After 301 laps of racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, it was as soon as once more Ryan Blaney elevating the lobster above his head in Victory Lane.
He denied Bubba Wallace and Josh Berry a much-needed victory, and solidified his place within the No. 2 spot within the Cup standings.
The race featured 9 cautions, and 15 lead modifications amongst seven totally different drivers. There’s now only one race left within the common season, and the battle to make the Chase will come all the way down to the wire.
This is the most important winners and losers from New Hampshire Motor Speedway:
WINNER: Ryan Blaney fights again from mid-race setback to win
Watch: Blaney displays on wild comeback drive to Loudon victory
It looks as if at any time when Blaney wins a race, he has to beat some impediment to get the job performed. Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was no totally different, as a gradual pit cease dropped him from the result in outdoors the highest ten. Nevertheless, crew chief Jonathan Hassler bought him again out entrance with a two-tire name of their ultimate cease. Blaney then needed to maintain off charging drivers with 4 recent tires, narrowly hanging on for his third win of the season. Blaney is now solidly second in factors proper earlier than the Chase reset.
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LOSER: Chase Elliott loses two positions in standings after tough day
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports
Picture by: Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos
Elliott was nowhere this weekend at NHMS. He certified twenty ninth and completed twenty fifth, actually by no means displaying a lot velocity within the No. 9 Hendrick Chevy. In the course of the race, the staff put the tires on backwards, forcing an unscheduled pit cease and making a foul day worse. The mediocre day price him two positions within the standings, which is ten bonus factors flown from his fingers only one week earlier than the Chase reset.
WINNER: Josh Berry makes his presence often called he fights for future
Watch: Josh Berry on ultimate cost to P3: ‘That was the whole lot I had’
For those who’re a driver with an unsure future, you have to do precisely what Berry is doing proper now. After shedding his Cup journey to Jesse Love for subsequent yr, he has been operating up entrance all month, changing into the primary Wooden Brothers driver in 32 years to attain 4 consecutive high ten finishes. Whereas he missed out on a much-needed win, the aggressive drive from Berry will certainly get him seen and hold within the minds of any house owners nonetheless in search of a succesful driver in 2027.
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LOSER: William Byron loses wheel, and is about to lose extra
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports
Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
Byron was having certainly one of his greatest runs of the yr at NHMS. He certified up entrance and ran first rate many of the day. His staff made the identical two-tire name as Blaney throughout the ultimate cease, however his high 5 run got here to an abrupt finish as a left-rear wheel disconnected and he slammed the wall. Together with a wrecked race automobile and a two-lap penalty, the implications do not finish there. Two crew members (jackman/tire changer) will probably be suspended for the following two races, together with the Chase opener at Darlington. It is not the way in which you wish to begin a championship run…
WINNER: Ryan Preece retains Chase hopes alive
Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford; Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota; Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Staff Penske Ford
Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
Preece had an excellent run at New Hampshire, at was even in competition for the win at one level. Sadly, he pale outdoors the highest 5 close to the top however nonetheless completed ninth with a pocket filled with stage factors. He entered the race 50 factors behind Shane van Gisbergen for the ultimate Chase spot, and is now 31 factors behind. It is nonetheless going to be troublesome, however he has an actual probability now. And it is price noting that within the proprietor standings, the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford he drives is simply six factors out.
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LOSER: Shane van Gisbergen vanishes as observe dries
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing
Picture by: Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos
New Hampshire began very constructive for Van Gisbergen, qualifying fifth and taking the lead early on a moist observe. He led 30 laps and even drove out to seven-second lead. However as soon as the slick tires bought bolted again on, Van Gisbergen quickly fell. He was by no means inside the highest ten once more, ending twentieth. He lamented how their tempo appeared to fade as soon as the observe dried, and now the Trackhouse driver should maintain his breath within the Daytona cutoff race.
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WINNER: Bubba Wallace would not get the win, but it surely’s nonetheless a constructive day for the No. 23
Watch: Wallace explains late lockup, runner-up end: ‘Needed to battle all day’
Wallace very practically gained at New Hampshire, however a second-place end the place nothing went incorrect is strictly what this staff wants earlier than the Chase begins. It has been a yr of ‘ifs’ for Wallace as a number of robust runs fell aside earlier than the top, however New Hampshire was not the newest instance of that. He drove up from a mid-pack beginning place, main 22 laps and actually placing the strain on race winner Blaney within the closing laps.
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LOSER: Chase Briscoe drops from second to twenty sixth in ultimate run
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing
Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
The ultimate run was a large number for the No. 19 Toyota. On the final restart, Briscoe was second and battling for the race lead with Blaney. 60 laps later, he was twenty sixth and one lap down. It price him a place within the standings, and ended a outstanding streak of 4 consecutive finishes of sixth or higher.
BONUS WINNER: Noah Gragson is slowly turning season round
Noah Gragson, Entrance Row Motorsports
Picture by: Jonathan Bachman – Getty Photos
2026 has been brutal for FRM, however ever since he secured a contract extension with the staff, issues are wanting up for the No. 4 Ford. Finishes of seventeenth, 18th, and now tenth at New Hampshire are much better than the place he was operating. New Hampshire was simply his second profession high ten of the yr, and that is the primary time he has ever put collectively three consecutive high 20 finishes since becoming a member of FRM final yr.
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