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Playoffs Race Heating Up in Iowa
August 02, 2025 | Edition #210
👋 Dear Motorheads,
It's been a while since NASCAR raced on a short track, and this weekend's return to Iowa Speedway feels refreshing. And the good news is that things are only going to get better as we head towards the playoffs. From the regular season title battle to last-ditch attempts to make it into the top 16.
Off the track, NASCAR just can't seem to turn a corner over a major roadblock, not to mention their latest penalty ruling that has caused a big stir. Meanwhile, the sanctioning body has been silently executing its plan with the drivers despite the contract conflicts.
🎯 Sunday’s Cup Race Odds
Who’s the Favorite for NASCAR’s Iowa Showdown?
Iowa Speedway might be a short track, but it packs a punch after a challenging debut last year. With just four races remaining before the playoffs begin, drivers are making a final push for the regular season title. And while the track is technically still a new stop on the calendar, we already have some drivers who are standing out from the pack as clear favorites.
Let’s start with Ryan Blaney (+450). The Team Penske driver won last year’s race at the short track and led a staggering 201 laps on a surface that was partially repaved. Iowa is sort of home turf for the Penske driver, “This place means a lot to me and means a lot to my mom,” he said after the win last year.
Sharing the top spot is Kyle Larson (+450). He was lightning-fast at the track last year, securing the pole, winning the stage, and even leading 80 laps. But a three-wide sandwich position resulted in him crashing into the outside wall, and without the DVP, the team had to settle for a 34th-place finish.
The incident happened on Lap 219 when Larson tried to thread the needle, but a contact by the No. 99 Chevy sent him into the wall. He has the opportunity to stage a comeback, and it won’t be a surprise to see the No. 5 Chevy running up front.
Then there’s Christopher Bell (+475), who has proven time and again to be a short-track threat. The No. 20 driver has eight top-10s in his last ten short track starts, and battled from the back to finish fourth at Iowa Speedway last year, that too in a backup car.
He also has two Xfinity Series wins at the track, making him one of the favorites going into Sunday’s race, even though recent results haven’t gone Bell’s way. A win before the playoffs could push this team in the right direction.
Last but not least is Denny Hamlin (+750). The veteran is somewhat of a wildcard at Iowa Speedway, after finishing 24th at the short track last year, and got engulfed in the crash with Larson. But don’t count him out just yet.
He leads the Cup Series in wins (4), playoff points (24), and top-fives (11). Hamlin is a short-track ace, with eight top 5s in his last 10 short-track races, so keep an eye out for him.
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🥊 In Today’s Debate
A Penalty Too Far?
Stewart Friesen was determined to make last Friday’s race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park memorable. After all, it was his 200th Truck Series start, and on his 42nd birthday. Thanks to a bold strategy call, the No. 52 Toyota Tundra driver was leading laps in the final stage and went on to finish third when the checkered flag was waved.
But his celebrations were short-lived. Friesen’s No. 52 truck failed post-race tech inspection, as the front ride height was too low. And as per NASCAR’s rulebook, the driver was disqualified. The team argued their case with an appeal, but nothing changed.
The Appeals panel concluded that the No. 52 team violated Rule 14.17.3.2.1.2.A. They even acknowledged a “part failure.” But since they couldn’t determine intent, the sanctioning body didn’t give Stewart Friesen any slack.
But while this drama was unfolding, Friesen was being moved to a New York hospital after suffering serious injuries in a dirt modified crash in Quebec. He fractured his pelvis in multiple places and broke a leg, and underwent several surgeries. According to his wife, Jessica Friesen, the racer is in a “tremendous amount of pain.”
So it begs the question, was a disqualification really necessary under the circumstances? Fans didn’t think so. Fans on social media didn’t hold back. “Man’s laid up in the hospital and they couldn’t even overturn the DQ to make him smile a lil bit,” one of them wrote. Another fan said, “Kick him while he’s down, I guess.” One X user even went as far as to say, “The entire panel can go to hell.”
