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When it comes to events on the NASCAR Cup Series 2023 season schedule that could shake up the Playoff standings as the postseason approaches, look no further than this weekend’s Crayon 301 on July 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET (USA Network, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Not only is the unique short track a one-of-a-kind on the Cup schedule, but it has also produced a large number of longshot winners starting outside the top-20, and for three of the last four winners at the 1.058-mile track the victory was the catalyst to earning their spot in the Playoffs – Kevin Harvick (2019), Aric Almirola (2021) and Christopher Bell (2022).

“I love going up to New Hampshire Motor Speedway, it’s been a really good racetrack for me in the past,” said Christopher Bell. “The track is really unique in the fact that Turns 1 and 2 are really smooth, 3 and 4 are very rough, it’s very flat everywhere but has a little more banking running up the track in lane two and three, there’s nowhere else in the country that’s like it.”

So, you’re saying longshots have a chance? You bet. A NASCAR Cup Series driver has started outside the top-20 and went on to win the race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway 10 different times (19.6% of the total races). New Hampshire is tied with Charlotte Motor Speedway for the third-most winners starting outside the top-20 in the NASCAR Cup Series (with 10 each); behind only Daytona International Speedway with 14 and Richmond Raceway with 12. The 2021 New Hampshire winner, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Aric Almirola, started from the 22nd position, and with 11 different winners this season New Hampshire Motor Speedway could very well stir up some magic and produce a 12th. 

Heading into this weekend at New Hampshire, 10 of the 19 winners from last season are still looking for their first victory this year – Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Alex Bowman, Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon, Bubba Wallace, Chase Briscoe, Chris Buescher, Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones. Of the 10 drivers that won last season and are looking for their first win of this year, Kevin Harvick is the only former winner at New Hampshire in the NASCAR Cup Series this Sunday. 

Harvick leads all active drivers in wins at the 1.058-mile track with four victories (2006, 2016, 2018, 2019). A victory this weekend would not only ensure his path to the Playoffs for the 17th time in his career, but he would also become the sole wins leader in the NASCAR Cup Series at New Hampshire, breaking the tie with Jeff Burton.

Whole lotta Magic in the Mile at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Groundbreaking for New Hampshire International Speedway, as New Hampshire Motor Speedway was originally named, was August 13, 1989. The 1.058-mile paved oval is located on approximately 1,200 acres and the multi-use complex is the largest sports facility in New England. Speedway Motorsports agreed to purchase New Hampshire International Speedway from Bob and Gary Bahre on January 11, 2008, and then renamed the track New Hampshire Motor Speedway. 

The first NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was on July 11, 1993 and won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace driving a Team Penske Pontiac (105.947 mph, 02:59:45).

“I remember watching it sort of sprout from the ground and take shape,” said former NASCAR driver Ricky Craven, a native of Maine. “The speedway was exciting in terms of fans and became New England’s largest sport’s facility. …”

There have been 51 NASCAR Cup Series races held at New Hampshire Motor Speedway; one per year from 1993 through 1996 and two per year from 1997-2017. In 2018, the track reverted back to just one event per season. 

The 51 NASCAR Cup Series races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway have produced 22 different pole winners and 26 different race winners. Rick Ware Racing’s Ryan Newman leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with seven (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2011 sweep, 2013). Five of the 22 NASCAR Cup Series pole winners at New Hampshire Motor Speedway are active this weekend.

NBC Sports TV analyst and former driver Jeff Burton (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000) and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick (2006, 2016, 2018, 2019) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with four victories each. Eight of the 26 NASCAR Cup Series New Hampshire Motor Speedway winners are active this weekend.

All the on-track activity begins on Saturday, July 15 with practice from 12:05 p.m. – 12:50 p.m. ET, directly followed by Busch Light Pole Qualifying at 12:50 p.m. ET. Catch the entire broadcast of practice and qualifying at 12 p.m. ET on the USA Network.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell returns to New Hampshire to defend last season’s win

Last season, New Hampshire Motor Speedway jump started Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell’s season catapulting him into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. This year, the Oklahoma native, Bell, has already locked himself into the postseason, but would still like to win and become just the fifth driver all-time to win consecutive Cup Series races at the 1.058-mile track; joining Jimmie Johnson (2003 sweep), Kurt Busch (2004 sweep), Matt Kenseth (2015 fall, 2016 spring) and Kevin Harvick (2018, 2019).

From his first NASCAR national series laps at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Christopher Bell has had a knack for the 1.058-mile facility. He is one of just two drivers all-time to post wins in all three NASCAR national series at New Hampshire, along with Kyle Busch. Bell put up a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win at New Hampshire in 2017, then followed that up with three consecutive victories in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the track in 2018, 2019, 2021, and of course, last season he won the NASCAR Cup Series race.

