Ryan Blaney extended his playoff dominance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, holding off teammate Josh Berry to claim his third victory of the season in the Mobil 1 301. Berry, despite a strategic misstep in the closing laps, mounted an impressive comeback after early contact with Shane Van Gisbergen and finished second. While Team Penske controlled much of the race, Berry’s efforts highlighted Wood Brothers Racing resilience. The final stages saw critical decisions on tire strategy, showcasing how calculated risk can define playoff outcomes in NASCAR’s high-stakes environment.
Key Highlights
- Ryan Blaney wins Mobil 1 301, advancing to Round of 8.
- Josh Berry recovers from early spin to finish second.
- Joey Logano led 147 laps but finishes fourth.
- Strategic tire decisions shaped the closing laps for Berry and Blaney.
- Goodyear tire testing influenced playoff compounds, avoiding high-risk experimental tires.
Penske Dominance and Berry’s Comeback
Team Penske showed its strength early, sweeping the top qualifying spots with Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Josh Berry. Logano led 147 laps and won Stage 2, while Blaney controlled the final stage to secure victory. Berry, however, faced adversity in Stage 2 when contact with Shane Van Gisbergen spun his No. 21 Ford, dropping him deep in the field. Despite the setback, Berry’s team stayed resilient, executing a recovery that brought him back into contention for the win.
Reflecting on the race, Berry said:
“It was definitely an awesome day. Had a really, really good car. Hats off to Ryan at the end. All of our four cars were really strong, and Ryan did a great job there. I was honestly surprised. I was a little worried when he got around me as quick as he did, but it seemed like it leveled out, and I was able to keep him honest, at least at the end. All in all, Miles, his whole team did a great job. We were down a set of tires after the spin. So, I think it kind of forced our hand. We didn’t want to take our last rites, at least that early, with that many laps left.” – Josh Berry
Strategic Decisions Shape the Finish
In the closing laps, Berry faced a critical decision from crew chief Miles Stanley following a late caution on lap 255. Opting to maintain track position rather than pit for fresh tires, Berry temporarily took the race lead. However, Blaney, on fresher tires, eventually overtook him with 39 laps remaining. Berry stayed competitive but ultimately finished 0.937 seconds behind. He emphasized his focus on clean racing with teammates:
“I was going to race him. It’s definitely a tough situation. You’ve got to take care of him. That’s how I try to race, anyway. These restarts and stuff, I try to do the best I can to be smart. It’s tough out there sometimes. I was going to race him hard but clean.” – Josh Berry
Joey Logano and Goodyear Tire Insights
Joey Logano’s race was strong yet ultimately fell short of victory. Leading early and winning Stage 2, Logano finished fourth. His pole position marked his first at New Hampshire and reflected prior Goodyear tire testing conducted in July alongside Christopher Bell and Ross Chastain. Experimental compounds were trialed, including one requiring drivers to carefully manage tires over 40 laps.
Logano explained:
“There was a tire we ran that 40 laps was, you had to manage the tire to make it 40. I like that, right? I mean, you look at what happened at Bristol last week, I think everybody likes it. I mean, as a driver, I thought it was awesome.” – Joey Logano
He added:
“Pretty risky to do, especially in the playoffs, like if it doesn’t work out, it could be a total fiasco.” – Joey Logano
For the playoffs, Goodyear chose proven compounds D-5254 and D-5256, tested at Richmond, Martinsville, and North Wilkesboro, balancing performance with reliability.
News in Brief: Josh Berry Nearly Pulls Off NHMS Miracle: “I Was a Little Worried”
Ryan Blaney won the Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire, holding off Josh Berry, who recovered from a Stage 2 spin to finish second. Joey Logano led 147 laps, winning Stage 2, but finished fourth. Strategic tire decisions defined the closing laps, as Berry’s choice to stay out temporarily secured the lead, only for Blaney to pass on fresher tires. Goodyear’s playoff compounds avoided high-risk experimental tires tested in July, ensuring consistency. Berry praised clean racing with teammates.
ALSO READ: Josh Berry’s Rookie Magic Ends in Painful Playoff Exit
