Race Recap: Tyler Tomassi's O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Debut at Iowa
Tyler Tomassi reached another important milestone in his NASCAR career during the 2025 Hy-Vee PERKS 250 at Iowa Speedway. The West Greenwich, Rhode Island driver made his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start in the No. 35 Ford for Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen in collaboration with MBM Motorsports, marking his entry into the division now known as the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Tomassi completed 240 of the scheduled 250 laps and finished 34th in a 38-car field. The result established his first official start in NASCAR’s second national touring division and added another stage to his progression through professional stock-car racing.
A New National-Series Opportunity
The Iowa race represented a significant step for Tomassi after he built experience in late models, the ARCA Menards Series, and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Born and raised in Rhode Island, Tomassi began competing in regional late-model competition before moving into larger events across New England. His early racing resume included starts in the ACT Late Model Tour, PASS North Super Late Model Series, and Granite State Pro Stock Series.
In 2024, he expanded his schedule with select CARS Tour events and made his first appearances in NASCAR national-series competition. Those opportunities provided experience at larger facilities and introduced Tomassi to the preparation, travel, and race-day demands required at the national level.
Iowa became the next step in that progression.
The 2025 Iowa Race
The Hy-Vee PERKS 250 was scheduled for 250 laps at Iowa Speedway. The event featured a full 38-car field and served as Race 22 of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.
The Iowa track presented a different challenge from many of the larger venues on the schedule. Its short oval layout placed a premium on corner entry, throttle control, traffic management, and maintaining balance through long green-flag runs.
For a first-time Xfinity Series driver, the race also provided an opportunity to learn how quickly the field changes over a full national-series distance. Drivers had to manage restarts, tire wear, pit-road strategy, and changing track conditions while maintaining a consistent pace.
Tomassi entered the weekend with the objective of completing the race and gaining valuable experience. His Iowa debut came in the No. 35 Ford for Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen in collaboration with MBM Motorsports, giving the weekend a clearly defined team and car identity alongside the milestone itself.
His start at Iowa followed earlier attempts to make his national-series debut, making the eventual green-flag start an important achievement in its own right.
Starting From The Rear
Tomassi was listed 37th in the qualifying results. He was among the drivers who did not make a qualifying attempt, and the full field meant that every entered car advanced to the race.
Starting near the rear placed Tomassi in traffic from the opening laps. Iowa’s compact layout gave the field limited room to separate, while the track’s short lap length created frequent changes in position throughout the race.
The early portion of the event required patience. A driver making a series debut must learn how the car responds in traffic while also adapting to the pace of experienced competitors. Tomassi’s focus remained on completing laps, protecting the equipment, and building familiarity with the Iowa racing surface.
The starting position also made the race a practical learning experience. Rather than beginning with clear track in front of him, Tomassi had to evaluate lines, manage faster traffic, and respond to the changing condition of the track from the back half of the field.
240 Completed Laps
Tomassi finished 34th after completing 240 laps. He ended the race 10 laps behind the winner but was credited with a completed race distance rather than an early retirement.
That distinction was important for a debut. Completing nearly the entire scheduled distance gave Tomassi additional time behind the wheel and allowed him to gather information from a full race environment.
The race included the normal demands of a national-series event, including restarts, pit stops, changing handling conditions, and the pressure of racing around a large field. Each completed lap added to Tomassi’s understanding of how an Xfinity-style stock car performs during an extended competition run.
A 34th-place finish did not tell the entire story of the weekend. The Iowa start delivered a series debut, 240 completed laps, and direct experience at a higher level of NASCAR competition.
A Measured Debut
Tomassi’s performance at Iowa followed a practical approach. With limited national-series experience, the priority was to maintain control, gain seat time, and finish the event.
The driver’s progression has been built through similar stages. Regional late models established his foundation. ARCA starts introduced him to national competition. Truck Series races added experience with larger fields and longer race distances. Iowa then expanded his resume into the Xfinity Series.
Each division presented new technical and competitive demands. The Iowa weekend required Tomassi to adapt quickly while working with limited experience in the series and starting from the rear of the field.
The result gave him a complete race-day reference point. He experienced the pace of practice and qualifying, prepared for a 250-lap event, competed through the field, and crossed the finish line after 240 completed laps.
The Importance Of The Milestone
A first national-series start creates a permanent entry on a driver’s career record. For Tomassi, Iowa became the location of his first Xfinity Series race and his first completed event in NASCAR’s second-highest national division, achieved in the No. 35 Ford for Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen in collaboration with MBM Motorsports.
The start also broadened his experience across different types of NASCAR competition. Truck Series racing had already introduced him to the physical demands and close racing of national touring events. The Iowa Xfinity race added another level of competition and provided more experience with the cars, procedures, and race management used in the division.
The weekend also carried regional significance. Tomassi represented Rhode Island on a national stage, continuing a career path that has taken him from New England short tracks to major NASCAR facilities across the country.
His career record now includes competition in the ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. Iowa was the race that connected those stages.
Building Toward The Next Start
The Iowa debut was one part of a larger 2025 season for Tomassi. His schedule continued to develop across NASCAR competition, with additional opportunities allowing him to expand his experience at different tracks and in different race formats.
The value of a debut extends beyond the finishing position. Data from the weekend, experience with national-series procedures, and understanding of the race pace can all support future preparation.
Tomassi’s progress has remained centered on gaining opportunities and converting them into experience. At Iowa, he completed a full national-series race distance, managed a start near the rear, and finished the event with another milestone established.
For supporters, the race remains an important point in the driver’s development. It was the first time Tyler Tomassi competed in an Xfinity Series event, and it helped establish the national-series foundation that continues to shape his racing journey.
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