This past Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series took on the “Magic Mile,” New Hampshire Motor Speedway, for the 54th event at the 1.058-mile New England track. The opening race in the Round of 12 did not disappoint, featuring teammates clashing, wild accidents, and a fan-favorite winner who secured his spot in the Playoff semifinals with the victory.
Stage 1
The green flag waved just after 2:00 PM local time, with hometown hero Joey Logano on the pole to lead the field alongside teammate Ryan Blaney. Josh Berry, who had an abysmal Round of 16 and has since been eliminated from the Playoffs, drove up to second while Blaney slipped to sixth by Lap 13. By Lap 29, Blaney had raced back to third, showing he had a strong long-run car this afternoon. With Stage 1 set to end on Lap 70, Blaney closed in on Logano’s back bumper, racing his teammate with respect before passing the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford on Lap 53.
Throughout the stage, Shane van Gisbergen, also eliminated from the Playoffs, ran inside the top five for much of it, proving the New Zealand driver is starting to figure out the ovals. The first yellow of the afternoon came when Cody Ware spun in Turn 3 after contact from Austin Dillon.
Everyone in the top 10 pitted, leaving Blaney and Berry to lead the field in a one-lap shootout to close Stage 1. Blaney launched ahead as the field went three-wide out of Turn 2 and came away with the stage win.
Stage 2
Blaney led the field to begin Stage 2 as the green flag waved on Lap 78. Four laps later, Shane van Gisbergen made contact with Berry coming out of Turn 2, bringing out a yellow. When racing resumed on Lap 88, Blaney remained out front, but further back, Joe Gibbs Racing teammates clashed. Denny Hamlin grew frustrated with Ty Gibbs and vented on the radio, “Does he not know we’re racing for a championship? What the fk?” Moments later, Hamlin spun the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota into the outside wall entering Turn 1 on Lap 110. With every position counting toward points, Hamlin felt Gibbs wasn’t giving him and Christopher Bell enough room, and the incident essentially ended Gibbs’ day.
On the following restart, Chase Briscoe lined up alongside Logano with Carson Hocevar close behind, still chasing his first career win. Chaos erupted on the backstretch when Brad Keselowski dove his No. 6 Boston Red Sox Ford below the racing surface, collecting SVG and several others.
The Lap 124 restart proved calmer. Ten laps later, Kyle Larson took the lead from Briscoe, only for Logano to reclaim it soon after, giving fans in New England a thrilling stretch of competitive racing. That run ended on Lap 149 when John Hunter Nemechek’s No. 42 Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Toyota slammed the wall, ending his race.
After pit stops under caution, Logano restarted out front and held on to win Stage 2, adding crucial playoff points to his total, en-route to potentially advancing to the Round of 8.
Final Stage
Logano led the field on the Lap 193 restart as his teammate Blaney charged through the pack, joined by Team Penske affiliate Josh Berry. The Fords were clearly the cars to beat, with Logano pitting on Lap 239 in hopes of a long green-flag run. Berry followed him in on Lap 242, handing the lead to Chase Elliott during the pit cycle. The final caution flew soon after when Cody Ware tangled with Austin Dillon once again, though officials cleaned it up quickly.
The final restart came with 42 laps to go, with Berry’s No. 21 Motorcraft Ford leading the field. Blaney passed him just three laps later and never looked back, while Elliott slid from first to fifth over the ensuing run, underscoring Penske’s dominance at the “Magic Mile.” Blaney cruised to his third win of the season, securing a spot in the Round of 8, while Berry rebounded from three straight rough finishes with a strong runner-up result.
Leaving New Hampshire, Blaney can cruise with no pressure this upcoming Sunday, September 28, at Kansas Speedway for the Hollywood Casino 400 (USA Network at 3:00PM EST/12:00PM PST). The
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