Each car looks its weekend best for the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. (Photo: Josh Jones | The Podium Finish)
LOUDON, N.H. – It is safe to say that those who race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway believe in magic like you and The Lovin’ Spoonful.
For the past 30 years, the 1.058-mile oval has been New England’s home for premier stock car competition. This venue is fitting of the region’s spirit with being gritty, tough and rewarding to those who work hard.
Crew chiefs often scratch their heads with figuring out the perfect setup for this track. Drivers struggle with deciding if it is a short or intermediate track.
Regardless of the debates with both subjects, the site of the 20th round of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season is one tough customer. Equipment is pushed to the extreme in terms of mechanical grip, brakes and engines. Drivers are put to the test given the usually hot, humid conditions that leave some needing more than a mental cooldown.
Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Jeff Gordon, Ernie Irvan, Jeff Burton, Tony Stewart, Dale Jarrett, Ward Burton, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers, Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Aric Almriola and Christopher Bell know what it takes to win this event. No matter the competition, car and era, it takes an open minded approach to succeed at New Hampshire.
Oftentimes, it is not the fastest car that wins. Instead, it is a driver and team who can keep up with the changing track conditions, racing the racetrack versus their competition. That is how Bell kept himself in the fight before he emerged victorious last year.
Bell is likely the driver to beat as he will start from the pole alongside Martin Truex Jr. Toyota will likely be the OEM to beat but the Team Penske Fords of Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney may have something to say about that.
Once the NASCAR official unfurls the green flag on race day, it is anyone’s guess as to who will prevail in this year’s Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. For the time being, come along for the ride this and each race weekend with Podium Preview.
This weekend, Cody Shoppe, Jasmine Sharpe, Kobe Lambeth, Luis Torres, Matt Sisoler and yours truly contemplate about the importance of succeeding at New Hampshire for latter season races and who can respond to the bell against Joe Gibbs Racing.
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Question 1
Is there a bit of magic that can be learned from New Hampshire? (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
How important is a good run at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in relation to excelling at Richmond in two weeks and Phoenix Raceway, site of the season finale?
Sisoler : I could be wrong, but I get the feeling that anything learned from a good run at Loudon would apply to a race at the Milwaukee Mile, not so much Richmond or Phoenix given that Loudon is completely flat, unlike Richmond and Phoenix, which both have banking in at least two corners and Phoenix has the unique feature of the dogleg as well.In terms of momentum though, a good run at a short track could pay dividends for someone who might not usually be the most adept on tracks under a mile in length.
Lambeth : While both tracks race differently, being flat tracks mean the teams may test out something new on their cars at New Hampshire, in hopes it’ll give them an edge at the end of the season when a champion is being crowned at Phoenix. At tracks like this, the drivers in contention for the win will need a car that consistently carries speed through the corners and rolls well through the center.
The competitors certainly learned a ton from the Phoenix spring race and coming to the “Magic Mile” provides another great opportunity to keep building their notebook for the most important race of the year. Looking at last year’s Championship 4, three of the title contenders finished inside the top 10 at New Hampshire. While this race may give us an idea of who could be strong come November, I wouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket yet and start making Championship 4 predictions from this race alone. A lot of things can and will happen over the next month leading up to the playoffs.
Conley : They are always compared and I think there are a few things you can learn, but I think it’s more of what translates from Phoenix to Loudon, not as much the other way around. But, a strong run on a flat track that has heavy braking zones and really requires the team to walk a fine line with the setup can be beneficial.
Question 2
It may be another long race day for the field against a Joe Gibbs Racing talent in Martin Truex Jr. (Photo: Sam Draiss | The Podium Finish)
Does anyone have an answer for Joe Gibbs Racing’s dominance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway? If so, who can respond to the challenge?
Torres : It’s gonna be a tough sell for me to bet against Joe Gibbs Racing. However, if I had to really choose someone, why not a Stewart-Haas Racing driver.
Although SHR have been extremely underwhelming and that’s putting it lightly, Loudon has been a place where the team has had great moments over the years. I can possibly see Aric Almirola being a guy who can play a key role in stopping JGR. A longshot, but palpable if things fall right for the former Loudon winner.
