New Hampshire Race Review and Analysis
Racing in New Hampshire! The Nascar Cup Series visited New Hampshire Motor Speedway, located in Loudon, New Hampshire, for the Ambetter 301. In a ground-shaking way, Christopher Bell takes home the checkered flag. This is Christopher Bell’s 2nd career win, and first of the 2022 season. Bell is now the 14th different winner in 20 races. Bell jumps the playoff standings and stamps his ticket to the 2022 Nascar playoffs.
(Christopher Bell Burning it down Post-Race)
Entering this afternoon in New Hampshire, only three spots were left for the playoffs. Today, Christopher Bell, at arguably his best track, takes away one of those spots. Christopher Bell entered this weekend with an up and down stretch after leaving Atlanta Motor Speedway. Bell’s #20 Joe Gibbs Racing machine, showed up with speed, as that paid dividends this afternoon. The 27-year-old raced hard today, as he took the lead from Chase Elliott which was eventually for the win. He was one of the many Toyota drivers to find success this afternoon, as he records his 5th top-5, and 11th top-10 this season.
Let’s rewind to stage 1 of today’s race. Ty Dillon, who is currently looking for a team for the 2023 season brought out the first caution. Dillon overcorrected his #42 Allegiant Chevrolet, which took both Alex Bowman and Josh Bilicki out of today’s race. B.J. McLeod was also involved in this incident, but he did not continue the race. In regards to Ty Dillon, this does not help at all. Dillon was told he would not be returning to Petty GMS Racing on Friday, with a DNF (Did not finish) for a result that did not help in regards to finding a team for 2023. Alex Bowman has been on a rough patch as of recent. Bowman has three DNFs in the last four races. Bowman must look for a change in a positive direction as we head into Pocono. Dillon finished 33rd, followed by Bilicki in 34th, Bowman in 35th, and McLeod in 36th.
(Christopher Bell's Car in Victory Lane)
Fast forwarding to stage 2, at lap 89 Harrison Burton, Corey LaJoie, and Michael McDowell all were collected in a wreck. Burton stayed out on old tires, as that gave him the opportunity to run up front, he finished 26th. Corey LaJoie finished 32nd, after what looked like a solid race for the Spire Motorsports #7 team. LaJoie was running 19th, before all turned loose, as his afternoon was cut short. Michael McDowell who struggled today comes home 28th. McDowell for Front Row Motorsports will look to rebound, with Pocono on the horizon.
The driver who swept both stages 1 and 2, was Martin Truex Jr. of Joe Gibbs Racing. The New Jersey native was looking for a win this afternoon, after qualifying in the pole position. The Joe Gibbs Racing #19 was a force until eventually, the #19 car fell off later in the final stage. Truex Jr. captured his first pole in almost four years. Truex Jr.’s last pole was in 2018 at Kentucky Speedway. The #19 was fast, and dominant, but finished 4th after leading 172 laps.
(Christopher Bell with the New Hampshire Lobster)
Drivers who had a good performance in New Hampshire this afternoon were Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and Kurt Busch. Chase Eliott the driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports finished 2nd. Elliott qualified 2nd and finished in the same place in 2nd. Today was a good day for Elliott, as he led 14 laps. In an astonishing way, Bubba Wallace had the most complete race of his career as he finished 3rd. Bubba Wallace, the driver of the #23 DraftKings Camry for 23XI Racing ran a stellar race this afternoon. Wallace the entire 301-lap race, didn’t run worse than the 14th. Wallace was in the top-10 for most of today’s race, he finished 2nd in stage 1, 10th in stage 2, and 3rd to end today’s race. This is momentum in the right direction as Wallace’s career-best finish at New Hampshire was 22nd before today’s race.
Wallace enters Pocono next weekend after recording his 2nd top-5 finish since the Daytona 500 back in February. Martin Truex Jr. who was previously mentioned earlier, finished 4th. Kevin Harvick for Stewart-Haas Racing finishes 5th. Harvick has strung together some great finishes as of recent. Harvick hasn’t finished worse than 12th in his last five races, which is a good thing currently looking at the playoff standings. Denny Hamlin finishes 6th for Joe Gibbs Racing. Hamlin fought strong all afternoon, he went the distance, and brought home his 5th top-10 of the season. Brad Keselowski for RFK Racing finishes 7th, the driver of the #6 car ran a solid race this afternoon. Keselowski was in a dust-up with Austin Dillon, earlier in today’s race but that didn’t stop Keselowski from picking up his 3rd top-10 of 2022. Ross Chastain, who is having a career year finished 8th. Chastain ran inside the top-15 for most of the afternoon, as he tried not to ruffle anyone’s feathers today. Chastain has recorded his 14th top-10 of the 2022 season. Daniel Suarez finishes 9th, the Trackhouse Racing #99 ran a clean race this afternoon. In what was another complete race from 23XI Racing, Kurt Busch in the #45 car finished 10th. Toyota's dominance ran strong this afternoon, Toyota as a manufacturer swept all three stages. Kurt Busch led 40 laps today, with a pitstop late in today’s race Kurt Busch was a lap down. Busch drove up through the field, and unlapped himself, then kept the momentum going for a 10th place finish. Toyota as a manufacturer led 254 out of 301 laps across today’s race in New Hampshire.
(Christopher Bell in front of the fans)
Drivers who struggled this afternoon were Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Busch, and Austin Dillon. Joey Logano finished 24th, for a track like New Hampshire, today was a struggle for Logano. Joey Logano hasn’t finished worse than 10th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway since 2017, that all changed this afternoon. Tyler Reddick struggled this afternoon for Richard Childress Racing. Reddick finished 21st, ending the hot streak for his #8 team this afternoon. Kyle Busch spun out twice this afternoon in New Hampshire, the #18 driver came back to finish 12th. To round out drivers who struggled today was Austin Dillon. Dillon finished 23rd, as he wasn’t really competitive this afternoon. A dust-up with Brad Keselowski was the only time Dillon was running well, which was 19th.
In my opinion, today was great. New Hampshire Motor Speedway delivered all weekend long, as it once again did this afternoon. Only two playoff spots are left for drivers to fill out over the next handful of races. An intriguing race in Pocono is up next on the schedule which will be fun to watch, as fuel mileage takes over. Taking all action into consideration, I’d rate today’s action a 9.1 out of 10.
(A look at the playoff standings post New Hampshire)
Heading to the Tricky Triangle! The Nascar Cup Series will head to Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. This is a demanding, rough, fuel mileage, and endurance testing track. All three national series will make the trip out to Pocono Raceway. The Truck Series will have practice and qualifying Friday afternoon starting at 4:30pm ET on FS1. Followed by the Truck Series race on Saturday at 12:00pm ET. The Xfinity Series will have practice and qualifying on Saturday starting at 9:35am ET. The Xfinity Series race in Pocono will be at 5:00pm ET Saturday evening only on USA Network. The Cup Series will have practice and qualifying starting at 2:35pm ET on Saturday. The M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 will be at 3:00pm ET, July 24th only on USA Network.
( All images credited to https://www.foxsports.com/nascar/cup-series.)
For next week's race information please view the link down below:
https://www.poconoraceway.com/
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