Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Iowa Race delivered an intense showdown at Iowa Speedway, where Penske drivers Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney demonstrated determination and strategic prowess throughout the Iowa Corn 350. Both drivers battled through fluctuating track conditions and multiple cautions to finish strongly, with Blaney placing fourth and Cindric finishing twelfth after leading laps and accruing important stage points.
Austin Cindric, driving the No. 2 Menards/Ideal Door Ford Mustang Dark Horse, started the race in fourth position following a solid qualifying effort. Early in the race, he maintained a top-three position and finished second in Stage 1, earning nine stage points. He faced track changes as it tightened up, leading to a four-tire stop and air pressure tweaks before restarting fifth in Stage 2. Cindric stayed competitive throughout the middle section, settling into third place when a caution on Lap 170 created an opportunity during pit cycles. After fresh tires, fuel, and adjustments, he lined up third for the dash to the stage finish, securing eight more points.
Later in the final stage, Cindric’s team made the bold decision to stay out multiple times, putting him at the front for the Lap 250 restart. Although he briefly led, subsequent cautions prompted a pit stop for four tires and fuel on Lap 263, which dropped him deep in the pack in 28th place. Demonstrating resilience, he methodically passed competitors in a chaotic final stretch marked by additional cautions, ultimately finishing 12th.
A Closer Look at Ryan Blaney’s Fourth-Place Effort
Ryan Blaney, behind the wheel of the No. 12 Wabash Ford Mustang Dark Horse, showcased a consistent and competitive race, culminating in a fourth-place finish and marking his eighth top-five result of the season. The defending winner of the Iowa Corn 350 began in sixth place and held position well through the first 70-lap stage, finishing fourth in the segment.
Blaney improved his position after the stage break, battling fiercely for the lead with car No. 19 and ultimately settling in second place during the run. When a caution interrupted the green-flag pit cycle on Lap 170, Blaney’s crew executed a fast four-tire stop, winning the race off pit road and setting him up to restart on the outside of the front row for a two-lap sprint to the stage end. He finished second in Stage 2.
Approaching the final stage, a strategic call saw Blaney stay out during a Lap 228 caution while many leaders pitted, allowing him to assume the lead with 115 laps to go. Later, crew chief Jonathan Hassler opted to pit Blaney on Lap 245 for fuel and fresh tires, ensuring he could reach the finish without additional stops. After restarting 24th, Blaney charged back through the field, moving into the top 10 with 64 laps remaining. He steadily gained ground on leaders, fending off tough competition, and crossed the checkered flag fourth.
Joey Logano’s Recovery to Secure a Top-10 Finish
Despite a challenging start, Joey Logano and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse team rallied to finish ninth in the Iowa Corn 350. Logano began the race 14th but struggled with handling issues that left him 18th and 21st in the first two stages, respectively. The team worked through these challenges, making incremental adjustments during the early portions of the race as the car’s performance improved.
Early in the final stage, running 25th, Logano responded to a caution by pitting alongside eight other cars, aiming to stretch fuel to the finish. The strategy paid off as six cautions occurred over the next 53 laps, allowing Logano to avoid additional stops. After the last caution on Lap 281, he restarted 12th with 64 laps to go and moved rapidly into the top 10 by Lap 304. Continuing to press forward, Logano gained positions late in the race to clinch ninth place, securing valuable points for Team Penske.
Insights from the Drivers
“Proud of the fast race car and, honestly, good execution. There’s no predicting all those cautions that happened. I thought Brian and the team called a great strategy to really get ourselves ahead for the final stage and a run to the checkered—a shot to win—but also a car fast enough to drive back through the field on unequal tires, too. Not the result we deserved, but a great showing and a very playoff-esque run—what we need here in a couple months.”
—Austin Cindric, Driver
“I just restarted a little further back than those guys and it took me longer to get in a decent spot. Honestly, it sort of surprised me just how hard those guys tanked at the end and my car kept chugging along. I ran Brad [Keselowski] down but everyone is so free it is hard to pass anybody. You are scared of spinning out and you are creeping around the bottom but it was a fun race. I am really proud of our group for sticking with it. I appreciate Wabash and Ford and Menards for doing what they do. Really good showing and just kept going. It has been a good last few weeks for us. I think the speed is there, just have to keep putting these races together. We had a good shot to win today but it just didn’t work out. The strategies just got really weird with all those cautions. We were on the back end of it and it just kind of cycled me behind. We recovered really nicely. Really proud of the 12 group.”
—Ryan Blaney, Driver
“Really proud of the effort from this 22 team to come out of here with a top-10 finish. We really struggled early on but maintained in the top-20 range while we kept working on it. Paul [Wolfe’s] call to pit early in the final stage really paid off in the end and allowed us to get towards the top-10 as the cautions kept coming. Gives us something to build on heading into Watkins Glen.”
—Joey Logano, Driver
Looking Ahead to Watkins Glen Road Course
Following the Iowa Corn 350, Team Penske heads into the closing stretch of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season with momentum from their strong performances in Iowa. The series shifts gears to road course racing at Watkins Glen International, where the Go Bowling at The Glen event takes place on Sunday, August 10. Coverage begins at 2:00 p.m. ET across USA Network, MRN, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. The upcoming race will test the teams on a new track style, offering another opportunity for Penske drivers Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano to capitalize on their form and contend for valuable points as the playoffs approach.