Denny Hamlin entered the Iowa Corn 350 on Sunday as a strong contender, coming off a streak of top performances in the NASCAR Cup Series. Prior to this race, Hamlin had secured two wins and multiple top-five finishes at prominent tracks such as Nashville, Pocono, Chicago, and Indianapolis. Despite this momentum, the challenging conditions at Iowa left him with a disappointing 24th-place finish, prompting him to reflect on his struggles during the race’s first stage.
Impact of The Partially Repaved Track on the Race
The Iowa Corn 350 proved to be a unique test as the race took place on a partially repaved surface, which caught many teams off guard. Only the lower lanes had been resurfaced, while the upper grooves remained rough and abrasive, creating an uneven track that made handling difficult for drivers. Hamlin, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, was notably affected by these conditions, which compromised his performance early in the race and undermined his championship ambitions.
Hamlin Details Aerodynamic Struggles in Stage 1
On his podcast, Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin, he explained why the early portion of the race was dominated by leaders who had a clear advantage due to cleaner air. According to Hamlin, the NextGen cars struggled with aerodynamics on the new surface, which amplified handling issues.
You like to feel the compression of the car. You got, like, to feel that the tires are actually gripping, but these tire, they just chatter across the racetrack. Um, and it being with a newer surface, and a harder tire, it never gets into the track,
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Now, the guys that are up front, in the first couple, three positions have got enough air to push the car down, compress it, and the tire to saturate. Everybody else in the field is just riding around, skating on that racetrack. So, the only time you see, like a remote challenge or a battle for a lead is when they catch the back of the pack,
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Challenges Passing During Stage One Explained
Hamlin highlighted a specific moment in Stage 1 that demonstrated the difficulty of maintaining competitive speed when stuck behind slower cars. Despite running in about 10th place — a position that typically remains competitive — he found himself unable to keep pace with the leaders, who had the benefit of cleaner air. The pack dynamics, along with handling issues caused by the track conditions, made overtaking nearly impossible for drivers in the middle of the field.
We saw it, I think, in the first stage. I remember I was running somewhere around 10th or so. The leaders checked out ‘cause they got the cleaner air. They were checking out, and next thing you know, here comes the whole top nine right back to me.
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
And I’m like, ‘What’s going on? I’ve been running the entire same time for this entire 60-70 lap run, and it’s just they catch the back of the pack, and they can’t pass lap cars,
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
So, that’s the issue with it, is that, yeah, you can make passes if you’re in the middle of the pack when everyone has disturbed air. It’s just challenging the leader in this car is just such a tough ask.
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Aero Issues with NextGen Cars Highlighted at Iowa
The aerodynamic limitations of the NextGen cars were on full display at Iowa, intensifying the difficulties faced by drivers. The combination of a partially repaved track and a hard tire compounded grip problems, which frustrated not only Hamlin but much of the NASCAR community. These issues underscored ongoing concerns about the race cars’ design and how it affects competition and passing opportunities.
Implications for Hamlin’s Season and What Lies Ahead
This tough outing at Iowa represents a setback for Hamlin’s regular-season championship hopes, given his strong form in previous races. The struggles under these specific track conditions point toward the continuing challenges teams face in adapting to changes in track surfaces and the NextGen car’s handling characteristics. Moving forward, how Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing adjust their setups and strategies could prove crucial as the season progresses across diverse circuits.
