The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs intensify this weekend as the competition heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Mobil 1 301, scheduled for Sunday, September 21, at 2 p.m. ET. This race, set on the 1.058-mile oval, holds vital importance for drivers and teams seeking momentum and advancement as the postseason unfolds.
Background and Essential Race Details
New Hampshire Motor Speedway will play host to the 58th NASCAR Cup Series event at this venue, offering a purse of nearly $9.8 million. The 318.46-mile contest comprises 301 laps, with stage breaks at laps 70, 185, and 301. Fans can watch the action live on USA at 1:30 p.m. ET or listen via PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
This year marks the 15th time that the New Hampshire oval figures into the playoff calendar, returning as part of the postseason for the first time since 2017. Previously, the track served both as the playoff opener (2004–2010) and as the second race in the Round of 16 (2014–2017). In the evolving landscape of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, New Hampshire has joined a select group of venues such as Talladega Superspeedway, Auto Club Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and Kansas Speedway in hosting the fourth race of the playoffs.
Key Storylines and Recent Trends
The Mobil 1 301 brings intriguing narratives as the playoff field battles for coveted advancement. Over the years, 17 different drivers have managed to secure victory in the fourth playoff race, with Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson setting a high bar with three postseason wins in this round. Among current competitors, Joey Logano has taken two such victories. Remarkably, in the last 10 Playoff Round of 12 opening races (2015–2024), 10 different drivers have gone to Victory Lane.
On four occasions, non-playoff drivers have triumphed in this critical event: Joe Nemechek (2004, Kansas), Brian Vickers (2006, Talladega), Tyler Reddick (2022, Texas), and Ross Chastain (2024, Kansas). This unpredictability heightens the stakes for every playoff contender.
Last year, Christopher Bell captured victory at New Hampshire after weather delays led to a rare finish on wet tires, marking a memorable moment as he took the lead for the final 64 circuits. Notably, four of the last nine first-time winners at New Hampshire achieved their breakthrough victories in the season’s lone event at this challenging circuit.
Manufacturer and Team Performance at New Hampshire
Recent history at New Hampshire has favored the Toyota camp; since the start of the Next Gen era, Toyota has swept all three races, dominate all six stages, and managed to control 83% of laps. Meanwhile, Chevrolet leads the all-time win count at 19 but has claimed just one victory in the last 18 races held at this track. The Ford and Chevrolet teams are both searching for renewed strength as the postseason unfolds.
Unique quirks persist: the winner has started from pole only once in the most recent 20 events (Kyle Busch, September 2017). Five active drivers collecting New Hampshire wins include Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin (three victories each), Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski (two apiece), and Christopher Bell (two).
For Joe Gibbs Racing, New Hampshire continues to be a remarkable stronghold. The team has placed at least one car among the top two finishers in each of the last 13 events, setting a record for consistency at a single track in Cup Series history. Joe Gibbs Racing also made a statement by sweeping all three races in the first playoff round—a feat not seen since 2015.
Drivers and Playoff Scenarios to Watch
This season, a broad mix of contenders and breakthrough performances characterize the playoff picture. Ten different drivers snagged wins in the 10 Playoff Round of 12 openers since 2015. In addition, five drivers earned their career-first Cup Series wins at New Hampshire, a trend that may foreshadow a surprise result this weekend.
In 2025 so far, Chase Briscoe, Ryan Blaney, and Denny Hamlin lead all drivers with 12 top-five finishes each, while Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell each have reached 16 top-10 results, demonstrating their consistency. Leading the most laps has proven consequential; in five of the last seven 2025 races, that driver has gone on to win.
Christopher Bell has claimed two of the last three New Hampshire contests, solidifying his reputation at this venue. William Byron, though a championship contender, remains without a top-10 at New Hampshire—coming closest with two 11th-place finishes.
All 12 remaining postseason drivers—among them Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Joey Logano, and Tyler Reddick—have a history of advancing to this Playoff round. Notably, Austin Cindric moved forward with 2,066 points, the lowest point total to advance from the Round of 16 in history.
Statistics and Records from the Playoff Rounds
The 2025 playoffs have yielded several noteworthy records. There were a record 31 cautions in the first round, as well as 75 lead changes among 33 different leaders, both unprecedented for a playoff opening segment. The overall point average for playoff drivers came in at just 25 per race, a new low.
Only one driver—Shane van Gisbergen—failed to reach the Round of 12 after starting above the cutline, the fewest ever eliminated from such a position. Conversely, drivers such as Tyler Reddick and Joey Logano overcame initial deficits to punch their tickets to the next round.
Three drivers who are not competing for the championship still rank among the top six for average finish in the first three playoff races, highlighting the fierce competitiveness of the field. Through three playoff events, Chase Briscoe has already led 451 laps, ranking him third all-time at this juncture behind only Harvick (581 laps led in 2015) and Larson (462 laps in 2024).
Race Implications and What’s Next
No drivers have secured a spot in the next round’s eight-driver field as they arrive at New Hampshire. To advance, several notable names—including Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, and Tyler Reddick—need a victory to clinch safely.
The race results on Sunday will influence not just the postseason fates of established stars like Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Bubba Wallace, but also shape the Championship 4 picture, as all four finalists from 2024 remain in contention.
As the green flag drops at New Hampshire, the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs deliver a compelling mix of legacy, unpredictability, and high-pressure racing. With history, team dominance, and a fluctuating playoff field in play, the Mobil 1 301 stands set to deliver pivotal moments and perhaps more records as the journey to the championship continues.
