Ryan Blaney returns to New Hampshire Motor Speedway with hopes of disrupting Joe Gibbs Racing‘s dominance in the NASCAR playoffs. This year’s race at the Magic Mile marks the track’s first Cup Series playoff appearance in eight seasons, giving Blaney a vital opportunity to challenge the powerhouse teams vying for the championship.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Rejoins Playoff Action
The excitement builds as New Hampshire Motor Speedway hosts its first NASCAR Cup Series playoff race since 2017, welcoming drivers and fans to Loudon’s familiar countryside setting. Ryan Blaney, the defending Cup champion for Team Penske, is enthusiastic about racing in the Northeast, a region he finds invigorating both for its atmosphere and the challenges it presents. While reflecting on his fondness for the area, Blaney described the autumn scenery and the energy from the passionate crowd at the track.
“I love the area itself, and there’s something about the northeast that I really enjoy,”
Blaney said.
“You get into September, and the leaves are changing, so I always enjoy the looks of it driving to the racetrack. And the crowd atmosphere there is always fantastic.”
– Ryan Blaney, Team Penske driver.
This year’s playoff return sees the Magic Mile at the center of the second round in the championship chase. The 1.058-mile oval has built a reputation for producing compelling battles and is viewed by contenders like Blaney as a critical stage to turn the tide against the dominant teams.
Joe Gibbs Racing: The Team to Beat in the Playoffs
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) enters New Hampshire as the team to watch in the playoff run, having swept the opener’s three races with drivers Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, and Christopher Bell claiming victories. Over those events—held at Darlington Raceway, World Wide Technology Raceway, and Bristol Motor Speedway—JGR Toyotas led an impressive 757 of a possible 1,107 laps, an overwhelming show of speed and teamwork.
The recent stats at New Hampshire are even more daunting for their competitors. Since NASCAR’s Next Gen car arrived in 2022, JGR drivers have won every race and stage at the Magic Mile while leading 83% of the laps during that span. Christopher Bell specifically has found tremendous success at Loudon, taking two of the last three wins there, including a dramatic overtime finish on June 23, 2024.
“Joe Gibbs Racing has asserted themselves as the powerhouse team in the sport right now, so we’re loving life. We know we’re in a good spot, and we’re just trying to keep the ball rolling.”
– Christopher Bell, JGR driver.
For Bell and teammates, New Hampshire represents another opportunity to maintain their playoff stranglehold.
“I was definitely excited when the schedule came out, and I saw that Loudon was getting a playoff race,”
Bell said.
“It made me very optimistic. You need to start the rounds with a positive race, and certainly this is a place that we should lead laps and contend for the win.”
– Christopher Bell, JGR driver.
JGR’s consistency at New Hampshire is unmatched, having placed a car in the top two for 13 consecutive races—the longest such streak in Cup Series history at any venue.
Ryan Blaney’s Quest to Challenge the Dominance
While Blaney has not celebrated a victory at New Hampshire, his recent form has been formidable. Last season, he qualified second at the track and has strung together consecutive fourth-place finishes in this year’s playoffs. With an average playoff finish ranking second among eligible drivers, Blaney’s No. 12 Ford emerges as a genuine contender for disrupting the traditional playoff order. Since winning last year’s Cup Series title, Blaney’s team has experienced little turnover, developing into what he calls a “well-oiled machine” with strong chemistry and a collective drive toward their third straight Championship 4 appearance.
“I feel like our group just keeps getting better and better every year,”
Blaney said.
“Everyone is extremely confident in themselves and their ability. We’ve had the belief that we can do it the last three years, and it’s really fun to be part of a group like that. Everyone is clicking together.”
– Ryan Blaney, Team Penske driver.
Blaney’s season statistics bolster his optimism. Despite seven DNFs due to crashes or engine trouble in the first 20 races, he has accumulated 16 top-10 finishes, tying with Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell for the series lead. Both Blaney’s resilience and the continued evolution of his team keep him in the hunt for another playoff breakthrough.
“I feel like our speed has been really solid all year,”
he said.
“The Toyotas are really strong. The last three weeks, they’ve been incredibly fast, and all of the teams have been executing really well, but we’re really close to where we need to be. I have confidence that we can get on that level.”
– Ryan Blaney, Team Penske driver.
The “Big Three” Continue Their Grip on the Cup Series
As the playoff field resets entering the second round, the pace-setters remain Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, and Team Penske. Nine of the top ten standings positions are held by drivers from these three organizations, a continuation of a trend that’s seen them claim every Cup title since 2017. Since 2020, only Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing and Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing have broken into the Championship 4 outside the “Big Three,” as those powerhouse teams have secured 18 of 20 available spots in the season finale.
“The question will always be, ‘How do you beat the Big Three?’”
Chastain said this week.
“I think it’s just the nature of the sport and the quantity of people and the quantity of dollars. … We don’t have an answer, but we’re trying.”
– Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing driver.
In pursuit of closing the gap, Trackhouse Racing made a significant move this summer by appointing Todd Meredith, a former Joe Gibbs Racing executive, as president of racing operations. This shift in leadership and a focused effort to raise internal standards is part of a strategic overhaul as Trackhouse prepares for competitiveness beyond just this season.
“Some of them are only focused on the offseason and next year,”
Chastain said.
“We’ve got what we’ve got right now, so let’s start on next year. Raising our next group of leaders and raising the bar for employees is something Todd’s big on. So doing it ourselves and not always looking outside of our walls is something we’re focused on.”
– Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing driver.
Penalty Looms for Denny Hamlin’s Crew
Denny Hamlin, a key figure for Joe Gibbs Racing, will face additional pressure in New Hampshire due to upcoming penalties affecting his pit crew. After the right-front tire detached from his No. 11 car with 116 laps remaining at Bristol, NASCAR suspended his front tire changer and jackman for two races. Utilizing a new rule this year, JGR has deferred the penalty for one race, allowing those crew members to work at New Hampshire before serving their suspension at Kansas Speedway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. The introduction of a new tire compound this weekend could further increase the importance and frequency of pit stops in the 301-lap event, making crew cohesion and execution pivotal for Hamlin and his team.
What’s at Stake as Playoffs Continue at the Magic Mile
Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a major moment in this year’s NASCAR Cup playoffs. With a track record of supremacy at the Magic Mile, Joe Gibbs Racing looks to extend their run, but challengers from Team Penske, Hendrick Motorsports, and ambitious teams like Trackhouse Racing aim to disrupt the favorites’ momentum. Ryan Blaney’s strong playoff form and the internal improvements at competing organizations suggest that fans can expect a highly competitive race as the path to the championship tightens. What happens in Loudon will shape who maintains the advantage—and which teams can seize the narrative as the fight for the Cup continues.
