Ryan Blaney’s opportunity to capture the NASCAR Cup Series regular‑season title — and the coveted No. 1 seed for The Chase — will hinge on Sunday’s race at Iowa.
Currently, Blaney trails championship leader Denny Hamlin by 120 points with four races remaining, and sits 36 points behind Tyler Reddick in second place. With points resetting before the final ten events, every stage matters.
The regular‑season champion will receive a 25‑point head start over the runner‑up and a 35‑point margin over third place, with five additional points allocated for each position up to the top 16.
Starting from the pole, Blaney will aim to capitalize on Hamlin’s likely position at the rear of the field, where scoring stage points will be difficult. A strong finish could dramatically improve Blaney’s championship outlook, especially if Hamlin fails to earn stage points.
“We’ve talked about it a bit,” Blaney explained. “At the end of the day, we’re not out of contention. We don’t obsess over the numbers; we focus on doing our best, maximizing points, and winning the race. While it may not be guaranteed, getting there is certainly possible. The No. 11 group is strong, and they can make their way through the field. “My focus is on a strong start and executing lap by lap.””
In recent years, short tracks have favored the Team Penske No. 12.
“Richmond, Loudon, and even Daytona represent a strong finish for our program and the venues where we excel. This is a big opportunity, and I hope we maintain our speed and execute flawlessly.”
Hamlin encountered brake problems throughout practice and qualifying, limiting him to a 32nd‑fastest time.
“Certainly, I can’t race like this,” Hamlin remarked.
Briscoe and Herbst experienced the same brake difficulties.
“Neither of us had any brakes,” he added.
Hamlin also noted that completing a full race without functional brakes would be problematic.
“You can’t dive as deep into corners, and you can’t race,” Hamlin said. “Obviously, both pedals are essential at a short track.””
Even if the brakes are repaired, Hamlin received no usable practice data. His Chris Gayle‑led No. 11 team will have to improvise setup decisions.
“Not ideal,” Hamlin said. “During the first five laps, when everything was cold, the car ran okay. It felt fast and balanced — better than in past visits, though we didn’t get additional practice.”
Reddick will start in the top five without brake concerns and has an opportunity to gain ground on Hamlin.