This weekend the NASCAR drivers will be hoping to punch their ticket to the post-season when they race on the “Magic Mile” of New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
In the era of “win and you’re in” when it comes to the Playoffs in the NASCAR Cup Series, this weekend’s Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 is one of seven chances left to get in with a win. If that weren’t enough pressure for the divers, in the pandemic era of racing that 2020 has become, those seven races will take place in just four weeks!
There are 10 drivers with at least one win. Those drivers have less pressure since they know they get a chance to race for the championship when the post-season begins for NASCAR. The rest of the drivers have to either acquire enough points to fill a spot based on points (if there are any), or win one of the next seven races to get that golden ticket to the Playoffs. Below is the Playoff outlook heading to New Hampshire.
While the track nicknamed the “Magic Mile” is the next chance to “win and get in,” doing it will not be an easy task. Some might say the “magic” in the mile at New Hampshire is it takes magic to win there. Here is what that drivers and teams will be facing 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 #: 20 of 36 (08-02-20)
Race Length: 301 laps / 318.46 miles
Stages 1 Length: 75 laps
Stages 2 Length: 110 laps
Final Stage Length: 116 laps
Which active drivers have found some magic during their NASCAR Cup Series careers?
Top 10 Active Driver Rating at New Hampshire
Denny Hamlin ……………………….. 103.6
Kyle Busch ……………………………. 102.4
Jimmie Johnson ………………………. 99.1
Kevin Harvick ………………………….. 98.5
Brad Keselowski ……………………… 98.4
Martin Truex Jr ………………………… 95.0
Matt Kenseth …………………………… 92.7
Chase Elliott ……………………………. 90.7
Kurt Busch ……………………………… 89.9
Ryan Newman ………………………… 88.2
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2019 races (28 total) among active drivers at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Which active drivers have found more than just magic and won one or more races on the “Magic Mile”?
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
Clint Bowyer – 2 Wins
Joey Logano – 2 Wins
Brad Keselowski – 1 Win
Four of the drivers that are previous winners at New Hampshire have already locked their Playoff spot by winning this year. That leaves five drivers that know how to win on the “Magic Mile” racing for that “golden ticket.”
Of those four that have clinched their post-season berth will still want to get as many Playoff Points as possible. That means they will want to win the race to get the five Playoff Points that come with a win.
The drivers that have not won at New Hampshire and have not won in 2020 will also be determined to score the win to check both boxes and get in with the win.
With minimal banking and maximum pressure on the drivers, this weekend’s race on the “Magic Mile” could turn out to be anything but magical for many of the drivers.
We will find out who pulls the rabbit out the hat Sunday, August 2nd in the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway starting at 2 P.M. central time (3 P.M. eastern time).
By: Buck Stevens
