The NASCAR Cup Series is set to take place at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Dollar Tree 301, bringing top-tier stock car racing to the flat, one-mile oval known as “The Magic Mile” in Loudon, New Hampshire, according to event schedules and local reporting.
The Chase Picture and Driver Form at Loudon
Christopher Bell enters the weekend with momentum after clinching a spot in The Chase following last weekend’s race at Richmond. Despite securing his playoff berth, Bell is still hunting for his first points-paying victory of the season, having accumulated seven second-place finishes. Historically, Bell commands one of the strongest records at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, collecting seven wins across NASCAR’s top three series in 12 starts. He pilots the No. 20 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Among active full-time Cup Series drivers, only five have previously visited victory lane at Loudon: Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and defending winner Ryan Blaney. Hamlin pursues a slice of historical significance this weekend; a Cup Series victory would tie him with NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick for the most Cup Series wins at New Hampshire.
Double-Duty Competitors and Modified Thrills
Several Cup Series regulars are pulling double duty over the weekend. Christopher Bell, John Hunter Nemechek, and Connor Zilisch are slated to compete in the Team EJP 175 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, while Ryan Preece runs the Mohegan Sun 100 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race.
The Whelen Modified Tour remains a focal point of the weekend’s racing action. Due to the track’s long straightaways, flat corners, and the unique aerodynamic packages of the modified cars, the division regularly delivers some of the tightest competition of the weekend.
“If you aren’t there on Saturday and you’re just going Sunday, you’re gonna wish you were there on Saturday,” Ryan Preece said in a news release. Defending modified race winner Tyler Rypkema echoed that sentiment, noting it shapes up to be the standout race of the weekend.
Fan Events and Weekend Schedule Highlights
Beyond the on-track sessions, New Hampshire Motor Speedway hosts numerous fan interaction opportunities, autograph sessions, and Q&A panels:
From Instagram — related to nascar series returns hampshire, NASCAR Loudon Weekend
- Thursday: Truck Series driver Christian Eckes hosts a meet-and-greet at the NAPA Auto Parts in Concord, while Spencer Boyd meets fans in Merrimack.
- Friday: Craftsman Series drivers Parker Eatmon and Landen Lewis participate in a cornhole tournament outside the infield tunnel to benefit the Speedway Children’s Charities New Hampshire Chapter (SCCNH). Tyler Rypkema holds a fan appearance at the SCCNH Track Treasures Shop.
- Saturday: The central fan zone in the S2 lot hosts driver autograph sessions starting at 11 a.m. Cup Series driver Austin Hill meets fans in Epsom, and Denny Hamlin hosts an autograph session in Manchester. Tyler Reddick leads a Q&A session followed by a track walk, leading into “The Magic Mile” Happy Hour Show featuring drivers Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric, and Joey Logano alongside media personalities from “Door Bumper Clear.”
- Sunday: Race day opens with the Trackside Live pre-race show, featuring live interviews with top drivers including Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, Zane Smith, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
With only two weeks remaining before the playoff cut-off, drivers like Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski face mounting pressure to secure race wins and lock themselves into The Chase.
Related reading