Short tracks have truly been tricky for NASCAR, especially with the next-gen cars. And NASCAR has been doing everything to find the next best venue to race. The one where passes are interesting, the audience remains enthusiastic,  and the cars run well; all in all, it makes for a stellar race. The return to Iowa is one such attempt!

Fans and veterans like Brad Keselowski were rooting for the return of a cup race at the venue.  And then finally NASCAR decided to race at the venue again after 2019. But while all seats got sold off for the event and many were celebrating the homecoming, drivers were queasy. Because every new track poses them with a new challenge. Most go into it blindsided, they don’t know anything about the track surface, how their cars will handle it, and more.

Plus, in Iowa, even more so, because of the recent repave work it had. Drivers were seen having a hard time at Xfinity this Saturday, with almost 70% of the cautions called due to busted tires! When Joey Logano, who secured a sixth-place finish in the race, was questioned about his overall impressions of Iowa, he chose not to defy NASCAR with his opinions.

Another missed opportunity for Joey Logano as the new winner claims a playoff spot

Joey Logano is already in deep water, as he has not won a single race this season yet. It’s difficult to accept that a driver the caliber of Logano, a two-time champion, is in this precarious situation. But it is what it is. And in Iowa, it was another no-win show for Logono. However, his performance was definitely fine and he almost made it to the top-5, finishing sixth. 

After the race, he looked drained out, eyes bloodshot. When he was questioned about his feelings about the Iowa track, he remained tight-lipped, not letting any emotions peek through. Talking to Frontstretch and other media houses, he said, “I mean I’d have to watch the race back to give you the full impression, but it seemed like it was a pretty entertaining race and a lot of, you know, different storylines going on there and places to pass, the fans showed up. So, you know, from the inside, it looks pretty good. I don’t know about from the outside.”

But while he might not have been the best at the traditional tracks, at the new tracks, he has been acing. When asked about the same, he continued his cold, tight-lipped stance he gave a diplomatic answer, masking the win with a sea of criticism. He said, “Yeah, I don’t know. I mean, we weren’t that great today. We were okay, but we weren’t, you know, lights out fast and stuff. You know, all you can ask would be to be a bit closer to the front row on the final restart. That’s decent, but this was the best we could stay there.”

But being diplomatic is the last thing Joey Logano should be thinking about because the playoffs are just knocking on the door! With Ryan Blaney winning Iowa, the field position has changed. And the alarm bells are ringing, not just for Logano, but for quite a few drivers.

How Ryan Blaney’s first win of the season leaves six spots left for the playoffs

Trending

NASCAR Rumor: Next-Gen Control Arm Manufacturer Potentially Quitting NASCAR Amid Roush Manufacturing’s Take Over

Sheldon Creed Breaks Silence on Choosing Gene Haas’ Plan Over Joe Gibbs’ NASCAR Legacy

“Won’t Be Watching Anymore”- Displeased Fans Take Issue With NASCAR After Shocking Reversal on Kyle Busch’s All-Star Antagonist

Disgruntled Richard Childress Disappointed by NASCAR Handing ‘Over a Million Dollar’ Pain

Fans Left Divided Over Dale Jr’s Stepmom Teresa’s Contribution to DEI’s NASCAR Downfall

The NASCAR playoffs are not far away. Just nine more races are left to be precise. And with Ryan Blaney, securing a spot, the rest of the field does get affected. And now only 6 Playoff spots are left! Kyle Larson, despite not having a great end to the Iowa race, sits comfortably in his secured playoff seat. Even though he had a nasty end in the Iowa race, his car was indeed the fastest till his contact with Daniel Suarez. He even led a stage, hence, it is likely that heading into the playoff, he will remain as a leader of the pack.

For those drivers on the bubble, such as Buescher and Wallace, it’s high time they secure their positions. Kyle Busch and Joey Logano are below the cutline in points. It is interesting to note, that they are both prior champions, yet, the result this year has been nothing short of disappointing.

Austin Cindric and Daniel Suarez are the bubble busters, as they have won despite being outside the top 16 in points. Alex Bowman, Gibbs, Ross Chastain, and Martin Truex Jr. have all separated themselves from the pack. However, Bowman is not entirely secure, though he does have a nice cushion to fall back on. Since he has two races worth of points up on the cutline! Josh Berry was awesome at Sunday’s race and, at some point, it seemed like he would actually win. But, he obviously didn’t.

What do you think, who will be the next to win?