NASCAR has moved the start of the Dollar Tree 301 from the originally scheduled 3 p.m. ET to 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, a shift designed to stay ahead of a storm system that threatens New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
A Race Against the Clock
The race sits as the penultimate date on the schedule before the playoff field is locked in at Daytona, meaning every lap carries added weight for drivers jockeying for a favorable position heading into the season‑ending showdown.
Denny Hamlin currently tops the points standings, holding an 115‑point advantage over Ryan Blaney, the defending winner who is also the betting favorite. Christopher Bell, sitting just behind Blaney, is eager to break through for his first victory of the season after a string of runner‑up finishes.
Forecasts call for mid‑70s temperatures with more than 60 percent chance of showers after the original start time, prompting NASCAR to have wet‑weather tires on standby — a resource it last employed at this track earlier in 2024.
Fans will see gates open at 10 a.m. ET, with parking lots accessible from 7 a.m. and ticket booths from 8:30 a.m., giving ample time to settle in before the revised 2 p.m. green flag.
The adjusted schedule underscores how quickly weather can reshape a weekend’s rhythm, but the core drama — who will seize the final chance to influence the Chase — remains unchanged.