Toyota Teams Battle Brake Failures at Iowa Speedway; Hamlin, Briscoe Fight Through for Top 10 Finishes

NEWTON, Iowa — Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe drove nearly 350 laps without reliable brakes at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, finishing fifth and sixth in a race that exposed a growing safety concern in NASCAR. The brake failures, which struck multiple Toyota teams before the green flag, forced drivers to improvise and raised questions about whether the sport's rules on brake pad changes need updating.

Hamlin said his brake pedal went to the floor by Lap 3. Briscoe experienced the same issue during the second stage. Both drivers finished in the top 10, but the physical toll was obvious.

“If I would have known it was going to be like this the whole race, I would have said top 25,” Hamlin said after the race. “I honestly would have been happy with it. But they kept working on the car and adjusting around not having any brakes.”

What Caused the Brake Problems?

Joe Gibbs Racing crew chief Chris Gayle said the issue came down to a brake pad choice that could not be changed before the race. NASCAR rules prohibit teams from swapping brake pads between practice and the start of the race, even if a safety concern arises.

“I would say it was just a brake choice that we made that we could not undo this weekend,” Gayle told Motorsport.com. “It kind of surprised a few of the teams. A few of the Toyota teams that were running it have run it safely to other places with no problems and it just kind of caught us all off guard here.”

Teams are allowed to bleed brake lines and replace cracked rotors for safety reasons. But swapping pads requires losing laps during the race, a penalty most teams avoid unless absolutely necessary.

How Did Hamlin and Briscoe Manage?

Hamlin described his mindset before the race as the worst he had ever experienced. He said he felt beaten before the green flag dropped. But his crew adjusted the car to compensate for the lack of stopping power, allowing him to manipulate corners differently.

“I never felt beat before I start ever,” Hamlin said. “I knew there was a chance it could be fixed but I knew it was still the same components that couldn't be fixed so I felt down about today and switched my goals to needing some cars to wreck and maybe finish inside the top 25.”

Briscoe said the problem came and went unpredictably. “I would have a restart and it would be good for five or six laps, then right back to the floor,” he said. “I was just pumping nonstop all the way around the racetrack.”

Why Didn't Other Toyota Teams Have Issues?

Legacy Motor Club, another Toyota team, reported no brake problems. Car chief Austin Pollak explained before the race: “JGR and 23XI run a different package than we do.”

Race winner Ty Gibbs, also driving a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, had no issues either. Crew chief Tyler Allen credited their growing notebook and driver feedback. “We rely on our teammates, all the information is shared, but we're finally building on our notebook from last year,” Allen said.

Is This a Safety Concern?

Gayle and Small both said NASCAR has been consistent in enforcing the no-pad-change rule. But they argued that safety should override consistency.

“When there's a safety concern and drivers are involved, there should be an out,” Gayle said. “Maybe it's more of a penalty than just starting in the back. Maybe it's a pass through. Maybe it's something that would deter teams from doing things unless it truly is a safety thing that they need to do.”

Small agreed, noting that longer practice sessions could open the door for future rule changes. “It's a real problem in the category, I think,” Small said. “We probably need to have an open discussion on maybe how we need to look ahead and fix it in the future for everyone.”

What Do NASCAR Officials Say?

Christopher Bell's crew chief Adam Stevens said he understands NASCAR's reluctance to allow mid-weekend changes but leans toward safety. “Brakes are not something we would actively be looking to change during the weekend unless we were having a problem,” Stevens said. “I do land more towards erring on the side of safety, for sure.”

What's Next for Iowa Speedway?

Iowa Speedway, located just east of Des Moines, has become a regular stop on the NASCAR Cup Series calendar. The track's short-track layout creates heavy braking zones, making brake reliability critical. The issues seen Sunday could influence how teams prepare for future races at the track, including next year's event.

For Iowa fans, the race offered a glimpse of the sport's technical side and the tough decisions crews make. Hamlin and Briscoe's finishes, despite the odds, showed the resilience that defines NASCAR racing in the heartland.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't teams change brake pads before the race?

NASCAR rules prohibit brake pad changes between practice and the start of the race. Teams can only bleed brake lines or replace cracked rotors for safety. Changing pads requires losing laps during the race.

Did any other drivers have brake problems at Iowa?

Several Toyota teams, including Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing, reported brake issues. Legacy Motor Club, another Toyota team, did not have problems because they used a different brake package.

Could this lead to a rule change?

Several crew chiefs said they hope NASCAR will reconsider the rule, especially with longer practice sessions now in place. They argue that safety should allow teams to fix known problems before the race starts.