The NASCAR Cup Series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the 2025 Round of 12 playoffs, where drivers will face high stakes on a one-mile track. Practice and qualifying sessions on Saturday will set the stage for Sunday’s Mobil 1 301, where strategy, speed, and track knowledge will determine positioning and playoff momentum. With the field including experienced veterans and playoff contenders, every metric point and previous finish could play a role in shaping the starting order for a critical postseason race.
Key Highlights
- Mobil 1 301 Cup race Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network.
- Single-round, one-lap qualifying session Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET on truTV.
- 60-minute practice session split into two 25-minute groups at 3 p.m. ET Saturday.
- 36 cars entered, including 12 playoff drivers, with rookies and ineligible drivers on the list.
- Qualifying order based on 70% previous race finish by owner and 30% current owner points.
Qualifying Order and Metric System
Saturday’s qualifying session will feature one round and one lap, with the starting lineup determined by a metric system that blends prior race finish by owner (70%) and current owner points (30%). Daniel Suárez tops the list with a 34.3 metric score, followed by Cole Custer (33.0) and AJ Allmendinger (32.7).
| POS. | CAR NO. | DRIVERS | METRIC SCORE |
| 1 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | 34.3 |
| 2 | 41 | Cole Custer | 33 |
| 3 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger | 32.7 |
| 4 | 21 | Josh Berry | 32.1 |
| 5 | 51 | Cody Ware | 31.1 |
| 6 | 10 | Ty Dillon | 28.5 |
| 7 | 4 | Noah Gragson | 26.3 |
| 8 | 34 | Todd Gilliland | 26.1 |
| 9 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 24.1 |
| 10 | 3 | Austin Dillon | 23.8 |
| 11 | 35 | Riley Herbst # | 23.1 |
| 12 | 88 | Shane van Gisbergen # | 22.7 |
| 13 | 43 | Erik Jones | 20.9 |
| 14 | 60 | Ryan Preece | 20.1 |
| 15 | 71 | Michael McDowell | 19.7 |
| 16 | 7 | Justin Haley | 18.1 |
| 17 | 8 | Kyle Busch | 17.5 |
| 18 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | 16.4 |
Other notable positions include Shane van Gisbergen (#12) with a 22.7 score, and playoff drivers Chase Elliott (P25), Kyle Larson (P28), Denny Hamlin (P29), and Christopher Bell (P36). Rookie drivers like Riley Herbst (#11) and van Gisbergen highlight the mix of experience and emerging talent.
| POS. | CAR NO. | DRIVERS | METRIC SCORE |
| 19 | 17 | Chris Buescher | 12.8 |
| 20 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | 12.7 |
| 21 | 77 | Carson Hocevar | 12.1 |
| 22 | 38 | Zane Smith | 10.2 |
| 23 | 48 | Alex Bowman | 9.5 |
| 24 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | 7.4 |
| 25 | 9 | Chase Elliott (P) | 28.7 |
| 26 | 23 | Bubba Wallace (P) | 26.2 |
| 27 | 2 | Austin Cindric (P) | 23.7 |
| 28 | 5 | Kyle Larson (P) | 23.3 |
| 29 | 11 | Denny Hamlin (P) | 22 |
| 30 | 1 | Ross Chastain (P) | 16.6 |
| 31 | 45 | Tyler Reddick (P) | 14.1 |
| 32 | 24 | William Byron (P) | 9 |
| 33 | 19 | Chase Briscoe (P) | 8.1 |
| 34 | 22 | Joey Logano (P) | 6.5 |
| 35 | 12 | Ryan Blaney (P) | 4.3 |
| 36 | 20 | Christopher Bell (P) | 1.9 |
Practice Session Dynamics
Teams will hit the track for a 60-minute practice session at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, divided into two 25-minute groups with a 10-minute break. This split allows crews to dial in setups on New Hampshire’s 1.058-mile oval, where flat corners and unique banking demand precision and tire management.
Drivers and crew chiefs will use this session to evaluate balance, brake wear, and corner entry speeds, critical factors when playoff points and positioning are on the line. The practice session also offers a chance for rookies and less-experienced teams to fine-tune their approach under competitive conditions.
Playoff Contenders to Watch
Christopher Bell, last weekend’s Bristol winner and defending Mobil 1 301 champion, returns in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry XSE with Rheem sponsorship. Bell’s 30-year-old experience includes four wins this season and two career Cup victories at New Hampshire in just five starts.
Other playoff drivers like Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and William Byron will compete for strong starting positions, critical for maintaining momentum in the Round of 12. Sunday’s race will reward drivers who can combine qualifying speed with consistent laps over the full 301-lap distance.
News in Brief: NASCAR Cup Qualifying Set for Round of 12 at New Hampshire
The NASCAR Cup Series Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway marks the start of the Round of 12 this weekend, with 36 cars entered and qualifying scheduled Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET on truTV. A 60-minute practice session begins at 3 p.m., split into two groups with a 10-minute break. Christopher Bell, last weekend’s Bristol winner and defending New Hampshire champion, leads the playoff contenders in experience and victories at the track.
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