Ryan Blaney came out on top in a dramatic showdown at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, winning Sunday’s Round of 12 opener and keeping Josh Berry at bay in the last crucial laps. The Josh Berry New Hampshire race battle saw Team Penske dominating through 301 laps, with Blaney leading for 116 laps and ultimately securing his third 2025 season victory.
Penske’s Strong Start and Blaney’s Determination
Team Penske quickly established itself as the team to beat, with both Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney starting from the front row after an impressive qualifying session. Logano topped the laps-led chart with 147 laps up front, eventually finishing in fourth place. Blaney, despite being stuck in traffic at times, managed to regain his position at the front when it mattered most.
Josh Berry, racing for Wood Brothers Racing with their technical alliance to Penske, was eliminated from the postseason at Bristol Motor Speedway the previous week. Nonetheless, he emerged as Blaney’s toughest competitor in New Hampshire. In the closing laps, Berry pressed hard for the lead, but Blaney defended his position to secure the win, providing an exciting finish for fans and drivers alike.
“That was probably the hardest 20 laps that I drove,”
Blaney told Marty Snider of NBC Sports.
“I was trying to kind of bind my stuff and kind of pull Josh a little bit and he really started coming. I started to get super free; it was all I could do to hold him off and trying new lanes. So, it was good racing and clean racing, appreciate Josh for not throwing me the bumper when he could have.”
– Ryan Blaney, Driver
“What a cool day, what a cool weekend. Super fast car all weekend, so can’t believe the 12 boys, they’re unbelievable. Really strong throughout the playoffs and it’s great to get a win the first race of this round.”
– Ryan Blaney, Driver
Berry Makes His Mark After Playoff Elimination
Although Berry’s championship hopes ended at Bristol, he proved his competitiveness by nearly overtaking Blaney. Berry drove assertively but cleanly, respecting Blaney’s playoff contention. Such sportsmanship highlighted the close ties between Wood Brothers Racing and Team Penske, strengthening both teams’ reputations for fair play.
Blaney acknowledged the integrity of Berry’s challenge, saying,
“I expect him to go out and try to win the race,”
and
“I knew he wasn’t gonna lay over for me, but I didn’t think I was ever gonna get the bumper. We raced just super clean. I would do the same thing if I was him, right, and try to go win the race. That’s what this thing is all about. For a while, man, it was stressful, and I’m worn out. But overall, what a cool weekend.”
– Ryan Blaney, Driver
What the Win Means for Blaney and the Playoff Picture
This New Hampshire victory clinched Blaney’s place in the next playoff round, intensifying the competition for a spot in the championship. Team Penske’s excellent performance across both qualifying and the race itself reinforced their form going into the remainder of the year. Joey Logano, meanwhile, demonstrated consistency with his laps-led tally and fourth-place result, further highlighting Penske’s depth.
The presence of notable figures such as Paul Fienbaum and Wayne Matthews III in related news, as well as coverage by outlets like NBC Sports and ESPN, demonstrates the widespread attention and anticipation surrounding the race and broader playoff battles. The energy and sportsmanship displayed during the Josh Berry New Hampshire race have set high expectations for the races to come, promising more action as the playoffs continue.
RYAN BLANEY WINS AT NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY! 🦞🏁 pic.twitter.com/RmfY4ULKfU
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) September 21, 2025
