Ryan Blaney captured his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, holding off a late charge from Bubba Wallace to finish first.
The pit stop that turned the tide
During a scheduled pit stop, a lug nut slipped off the left‑front wheel of Blaney’s car, forcing the team into an unexpected strategy shift.
Crew chief Jonathan Hassler responded by switching from wet‑weather tires to slicks after roughly 40 laps, a move that gave Blaney a clear track advantage.
The gamble paid off as Blaney led 115 of the 301 laps, ultimately crossing the line 0.586 seconds ahead of Wallace, with Josh Berry securing third place.
A crowded top‑five and a points battle
Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson completed the top five, while Denny Hamlin finished seventh, keeping Blaney’s lead in the regular‑season standings at 77 points over the competition.
The race also saw Shane van Gisbergen finish 20th, his Chase hopes ending after a mechanical failure, and Ryan Preece hold ninth, staying in the playoff picture.
Looking ahead to Daytona
The NASCAR Cup Series now heads to Daytona International Speedway for the season‑ending 160‑lap showdown on August 29, a race that will determine the final playoff qualifiers and could further extend Blaney’s points advantage.