Tiongson : That’s the million dollar question heading into Monday’s race. While Mother Nature may play havoc at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Cup race, the laws of averages will catch up with a dominant team like Joe Gibbs Racing at this venue.
For many years, this seemed like the Northeast house for Hendrick Motorsports with Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson tallying wins at this venue. However, it has been over 11 years since the winningest Cup team in the modern era’s most recent victory at “The Magic Mile.”
Although I do not foresee Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron or Alex Bowman ending that dryspell, they will be in the mix. In the meantime, I think Christopher Bell and Martin Truex Jr. are going to make life a living hell for their competitors come race day.
A two lap run around TPF’s original hometown track is always sentimental but fun. Before we consider the action again at New Hampshire, let us rewind to last Sunday night’s rain shortened Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Race No. 19 of 36 of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, with our race and points reports!
Sisoler’s sizzling streak sustained itself at Atlanta. Say that three times fast.
Subsequently, Sisoler strengths his strong points lead.
Next, let us look at the top 10 starters for Monday’s Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway! Starters are positioned by qualifying position, not necessarily by their pole winner’s opening lap lane choice.
Row 1 – Christopher Bell and Martin Truex Jr.
(Photo: Josh Jones and Sam Draiss | The Podium Finish)
Row 2 – Aric Almirola and Joey Logano
(Photo: Josh Jones and Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
Row 3 – Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick
(Photo: Sam Draiss and Josh Jones | The Podium Finish)
Row 4 – William Byron and Bubba Wallace
(Photo: Wayne Riegle and Sam Draiss | The Podium Finish)
Row 5 – Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch
(Photo: Josh Jones and Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
Last but not least, here are our winning picks for Monday’s Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway!
We can all agree on one OEM for New Hampshire. (Photo: Wayne Riegle, Josh Jones and Sam Draiss | The Podium Finish)
Tiongson : Make it two years in a row for Christopher Bell at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. About the only poor soul at Loudon when it comes to Bell potentially duplicating his winning ways is the lobster. Free the lobster, Bell!
Torres : Don’t bet against Christopher Bell at Loudon. His win a year ago kickstarted his rise to becoming a consistent contender in the Cup Series. It’s his best track on the entire tour and only failing to ever finish inside the top-two once in his national touring career, Bell is just going to be a force to be reckon with in New Hampshire for years to come.
Sisoler : Someone who has loved coming to New Hampshire since getting into their current ride and has a sunny outlook about Loudon is Christopher Bell. Since getting into the Joe Gibbs No. 20 car after the 2020 season at Leavine Family Racing, Bell has one win, one runner up finish, three starts inside the top 10, two inside the top five and the pole that he will roll off from whenever he gets the green flag. Expect C-Bell to strongly challenge for, if not take home, the victory at the end of 301 laps.
Conley : A fifth place finish at Phoenix earlier in the year and the win on the road course at COTA a lot of long straights with heavy breaking seemed to fit Tyler Reddick and the No. 45 team. Plus…Toyota.
Lambeth : It’s very hard to bet against Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota at Loudon. While the “Magic Mile” master, Christopher Bell, enters the race as the polesitter and one of the favorites, I believe one of his teammates is due for a win in the Granite State.
Despite having eight top fives, 14 top 10s and showing dominance at this track multiple times, Martin Truex Jr. still hasn’t been able to seal the deal in New Hampshire. However, I feel like that is on the verge of changing. I’m going with MTJ to take home the lobster this year!
We’re ready for some racing. How about you? What do you think are the biggest storylines heading into the race? Who are your favorites to win? Tweet us now @ThePodiumFinish and tell us now!
Thanks as always to the TPF team for their amazing efforts this week as we celebrate our 15th anniversary of operations!
The opinions and thoughts expressed in Podium Preview are solely of the authors. They do not reflect any organizations affiliated with the participants and author outside of TPF. This weekly feature is strictly for entertainment purposes. Ultimately, they are not indicative of TPF, the organization and its staff.
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