The Kaulig Racing Iowa Corn 350 Recap highlights AJ Allmendinger’s resilient effort and Ty Dillon’s challenges during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Iowa Speedway. Both drivers faced adversity on the track, with Allmendinger battling through strategy misfortune and Dillon enduring multiple on-track incidents, ultimately affecting their final standings.
Eventful Race for Allmendinger and the No. 16 Celsius Camaro ZL1
Starting from ninth position, AJ Allmendinger maintained a solid pace within the top ten during the early phase of the race. As green-flag pit stops began in the second stage, a well-timed caution dropped the No. 16 Celsius Camaro ZL1 a lap behind the leaders. The team took the wave around to regain position, and subsequent service during the next caution offered another chance to regroup.
Allmendinger executed a bold move after the lap 185 restart, jumping nine spots in just three laps to re-enter the top fifteen. Throughout the remainder of the event, crew adjustments aimed to improve corner entry, allowing Allmendinger to adapt to varying track conditions. Despite sustaining minor damage in a late-race incident on lap 262, Allmendinger persevered, ultimately finishing 18th in a highly competitive field.
“Tough day overall for our No. 16 Celsius team. We had good speed in the car; I was really happy with that but we struggled a little bit on the long runs. The strategy just never played out for us; we just ended up on the wrong end of the strategy most of the time, but I’m super proud of the team. I wish we got a little bit more out of it at the end to earn a better finish, but we have a lot of things to be positive about and build on from this weekend.”
—AJ Allmendinger
Ty Dillon’s Day Disrupted by Cautions and Collisions
Ty Dillon and the No. 10 Sea Best Chevrolet began the race from the 32nd spot, entering with positive momentum from practice speed. Intent on remaining on the lead lap, Dillon echoed satisfaction with his car’s handling early, prompting only slight adjustments headed into the second stage. However, a costly caution period while pitting under green on lap 169 resulted in Dillon falling a lap down as pit stop cycles were interrupted by the yellow flag.
Determined to gain the ‘lucky dog’ position and get back on the lead lap, Dillon’s fight took a turn when contact from another competitor sent the No. 10 spinning on lap 203. Later in the closing stages, while again jostling for position, Dillon was collected in another incident on lap 270, which inflicted additional damage to his Chevrolet. Despite these setbacks, he finished 35th, four laps off the leader’s pace.
Race Context and Looking Ahead
The event at Iowa Speedway demonstrated how unpredictable race strategy and timely cautions can shape the results for teams like Kaulig Racing. AJ Allmendinger’s ability to rebound after losing track position and Ty Dillon’s enduring effort in the face of adversity reflect the team’s spirit and focus. Meanwhile, familiar competitors including William Byron, Rick Ware Racing, and RFK Racing played notable roles throughout the race weekend at Iowa Speedway, highlighting the fierce competition in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Kaulig Racing’s tenacity in Iowa, particularly Allmendinger’s aggressive comebacks and the crew’s ability to adapt under pressure, provides a foundation for optimism as the team prepares for their upcoming events. The lessons learned from the Iowa Corn 350 are expected to shape future strategies and build on moments of potential identified during the race.
