RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesLess than an hour before the start of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway, Denny Hamlin’s day became even more difficult.
Joe Gibbs Racing confirmed the No. 11 Toyota will start from the rear of the field after the team changed its cooling unit before the green flag. Hamlin had already qualified 29th , meaning he’ll now line up behind the entire field despite avoiding any on-track incident during the weekend.
The late adjustment comes as multiple Toyota organizations continue dealing with brake-related concerns that surfaced during practice and qualifying, creating one of the biggest storylines entering Sunday’s race.
Toyota teams fighting the same issue
Hamlin’s move to the rear is just one piece of a larger problem affecting Toyota teams at Iowa.
During Saturday’s on-track sessions, Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe experienced significant brake issues, while all three 23XI Racing entries also dealt with varying levels of brake concerns.
Joe Gibbs Racing elected to replace the cooling unit on Hamlin’s No. 11 before the race in hopes of preventing additional mechanical problems once the green flag drops. NASCAR rules require any car making that type of adjustment after qualifying to start at the rear.
Crew chief Chris Gayle acknowledged the team isn’t certain the change will solve the issue, saying it was “50-50” whether the adjustment would both get the car to the finish and allow it to remain competitive.
If the problem persists, Hamlin could still be forced to make additional repairs during the race.
Chase Briscoe’s concerns appear more serious
While Hamlin’s team opted for a precautionary change, Chase Briscoe’s brake situation appears considerably more severe.
Crew chief James Small revealed the No. 19 Toyota’s brake pads were essentially “destroyed” during Saturday’s running.
Under NASCAR rules, teams cannot simply replace brake pads unless brake supplier PFC Brakes determines there is a defective product and notifies NASCAR. That had not happened before Sunday’s race.
Teams are permitted to bleed their brakes before the race, but otherwise have limited options.
A developing storyline to watch Sunday
According to Motorsport.com, the brake issues stem from setup choices made within the Joe Gibbs Racing-23XI Racing technical alliance as teams searched for additional speed ahead of the NASCAR Playoffs .
Among the affected organizations, Tyler Reddick reportedly appeared to be in the best position entering Sunday’s race, while Riley Herbst faced the biggest concern once the race begins. Bubba Wallace’s team was believed to be cautiously optimistic they could still race competitively despite experiencing similar issues.
For Hamlin, the challenge is now twofold. He’ll have to drive through the field after starting at the rear while hoping the late cooling-unit change prevents any additional problems during the 350-lap race .
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