Yield potential is defined as the yield of a crop cultivar when grown in environments to which it is adapted, with nutrients and water non-limiting, and pests and diseases effectively controlled. Yield potential is important to know as it allows one to evaluate exploitable yield gaps and devise management option to optimize resources. The Hybrid-Maize growth model provides a mechanistic simulation of maize growth on a daily basis from emergence to physiological maturity. The model allows for simulation of maize yield potential for water limiting or non-limiting conditions assuming optimal nutrient supply and no yield losses from other factors (i.e. pests, disease or nutrient limitations). The objective of this study was to examine the yield potential of maize as influenced by solar radiation and temperature using actual long-term weather data from 110 sites across the North Central region of the U.S.A. where maize is grown. Since the expression of hybrid-specific yield potential may be limited by management practices that influence length of growing season or leaf area development, a matrix of management parameters (planting date, population, and hybrid maturity rating) was tested for each of these locations to generate the mean and standard error of maize yield potential. Maize yield potential was also most affected by the length (d) of reproductive growth period and yield potential was most efficiently exploited with judicious selection of optimum planting date and hybrid maturity. A comparison of stimulated yield with a five-year average farm yield from the selected sited suggests that only 50 percent of maize yield potential is currently being exploited.