Martin Truex Jr. seemed to have a spell cast on the field in the Ambetter 301 for most of the race. However, it was Christopher Bell that found the right incantation on the “Magic Mile” to celebrate the win.
The NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway started out very competitive with the first caution coming out on lap five involving five cars. There would be a total of nine cautions during the race.
Martin Truex Jr. seemed to be the car to beat. He started from the pole. He led the first 95 laps of the race. He was the winner of stages one and two. He led a race high 172 of the 301 laps.
Late in the race it was some pit strategy that moved Martin Truex Jr. back in field for a re-start. That would give Kurt Busch the chance to take control of the race. Chase Elliott was eventually able to take the lead from Kurt. Christopher Bell’s team had worked on his car all race and finally found the magical setting for the #20 Toyota.
Christopher raced forward and took the lead on lap 260. Not only did he keep that lead for the last 42 laps of the race, he extended it. Christopher won the Ambetter 301 by a margin of more than five seconds over second and more than 13 seconds over third. This is his second career win in the Cup Series. It is his first of the 2022 season.
That gives NASCAR 14 different winners in the 2022 Cup Series season. There are six races left in the regular season. Sixteen drivers will make up the Playoff field. This keeps looking more and more like the year that the Cup Series could get 16 winners (or more) in the regular season.
Chase Elliott took home the runner-up finish with Bubba Wallace in third. Martin Truex Jr. claimed only a fourth-place finish after dominating most of the day. Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five. See the complete race results for the Ambetter 301 here.
Chase Elliott continues his march toward winning the Regular Season Championship as the leader in the point standings. Ross Chastain moves up a spot to second-place pushing Ryan Blaney back to third. Martin Truex Jr. did not win the race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but scored enough points to move up to fourth in the standings. Kyle Busch falls back a spot to fifth. See the complete NASCAR Cup Series Point Standings here.
The NASCAR Cup Series moves from the “Magic Mile” to the “Tricky Triangle.” Next stop for the drivers and teams is the Pocono Raceway Sunday, July 24th for the M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400.
By: Buck Stevens