Bell has made three NASCAR Cup Series career starts at New Hampshire posting one win, and two top fives. His average finish in those three starts is a 10.3. 

Seven Races To Go: Playoffs loom as race to the postseason heats up

When drivers and teams start doing the math, a Playoff appearance isn’t adding up for many unless they win over these last seven races. A total of 11 different drivers have secured their spot in the Playoffs with a win this season, leaving just five spots open on points as the series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend.

Eight former NASCAR Cup Series New Hampshire winners are entered this weekend, and three of them are looking to lock themselves into the Playoffs this season with a win – Kevin Harvick (12th in the Playoff points outlook, +126 points up from the cutline), Brad Keselowski (14th in the Playoff points outlook, +100 points up from the cutline), and Aric Almirola (27th in the Playoff points outlook, -90 points back from the cutline)

Three drivers dancing along the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ cutline heading into New Hampshire, are Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez in 15th (+3 points), Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell in 16th (+3) – the final transfer spot on points – and 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace in 17th (-3 points) – the first spot outside the postseason cutoff. Trailing behind Wallace is Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger in 18th (-13 points) and Joe Gibbs Racing’s rookie Ty Gibbs in 19th (-26). All five drivers from 15th-19th in the Playoff outlook are within striking distance of each other with just seven races left in the regular season.

“New Hampshire has been a struggle for us,” said Michael McDowell. “If anything, it’s a bigger Martinsville. At Martinsville, we’ve had speed, but it hasn’t correlated to New Hampshire all the time. I will say this. Our short track program this year is a lot better than what it was last year. I feel at Richmond and Phoenix we closed the gap quite a bit. So, I’m optimistic about New Hampshire. I go there optimistic every year, but it’s no doubt that it’s been a struggle for us in years past. Hopefully, we hit it right this weekend.”

Looking to New Hampshire, Daniel Suarez has the best average finish at the 1.058-mile track among the five drivers along the Playoff cutoff, followed by Wallace (19.6), Allmendinger (22.3), McDowell (32.4) and rookie Ty Gibbs will be making his NASCAR Cup Series career track debut at New Hampshire this Sunday.

“New Hampshire is the last Cup track I’ve not competed at, and I’ve only been there once last year in the Xfinity Series,” said Ty Gibbs. “So, the short practice session will be key. It’s a challenging track that’s pretty flat, but I like the course. Hopefully, we have a good Toyota Camry TRD.”

NASCAR’s history in New England

Among the six states that make up New England (Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Hampshire), the NASCAR Cup Series has competed in four of them for a total of 118 races. 

Two drivers from the New England area worth watching this weekend are Team Penske’s Joey Logano, from Middletown, Connecticut, and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Ryan Preece, from Berlin, Connecticut. 

“I always say it’s my favorite race weekend of the year,” said Ryan Preece. “I grew up going to the track with my father and grandfather. I had a lot of success here in the modifieds and it’s just a place I’m comfortable at. Driving in and out of the track each day still brings back a lot of memories. It’s a racers track, there’s really no place like it. Someone like me, I’ve had to fight to get where I am, and I don’t take any of it for granted and this is a place that helped me achieve my goals. There will be a lot of people at the track this weekend that I know from all my time spent there and it’s always just a really special and fun weekend for me. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m heading up early for some appearances and to see some friends and family.”

William Byron takes season wins lead, will make 200th career start at New Hampshire

Hendrick Motorsport’s William Byron skyrocketed to the NASCAR Cup Series point standings lead following his series leading fourth win of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway last Sunday. Now, the North Carolina native, heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway with the wind at his back as he will make his 200th career NASCAR Cup Series start.

In Byron’s 199 previous starts, he has earned four Playoff appearances (2019-2022) posting a best finish of sixth in the final championship standings of 2022. Has put up eight career Cup wins, 34 top fives, 73 top 10s and 10 poles. 

Byron will look to get his fifth win of the season this weekend at New Hampshire, a track he has a career-best finish of 11th (2022).

SHR’s Kevin Harvick looking for record win in final run at New Hampshire

Veteran Kevin Harvick announced this season would be his last in full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition making this weekend most likely his last run at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The California native is currently tied with Jeff Burton for the NASCAR Cup Series most wins at New Hampshire, and if he were to win this Sunday in the Crayon 301 (2:30 p.m. ET on USA, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) he would solely move into first breaking the tie with Burton and set the record for the most wins at the 1.058-mile track at five.

“It’s definitely a racetrack that we’re looking forward to going to, and I can’t wait to finally, hopefully, get to Victory Lane,” said Kevin Harvick. “After Nashville, having the fastest car and having a tire go flat, and Phoenix and a couple of the other places where it just seems like it all hasn’t come together, we’re ready to finish off a weekend with a win. My guys are doing a great job of putting fast cars on the racetrack and Loudon is one of those places that checks a lot of boxes for us to go up there and have a good weekend.”

