’s massive, especially in a sense that Canapino’s No. 78 entry isn’t operating with that structure this season since it’s a start up program.

He’s two points clear of Devlin DeFrancesco’s No. 29 Andretti Autosport Honda who holds the 22nd and final spot. The No. 60 Honda for MSR is 8 points back in 23rd. Jack Harvey’s No. 30 Honda for RLL is 24th (-10) while Sting Ray Robb (No. 55 DCR Honda) and Benjamin Pedersen (No. 55 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet) are 29 and 31 points back respectively.

Canapino is only four points behind the 20 car at ECR.

Callum Ilott is 43 points up in 17th which if this can continue, this would be huge for the organization for their 2024 plans.