The NASCAR Cup Series New Hampshire weekend marks the high-energy start to the Round of 12, with passionate drivers from across the field preparing for a wild playoff challenge at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. As New England’s only NASCAR Playoffs event, excitement runs high among competitors and fans eager to experience the unpredictable racing this short, flat track is known for.
Anticipation Builds for Unique Racing Action at The Magic Mile
The NASCAR Cup Series New Hampshire event is grabbing the spotlight as teams and drivers converge on New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) for a weekend they describe as one of the most thrilling of the year. Noted for its flat turns and unique short track characteristics, the venue delivers challenges that separate contenders from the rest.
Denny Hamlin, a multiple-time winner at NHMS with Joe Gibbs Racing, shared his excitement for the race:
New Hampshire is one of the most exciting short tracks we have on our schedule. Now that it’s back in the Playoffs, it’s super exciting for myself, so as a team and a multiple winner there, it’s a track that I really look forward to going to. We only get to go there once, but the racing is unmatched.
– Denny Hamlin, Driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
This year’s event marks the return of NHMS to the playoff stage, drawing heightened interest from both competitors and fans. Cole Custer, driving for Haas Factory Team, pointed to the evolving nature of the track and its reputation:
Well I think New Hampshire has become a really racey racetrack. You’ve been able to run from the top to the bottom and really mix it up. It’s a hard place to get right with how flat the corners are. It’s a hard place to get a stock car working right, but it’s become a really fun place that you can run and mix it up at.
– Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
Drivers Emphasize Track Diversity and Strategic Racing
Several drivers underscored how the characteristics of New Hampshire Motor Speedway encourage different lines and creative strategy. Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing discussed the changing surface and the impact it can have:
I feel like the surface at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is really coming into its own. The last couple of times that we’ve been there, it’s been a really wide racetrack. It’s been a lot of fun … I feel like with this car and with us doing that little experiment we did last year, you know, we can race in just about any condition now, so yeah, I think it just really opens up the potential winners and strategies when we go there knowing that we can race in different conditions.
– Tyler Reddick, Driver of the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
John Hunter Nemechek from Legacy Motor Club is eager for a return to the track, highlighting how last year’s wet conditions added extra excitement:
Looking forward to going back to New Hampshire this fall. I’m praying for rain again. That was our best rain last time. It was really fun to run in the wet. [I] truly enjoyed it. New Hampshire is amazing in itself, great racetrack, being able to move around, run multiple lanes. ‘The Magic Mile’ lives up to ‘The Magic Mile’ name.
– John Hunter Nemechek, Driver of the No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Rain has played a notable role in shaping race outcomes at NHMS. Last season, the wet weather created unexpected twists, as remembered by drivers like Austin Dillon:
Yeah, looking forward to getting out there. New Hampshire is a large short track, flat. Racing in the rain last year was pretty epic, so if we do that again, I will be prepared.
– Austin Dillon, Driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Recent Changes at NHMS Add to Racing Thrills
Erik Jones, competing for Legacy Motor Club, emphasized improvements to the racing surface and tire selection, both of which have contributed to races that are more unpredictable and exciting for fans:
The race itself has been pretty good the last few years, the way I think the track’s widened out, we’ve run a pretty unique line around there, so that’s really made some good racing, and obviously last year we had the rain, which was a whole other situation thrown in, but the track’s really widened out and changed well, and we’ve got a pretty good tire package there that makes the racing exciting.
– Erik Jones, Driver of the No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Josh Berry, representing Wood Brothers Racing, is enthusiastic about both the strategic element and the racetrack itself, especially after his experience last season:
I’m really looking forward to getting back to New Hampshire. It was a great race for myself last year, and obviously the rain and all the strategy that came on that really made it a lot of fun. New Hampshire is a really fun racetrack.
– Josh Berry, Driver of the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Off-Track Festivities and Fan Experiences at NASCAR Cup Series New Hampshire
Beyond the Cup race, the NHMS weekend features a packed schedule catering to fans, families, and racing enthusiasts. Peaking with Sunday’s Mobil 1 301 – the launch of the Cup Series Round of 12 – racegoers can also enjoy other notable events like the Mohegan Sun 100 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and Team EJP 175 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs races. The action on track is paired with entertainment, including live music, the fan-favorite Groove hangout, interactive displays, and meet-and-greet opportunities with drivers.
Chase Briscoe from Joe Gibbs Racing expressed his excitement about the variety of activities on offer:
It’s always a fun weekend up there, you know, between, they always have the Sprint Cars at the dirt track there, then you have the Modified race … and obviously the Cup race. So hopefully it’ll be another awesome race like we had last year … should be an awesome time.
– Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Unique track conditions and the possibility of rain bring additional unpredictability. According to Ty Dillon of Kaulig Racing, drivers must be adaptable, as variables like changing weather and multiple race lines create constant new opportunities:
The flat mile, there’s a lot of opportunities to move your line, which as a driver, means a lot. You [want to] have options out there. You feel like you can really create more opportunities for yourself, and they race there in the rain now, so you never know what kind of unique experience, you never know what the weather’s [going to] be like that time of year in New Hampshire, so there’s all kinds of variables that can come in to play with that race now.
– Ty Dillon, Driver of the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Expectations for Aggression and Multiple Racing Lanes
Riley Herbst, racing for 23XI Racing, summed up the attitude many drivers are bringing into the playoff opener and expects an aggressive contest:
New Hampshire is a lot of fun. Wide racing, flat track, should be a pretty aggressive race.
– Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. of Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet expects fans to be treated to tight, engaging racing with plenty of side-by-side action:
It’s a track that’s got multiple lanes, and it’s fun to race on, so they’ll see a good race.
– Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Driver of the No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet
Justin Haley, running the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, described the race in a few energetic words:
You can expect hard racing as normal.
– Justin Haley, Driver of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
How to Join the NASCAR Cup Series New Hampshire Weekend
This unique New Hampshire event features days packed with competitive action for families and race devotees alike. The NHMS schedule begins with the Mohegan Sun 100 Modified Tour event, followed by the Team EJP 175 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs race, plus Cup Series practice and qualifying. The headline Mobil 1 301 caps the activities on Sunday, drawing national attention as the playoff battle advances.
Tickets are available through the speedway’s website or ticket hotline, with a special offer for young fans – children 12 and under can attend Sunday’s main event for just $10, while Saturday’s doubleheader is free for kids. For schedules, event info, and updates on races including driver appearances and live entertainment, fans are encouraged to visit NHMS.com, follow the speedway across social platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram, or check the mobile app.
The Broader Significance for the NASCAR Playoffs
The return of New Hampshire Motor Speedway to the playoff rotation injects both tradition and new energy into the championship chase. This challenging short track, affectionately called ‘The Magic Mile,’ is an equalizer where conditions can shift quickly, strategies are plentiful, and emerging winners often reshape the playoff picture for drivers and teams alike. As the Mobil 1 301 takes the green flag, drivers like Denny Hamlin, Cole Custer, Tyler Reddick, and Josh Berry are among those ready to seize the unpredictable, high-stakes battle ahead—while fans gear up for an unforgettable weekend of racing and celebration in New England.