Harvick is currently riding a winless streak that dates back to Richmond (August) in 2022 – 31 races ago. This weekend, the 47-year-old is hoping to snap the winless streak and lock himself into the Playoffs. He is currently ranked 12th in the postseason outlook up 126 points on the Playoff cutline.

“Flat tracks have always been really good for me in my career,” said Kevin Harvick. “When you look at SHR and the things we’ve been able to accomplish at Loudon and Phoenix, they’ve kind of followed that same trend. A lot of that goes back to that open test time we had at Milwaukee and Nashville. Those are the places where we would practice and practice and practice. Our guys have done a great job of having a good short-track, flat-track program, and Loudon is a place that has followed along with Phoenix and the success that we’ve had there and to be able to capitalize on that success and continue it at another track.”

Harvick has made 39 starts (series-most among active drivers) at New Hampshire posting four wins(2006, 2016, 2018, 2019), 14 top fives and 23 top 10s. His average finish at the 1.058-mile track is 12.2.

First-time winners happen at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

New winners are always a fan favorite, and this season we have already been gifted with one, when Shane Van Gisbergen took the checkered flag at the inaugural Chicago Street Race a few weeks ago. Now, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a track that is home to five driver’s first-time wins in the series; including Connecticut’s Joey Logano.

Looking to this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, eight different drivers entered in the Crayon 301 are looking for their first career Cup win – Harrison Burton, Ty Dillon, Ty Gibbs, Todd Gilliland, Noah Gragson, Corey LaJoie, BJ McLeod and Ryan Preece.

NASCAR Announces Nominees for NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2024

NASCAR announced the 15 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion duo Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus join the Modern Era ballot together in their first year of eligibility. Donnie Allison, an original member of the fan-favorite Alabama Gang joins the Pioneer ballot for the first time.

Ten nominees appear on the Modern Era ballot, five on the Pioneer ballot – designed to honor those whose careers began more than 60 years ago. Two Modern Era candidates and one Pioneer candidate will be elected as the Class of 2024.

Longtime NASCAR executive Les Richter joins the Landmark Award ballot for the first time after being on the Hall of Fame ballot three times before the award was created. The Landmark Award honors those who made significant contributions to the growth and esteem of NASCAR.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel will meet in person to discuss and vote for the Class of 2023 and Landmark Award on Wednesday, Aug. 2. The 61-person panel remains unchanged from last year, apart from reigning champion Joey Logano who replaces Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott (both voted last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic delay). The 62nd vote goes to winners of a NASCAR.com Fan Vote (www.nascar.com/halloffame). The Fan Vote is currently open and will close on July 30 at 12:00 a.m. ET.

The Modern Era Ballot and Landmark Award nominees were selected by the Nomination Committee, which consists of representatives from NASCAR and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks. The Honors Committee, largely comprised of all living Hall of Famers, Landmark Award winners and Squier-Hall Award winners, selected the Pioneer Ballot.

Following are the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2024 nominees and Landmark Award nominees:

Modern Era Ballot

Neil Bonnett, won 18 times in the NASCAR Cup Series including consecutive Coca-Cola 600 victories

Tim Brewer, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief

Jeff Burton, won 21 times in the NASCAR Cup Series including the Southern 500 and two Coca-Cola 600s

Carl Edwards, winner of 28 NASCAR Cup Series races and 2007 Xfinity Series champion

Harry Gant, winner of 18 NASCAR Cup Series races, including two Southern 500 victories

Harry Hyde, 1970 NASCAR Cup Series championship crew chief

Jimmie Johnson, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion

Chad Knaus, seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief

Larry Phillips, first five-time NASCAR weekly series national champion

Ricky Rudd, won 23 times in NASCAR Cup Series, including the 1997 Brickyard 400

Pioneer Ballot

Donnie Allison, ten-time NASCAR Cup Series winner, 1967 Cup Series ROY

Sam Ard, NASCAR Xfinity Series pioneer and two-time champion

AJ Foyt, won seven NASCAR Cup Series races including the 1972 Daytona 500

Banjo Matthews, built cars that won more than 250 NASCAR Cup Series races and three championships

Ralph Moody, two-time NASCAR Cup Series owner champion as mechanical genius of Holman-Moody

Landmark Award

Janet Guthrie, the first female to compete in a NASCAR Cup Series superspeedway race

Alvin Hawkins, NASCAR’s first flagman; established NASCAR racing at Bowman Gray Stadium with Bill France Sr.

Lesa France Kennedy, NASCAR Executive Vice Chair and one of the most influential women in sports

Dr. Joseph Mattioli, founder of Pocono Raceway

Les Richter, long-time NASCAR executive oversaw competition, helped grow the sport on the West Coast

NASCAR PR