From the broadcast to the racing, to the fans, NASCAR in Iowa delivered anything we could’ve hoped for on Sunday. The “Fastest Short Track on the Planet” certainly lived up to its name in their Cup Series debut this past weekend. We saw plenty of passing after fearing that wouldn’t happen. The partial repave was not the disaster we all feared it could be, and we saw plenty of cautions and green flag runs that set up a quality race. This was possibly the best short-track race in the next-gen era. Drivers and fans alike are all clamoring for this track to get a date in 2025.
All that being said, we need to discuss the drivers who showed up and delivered and those who were disappointed and didn’t make the most of this opportunity. Let’s dive right into this week’s edition of NASCAR “Three Up, Three Down” after the Iowa Corn 350!
Three Up
#4 Josh Berry
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was nice to see a Stewart-Haas vehicle get back to running at the front. The Josh Berry-Rodney Childers connection struck gold this weekend as the short track specialists finished P7 in Iowa. They led 32 laps and collected P5 and P2 in the first two stages. This is maybe the most interesting driver-crew chief team that will be available come 2025 when SHR shuts its doors. They’ve talked about continuing to work together and how they desire that. If they keep performing like this at short tracks, I think a lot of teams will be intrigued by the possibility of keeping the rookie driver and his crew chief together for their organization. He could be a sneaky factor at Loudon. Childers got incredible speed out of Harvick here over the years. I’m sure he could also do it with Berry.
#12 Ryan Blaney
Embed from Getty ImagesExhale Ryan Blaney fans, the events of Gateway did not prove to be detrimental. The #12 car was one of the two best cars out in the cornfield on Sunday. The only driver that could’ve kept up with him I truly believe was the #5 of Kyle Larson, who ended up in a wreck and finished many laps down. But I truly don’t mean to dismiss the efforts of this #12 team. They led 201 laps, winning the first stage, and P4 in the second.
The 2023 Cup Series champion is locked into the playoffs with this win and will head to New Hampshire just looking to gain ground and playoff points instead of worrying about new winners pushing him further out of the picture. Team Penske is alive and well ladies and gentlemen. With the #2 and the #12, they’re one car away from having all three in the post-season.
#48 Alex Bowman
Embed from Getty ImagesThis was an incredible race from Alex Bowman. After seeing him having to start P33, I thought that this was a great car relegated to a tough outing. They had speed in practice as the third-best car, but a bad qualifying would send them to the back. But it was evident that this car had real speed. By the end of the first stage, they were hanging around P16. Then Bowman drove the car into P11 to end the second stage.
They got as far as just outside the top five before strategy kicked in and an unfortunate caution buried them a lap down for a second. But the #48 car rallied, and they got their tenth top-10 of the season. Tying #20 Christopher Bell and teammate #24 William Byron for the most on the season. This car had race-winning speed. They have the potential week-in week-out. They just need some breaks to fall their way and they’ll be in victory lane.
Three Down
#11 Denny Hamlin
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was strange not seeing the #11 car dominate and be one of the three best cars as he’s been all season. Joe Gibbs Racing as an operation didn’t have the best of days. Sure, Christopher Bell notched P4 after battling back, but this race was a Penske vs Hendrick showdown, instead of the JGR v Hendrick war we’ve been used to. Hamlin collected just P6 in the second stage, finishing the race P24. I expect New Hampshire to be a complete 180 for this operation, as they’ve collected wins in the last two NASCAR Cup Series races at Loudon. It was Truex last year, and Bell the year before that. Could it be Denny’s turn?
#17 Chris Buescher
Embed from Getty ImagesUnfortunately, a good day for teammate and team owner Brad Keselowski didn’t translate to a good day for the #17 of Chris Buescher. It’s been a tough year for this car. He’s been snake bitten with issues that weren’t his fault, and also just victim to rough days. It happens to the best of NASCAR drivers. He leaves Iowa P18 with a P7 finish in stage two. He’s currently 15th in the points standings +27 above the cutline. But with every new winner, and every mediocre race, that gap tightens. He’ll need to put together some good days soon to stay ahead of the pack.
#45 Tyler Reddick
Embed from Getty ImagesTyler Reddick in the Hamburgaler paint scheme was in no position to swipe a win this weekend. Usually one of the top NASCAR drivers on short tracks, the #45 car did not have the same juice as usual. They finished the day P22 and collected no stage points. It was a rough outing for the Toyotas in Iowa’s Cup Series debut. Reddick is still in a great position in the playoff standings, winning at Talladega and currently fifth in playoff points. He’ll be a real factor in New Hampshire, where he finished P6 last year, as well as the Chicago Street Race. But this was an unusually mediocre performance from the otherwise fast #45 car of 23XI.
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