Sure, rules are rules, and NASCAR needs to maintain consistency. But in a situation where a mechanical failure might’ve caused a minor ride issue, and the driver was already going through a difficult time, was there any room for leeway?
🏁 Lucky Dog’s Quick Poll! 🏁
Did NASCAR Cross a Line in Upholding the Penalty on Stewart Friesen? |
📈 Trending News
Mark Martin Isn’t Backing Down
Mark Martin has never been afraid of speaking his mind. The NASCAR Hall of Famer has been pretty outspoken about pushing to bring back the full-season points championship on social media, claiming that it’s what the majority of fans want. The overwhelming response to this poll indicates that fans are rallying behind him.
“Until somebody proves me wrong or until I get an answer for the fans for why their voice doesn’t matter in this decision, I’m gonna keep it up,” Martin said, while he was discussing the hot topic with Kevin Harvick. For him, the current format doesn’t reward consistency, and he is doing his part in bringing about positive changes.
Harvick echoed that sentiment and went on to say, “I agree with you. You know, I think that the whole season matters and I think that there's obviously a balance that can be there, but I think that the whole season should matter in the way that the championship is determined.”
Earlier this year, NASCAR put together a playoff committee comprising drivers, media, and industry folks to explore potential changes to the format for 2026. Mark Martin and The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck are both in it. Despite the early excitement, the recently concluded meetings have been restricted to debate, without any concrete solutions.
Martin is frustrated, and he even hinted that TV networks have a big say in this whole saga. Gluck added to this sentiment, “If TV was telling NASCAR, ‘We want a full-season format, we should go back to that.’ You know what NASCAR would be saying? ‘Oh well, okay, yeah. We could take a look at that.’”
For many network executives, the playoff format is a good way for NASCAR to remain competitive with the NFL, as it keeps the storylines going. But whether it’s working or not, though, is up for debate.
It’s clear that Mark Martin is fighting an uphill battle. The 66-year-old believes fans deserve to be heard, and until they are, he’s going to keep pushing for a reasonable change to the format.
🔎 The In-Depth View
NASCAR’s $1M Dilemma
NASCAR is leaving no stone unturned to grow the sport. From racing in Mexico City, adding San Diego to the calendar, and even welcoming international talent like Shane van Gisbergen. Considering all the time and effort the sanctioning body is investing into promoting, the big question is, why do they feel the need to pay drivers $1 million just to talk about it?
We are talking about the Driver Ambassador Program. It’s a pretty smart idea to reward drivers who are going the extra mile in promoting the sport via interviews or fan meets. Reigning champ Joey Logano even won $1 million without running a single lap, simply because of his off-track media commitments. While NASCAR says it’s about visibility, could there be more to it than meets the eye?
Corey LaJoie uncovered the real reason behind NASCAR’s initiative. He revealed that drivers don’t own their name, image, or likeness. Teams do. So when NASCAR wants to promote something, they can’t just make drivers participate unless it’s explicitly written in their contracts.
But that’s where the DAP comes in clutch. Check this thread out to understand how NASCAR and teams are grappling over control of drivers and their marketability.
The program is a genius idea wherein NASCAR pays the drivers to promote the sport. Does it seem like NASCAR isn’t just rewarding engagement, but buying it? And as you would probably expect, some drivers are all in. “I want to promote myself,” Ross Chastain said. “So, invest in myself, and it’s always worked out.”
But some might say that NASCAR seems to be issuing checks for positive PR. It’s one thing to ask drivers to promote the sport, but another thing to bypass teams entirely. If the system were fair, drivers would already have a voice and have control over how their image is being used.
Could it be that the Driver Ambassador Program isn’t just about exposure or promotion, but also about maintaining control? NASCAR wants drivers to be the face of the brand, but only on their terms. And with a million dollars on the line, how many of them will say no?
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