This weekend the NASCAR Cup Series is heading to the track known as the “Magic Mile.” The question is who can find that magical win in the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway?
Racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway takes skill, a good handling car and a little magic to get to the end with a chance to win. The track is not considered a short track. However, drivers have to approach it that way because of the minimal banking on the track.
Here is the data for the track and race that the drivers and teams will be dealing with this weekend.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Data
Track Size: 1.058-mile
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 2 to 7 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 2 to 7 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 1 degree
Banking/Backstretch: 1 degree
Frontstretch Length: 1,500 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,500 feet
Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 Data
Season Race #: 22 of 36 (07-18-21)
Race Length: 301 laps / 318.46 miles
Stages 1 Length: 75 laps
Stages 2 Length: 110 laps
Final Stage Length: 116 laps
These active drivers have at least found enough magic to perform well overall at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in their Cup Series career.
Top 10 Driver Ratings at New Hampshire
Denny Hamlin……………………… 104.5
Brad Keselowski…………………… 100.9
Kyle Busch…………………………. 100.0
Kevin Harvick………………………… 98.8
Martin Truex Jr……………………… 95.5
Chase Elliott…………………………. 91.1
Kurt Busch……………………………. 89.3
Kyle Larson………………………….. 87.9
Ryan Newman………………………. 87.3
Ryan Blaney…………………………. 86.8
Cole Custer………………………….. 85.5
Joey Logano…………………………. 83.2
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2020 races (29 total) among active drivers at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
There are eight active drivers that have found the magic to win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. All eight have won multiple times during their careers in NASCAR’s top division.
Active Drivers with NASCAR Cup Series New Hampshire Win(s)
Kevin Harvick – 4 Wins
Jimmie Johnson – 3 Wins
Denny Hamlin – 3 Wins
Kurt Busch – 3 Wins
Kyle Busch – 3 Wins
Ryan Newman – 3 Wins
Brad Keselowski – 2 Wins (2020 Race Winner)
Joey Logano – 2 Wins
There are five races remaining before the NASCAR Playoffs begin (counting this weekend’s race). There are four spots for the post-season that are not filled by a driver with at least one win. That leaves the chance open that all spots could be filled by drivers with at least one win.
Denny Hamlin has not won a race yet this season. However, he has been the point leader for the majority of the regular season. If he can hold that lead for the next five races and become the Regular Season Champion he will be the 16th driver in the Playoffs by NASCAR rule. However, he only holds a 10 point lead over Kyle Larson in the points. If Kyle takes over the points lead Denny will have to win to clinch a spot in the post-season if there are four or five new winners in the remaining regular season races.
Kevin Harvick hasn’t won this season either. He does have four career wins at on the “Magic Mile.” That ties him for most all-time with Jeff Burton. Should Kevin find the magic to win this weekend he would take over the most all-time wins at New Hampshire Motor Speedway all by himself. More importantly it would clinch his spot in the Playoffs.
Even if there are no new winners for the 2021 regular season, the reality is that drivers below the current cut off line will likely have to win to get in the Playoffs. There may be a mathematical way gain the points to get in, but the reality you can’t count on the math falling in to place.
What will happen? Who will win? Will it cause a shake-up on the NASCAR Playoff Outlook for this year?
We will find out Sunday, July 18th starting at 2 p.m. central time (3 p.m. eastern time) in the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens
