NASCAR Iowa Auto Racing

Ty Gibbs does a burnout after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

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Drivers are scrambling for spots in NASCAR's Chase as the end of the regular season nears

Drivers are scrambling for spots in NASCAR's Chase as the end of the regular season nears

The NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway featured plenty of changes in the season point standings heading into the final month of the regular season. Denny Hamlin leads the way with 923 points, 103 points ahead of Ty Gibbs, who won Sunday’s race. Only four drivers have clinched Chase spots — Hamlin, Gibbs, Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick. Austin Cindric, in the 16th and last Chase spot, has 526 points. The next three races will determine not just who can get the final spots, but also the seedings that could make a difference over the final 10 races.