The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series weekend at Iowa Speedway got off to a rocky start for RFK Racing and Front Row Motorsports. Both teams saw their No. 60 and No. 34 entries fail pre‑race technical inspections, triggering ejections of crew chiefs Jerry Cook and Joe Marra and a loss of pit‑stall selection for the remainder of the event.
A Turnaround at Iowa
After a tense wait, the cars were re‑examined and finally cleared on the third attempt, sparing the teams from harsher sanctions such as drive‑through penalties that could have marred the race start.
Qualifying results placed Ryan Preece 35th on the grid while his teammate Todd Gilliland secured 17th, reflecting a modest improvement but still leaving the duo far from the front of the field.
Despite the setbacks, the pair walked away with a $1 million payout from the In‑Season Challenge, a reward that underscores the series’ growing prize pool and offers a financial boost as the season progresses.
Preece, who finished fifth at Iowa the previous year, is now targeting a top‑five finish in the 2026 championship, a goal that would cement his status as a consistent contender.
The pressure remains on both organizations to tighten their technical programs and avoid future inspection woes, especially as the competitive landscape tightens heading into the next race at Indianapolis.