A Rain‑Soaked Battle at New Hampshire
The event began with Tyler Reddick claiming pole position, but the start was quickly compromised when he spun out on the opening lap, dropping him to the back of the field. Rain had already settled over the track, forcing officials to deploy wet‑weather tires and delay the green flag until 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
Once the race got underway, Ryan Blaney seized control, pacing the field for 115 laps and pulling away to claim his third win of the 2026 season and the 20th of his career. His dominance was evident as he led the majority of the event despite the slippery conditions.
Bubba Wallace finished just behind in second, with Josh Berry rounding out the podium in third. Kyle Larson also tasted victory earlier by winning stage one, and he ultimately crossed the line in fifth place.
Denny Hamlin used the race to cement his regular‑season championship, a milestone that added extra significance to an already eventful afternoon.
The race was marred by several crashes, including a notable incident with 68 laps remaining when William Byron spun and finished 30th, five laps down. Carson Hocevar endured two on‑track mishaps, one after contact with Connor Zilisch that sent him into a spin, ultimately relegating him to 19th.
Ross Chastain ended the event at the tail end of the field in 36th after mechanical troubles, while a competition caution was called after 40 laps to swap the wet tires for slicks, reshaping strategy for the final stretch.