NASCAR announced penalties that will drop three of its headline drivers to the rear of the grid for the upcoming Iowa Corn 350, citing unapproved car modifications discovered during practice and qualifying.
Chase Elliott spun his car in Saturday practice, and the subsequent repairs were classified as unauthorized, relegating him to a 32nd‑place start. Brad Keselowski’s vehicle snapped loose during qualifying, forcing overnight repairs that NASCAR deemed beyond the allowed limits, also sending him to the back. Denny Hamlin, the current points leader, encountered brake issues and exceeded the permitted overnight repair quota, dropping him to 29th.
A Tight Battle Looms at Iowa
The race will be run over 350 laps on Iowa Speedway, a 0.875‑mile short track known for close side‑by‑side racing and frequent cautions. With the penalties in place, the focus shifts to the remaining contenders who will battle for position from the front.
Ryan Blaney secured pole position with a lap of 134.191 mph, edging out Kyle Larson and Joey Logano, who will start alongside him. The event will be televised on USA Network at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET and forms part of the final stretch of the Cup Series regular season before the playoffs begin.