Toyota drivers overcame brake points to have a really robust day at Iowa, taking 4 of the highest six positions. Penske seemed robust as anticipated, however the technique/fortune didn’t go their approach ultimately.
Ty Gibbs jumped into the lead with a two-tire name on the ultimate spherical of green-flag pit stops, after which withstood the stress from Christopher Bell to assert victory.
The race did not see many incidents, however some large names had been concerned within the few wrecks that did unfold, shaking up the Chase standings.
This is a take a look at the largest winners and losers from Iowa Speedway:
WINNER: Ty Gibbs is making a case for being a title contender
Watch: Iowa winner Ty Gibbs on staff progress: ‘People who need to assist one another’
Coming into the 2026 season, everybody was questioning when Gibbs would lastly attain Victory Lane. Properly, now he is achieved it twice. And much more spectacular than that, Gibbs is all of a sudden second within the championship standings. Whereas it is possible a bit an excessive amount of to ask for him to catch Hamlin, Gibbs is in an important spot for the upcoming Chase reset. He might legitimately contend for the title this yr, only a few months faraway from his first win. He additionally fought again from a mid-race pit cease snafu, which dropped him to the rear of the sphere.
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LOSER: Christopher Bell, at the same time as the largest gainer in factors
Watch: Bell calls Iowa outcome a ‘unhealthy second-place end’
Sure, Bell jumped 4 positions within the standings, making him the largest mover for the weekend, however he was not smiling afterwards. One can perceive why after recording his seventh runner-up end of the 2026 season with no single Cup win. It is one of the vital profitable winless seasons within the fashionable period of NASCAR, and Bell is not thrilled to have so many victories slip by his fingers. Simply check out his post-race interview…
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WINNER: Ross Chastain all of a sudden places himself again in Chase battle
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photos
Even Chastain counted himself out of the Chase battle, however at Iowa, he carved 35 factors out of his deficit, jumped up three positions to 18th, and is now 47 factors beneath the cut-line. Another outcome like Iowa and he might significantly problem for the sixteenth and ultimate Chase spot. He scored 43 factors at Iowa, which is his season-high for any race this yr. They sacrificed a prime 5 to roll the cube for a yellow that might have presumably netted them a win, however it was nonetheless a stellar efficiency for the No. 1 staff. He was additionally the top-finishing Chevrolet driver.
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LOSER: Tyler Reddick’s unhealthy luck streak continues
What a flip for the more serious. Reddick was the uncontested championship chief for the primary few months of the season, getting into the Coca-Cola 600 with a factors lead that exceeded 120 factors. However he hasn’t gained a race since Could, and he has six finishes of twenty fifth or worse within the final 9 races. Iowa was particularly brutal as he made an unforced error simply 4 laps into the race, wrecking himself and fellow Toyota driver Erik Jones, who was within the battle for the ultimate Chase spot. Reddick took the blame, and it simply looks like the No. 45 staff that was as soon as unstoppable cannot do something proper these days.
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WINNER: Josh Berry together with his first prime 5 of the yr
Josh Berry, Wooden Brothers Racing
Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photos
The outgoing Wooden Brothers driver had his greatest run of the 2026 season on Sunday. Berry earned his first prime 5 end of the yr, inserting fourth at Iowa because the second-best Ford driver. It will not do a lot for his season with how deep within the factors they’re, however it was a reminder that Berry is aware of tips on how to drive these automobiles and is a gifted racer as he tries to discover a new dwelling for 2027.
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LOSER: Joey Logano and a misplaced alternative
Joey Logano, Group Penske
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
Logano was as soon as once more very spectacular at Iowa Speedway, however the end didn’t replicate that. He positioned 14th when he ought to have been battling for the win. Throughout a mid-race pit cease, Logano drove off with a free wheel. He was pressured to cease and reverse again into his stall, erasing all of his observe place. With out that, he completely might have challenged for the win as he seeks to climb larger up the standings earlier than the Chase reset.
WINNER: Hamlin/Briscoe overcome brake points for robust outcome
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing
Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photos
It was a nightmare weekend for Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe, and but, it ended with a fifth and sixth place end for the JGR duo. They battled a myriad of brake points on Saturday and even into the race on Sunday, however they managed it higher than anybody might have anticipated. Hamlin was exhausted after the race, however his efforts meant that he really elevated his championship lead with three races left within the common season.
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LOSER: Kyle Larson will get caught up in one other wreck
Larson is in a little bit of a rut, very similar to Reddick. The reigning 2x champion slipped again to tenth in factors after getting swept up in an unlucky wreck. After getting pushed out of the groove by John Hunter Nemechek, he was all of a sudden on the surface of a four-wide state of affairs with no room. He and teammate Alex Bowman wrecked, leaving Larson with a thirty third place end. Whereas Larson has eight prime fives this yr, he additionally eight finishes exterior the highest 30. You are not going to win a title on this format with outcomes like that.
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