The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway became a frustrating spectacle as multiple cautions and tire problems dominated the event. Drivers struggled throughout the 350-lap race, which saw 12 caution periods covering 72 laps and an average speed of just 92.905 mph. The aging short track failed to provide the usual rubber buildup needed for better grip, resulting in endless restarts and drivers jockeying for position on a slick surface. This chaotic environment frustrated both competitors and fans, especially given the excitement surrounding Iowa’s return to the Cup Series schedule.
Denny Hamlin, a prominent NASCAR driver and key voice in the sport, shifted sharply from praise for Iowa Speedway last year to harsh criticism after this race. Once applauding the track as a valuable addition to the NASCAR calendar, Hamlin expressed strong dissatisfaction with its current state and the tire problems that made racing almost impossible.
From Praise to Anger: Hamlin’s Reversal on Iowa Speedway
Previously, Hamlin had complimented the Iowa crowd and anticipated growing fan enthusiasm given successful surrounding ARCA races. However, after the caution-heavy Cup race, his view soured during his podcast, Actions Detrimental, where he detailed his struggles and pinpointed the track’s failures. A primary issue was the incomplete repaving job, which hurt the track’s ability to develop racing grooves essential for tire grip.
Hamlin elaborated on this on-air, stating,
“You like to feel the compression of the car, you like to feel that the tires are actually gripping, but these tires, like, they just shatter across the racetrack,”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver. He explained that the harder tires supplied for the race never truly bonded with the racing surface, leading most drivers to slide rather than stick during turns.
Moreover, Hamlin described how only those starting at the front could benefit from clean air pushing their cars, which helped compress suspensions and provide limited tire traction. This created a largely static race order, where passing was rare and difficult, as drivers behind slower traffic remained trapped for laps on end.
Persistent Tire and Surface Issues Undermine Racing Quality
Hamlin also highlighted the lack of tire wear over long runs, which contributed significantly to the dull racing. He shared a screenshot with Dale Earnhardt Jr. before the race, showing the minimal drop-off in lap times after 50 laps.
“This is the tire that they came up with, the one that had zero fall off after 50 laps,”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
“How in the world do you expect us to put on a good race when everyone’s going to run the same speed from the beginning of the run to the end of the run?”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
This even pacing meant a driver needed a significant speed advantage of about three-tenths of a second per lap to contemplate overtaking, a nearly insurmountable margin under these conditions. Ultimately, the race became a monotonous procession interrupted mainly by restarts or incidents.
Hamlin’s own performance was hampered by tire problems late in the race. He recounted,
“We definitely had a bad last run. We had a tire issue that when they took the tire off, it had de-laminated. It corded really, really badly,”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver. He admitted that missing the initial tire test put his team at a disadvantage but emphasized the issue affected many drivers. His conclusion was clear: Iowa Speedway’s surface and tire compatibility problems remain unresolved and have essentially degraded the quality of racing there.
Logistical Challenges Prompt Schedule Changes and Reveal NASCAR’s Dilemma
Beyond Iowa, Hamlin commented on broader NASCAR scheduling challenges, including the removal of the Mexico City race from the 2025 schedule due to logistical difficulties. NASCAR had returned to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City the previous year to much excitement but faced complications transporting equipment across international borders. Hamlin acknowledged this hardship while discussing the schedule changes on his podcast:
“From a team standpoint, we are wiping our forehead—like, Mexico was really, really challenging,”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
The 2025 calendar replaced Mexico City with a revived Chicagoland Speedway date, a decision unpacked by Hamlin as driven by financial considerations:
“This stuff comes down to money. Decisions are always made by money.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver.
Though pragmatic, Hamlin expressed mild disappointment at losing the international venue: No tacos for me. Bummer.
Hamlin’s Commentary Highlights Growing Frustrations in NASCAR
Denny Hamlin’s critique of Iowa Speedway and the broader NASCAR calendar highlights growing concerns among drivers about track conditions, tire performance, and logistical complexities as the sport expands and evolves. With such a high-impact voice openly challenging the status quo, questions loom about whether NASCAR officials will address the surface degradation and tire issues at Iowa Speedway before the 2026 season.
Hamlin’s blunt criticism intensifies the ongoing debate over which tracks deserve priority, how to ensure driver safety, and the balance between economics and sporting value in NASCAR’s future planning. The Iowa event, originally welcomed for its nostalgic Midwestern appeal, now symbolizes challenges facing the sport as it seeks to engage fans while maintaining competitive and safe racing.