A dramatic finish at New Hampshire
Ryan Blaney captured his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, leading 115 of 301 laps and edging Bubba Wallace by 0.586 seconds at the checkered flag.
The No. 12 Ford of Blaney endured a lug-nut failure during a pit stop, a setback that briefly dropped him from the lead. Quick work on the next pit sequence allowed him to reclaim position, and he ultimately survived a multi-car crash to finish first.
Josh Berry secured third place, delivering Wood Brothers Racing its fourth straight top-10 finish and underscoring the team’s resurgence. Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson completed the top five, while Shane van Gisbergen, despite a 20th-place result, held onto the final Chase transfer spot.
The race unfolded under a mix of wet-weather and dry conditions. After an initial start on rain tires, the track dried enough for drivers to switch to slicks after roughly 40 laps, a shift that reshaped strategy and tire management.
Ross Chastain’s Chase aspirations ended abruptly when his No. 1 Chevrolet suffered a mechanical failure just past the 40-lap mark, eliminating him from contention for the season-ending title.
With the regular season now concluded, attention turns to the finale at Daytona International Speedway on August 29, a 160-lap event that will determine the championship four-car lineup.
Team Penske and Wood Brothers Racing, two of the sport’s storied organizations, continue to play pivotal roles as the series heads into the playoffs.