What’s Happening?
The NASCAR Truck and Cup Series head north to New Hampshire Motor Speedway as the Cup Series takes on the first race of the Round of 12, and the Truck Series makes its first cut of the playoff field.
- New Hampshire Motor Speedway is one of the younger ovals in the NASCAR schedule, having opened and hosted its first NASCAR National Series race in 1990. While it seems like a typical flat short track, NHMS has a history of upset winners and unique racing, earning the name “The Magic Mile.”
- The 1.058-mile oval hosted its first NASCAR National Series race in 1993. The original National Series to race at NHMS was actually the Xfinity Series, which raced there in 1990, but will end its long-running streak of racing at the track this season.
- For NMHS, this weekend is a week of returns. First, this is the first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race since 2017. Second, and perhaps most important, this is the first Playoff weekend at NHMS since 2017.
Weekend TV Schedule (All Times EST)
Friday, September 19: Truck Series Practice and Qualifying
- 4:05 PM – 5:00 PM: Truck Series Practice on FS2
- 5:10 PM – 6:00 PM: Truck Series Qualifying on FS2
Saturday, September 20: Cup Series Practice and Qualifying | Truck Series Race
- 12:00 PM: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Team EJP 175 on FS1 [TV] & NRN [Radio]
- 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Cup Series Practice on TruTV
- 4:10 PM – 5:00 PM: Cup Series Practice and Qualifying on TruTV
Sunday, September 21: Cup Series Race
- 2:00 PM — Cup Series Mobil 1 301 on USA [TV] & PRN [Radio]
Race Facts: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Track Facts: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
- Year Opened: 1990
- Length: 1.058 Miles
- Banking: 7° in All Four Turns
- Surface: Asphalt
- Rain Tires: Yes
- Lights: No
Mobil 1 301 on FS1:
- Race Length: 175 Laps (185.15 Miles)
- Stages: 55 Lap Stage One, 55 Lap Stage Two, 65 Lap Final Stage
- Most Recent Race Winner: Christopher Bell (2017)
EJP 175 on USA:
- Race Length: 301 Laps (318.46 Miles)
- Stages: 70 Lap Stage One, 115 Lap Stage Two, 116 Lap Final Stage
2024 USA Today 301 Results:
- First: Christopher Bell — No. 20
- Second: Chase Briscoe — No. 14
- Third: Josh Berry — No. 4
- Fourth: Kyle Larson — No. 5
- Fifth: Chris Buescher — No. 17
Top Storylines of the Weekend
- The NASCAR Cup Series made the first cut of the playoffs this past weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Josh Berry, and Shane van Gisbergen all met the end of their chase for the championship, and, over the next three races, four more drivers will face the cut. Entering this weekend, Austin Cindric, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, and Ross Chastain sit below the cut for the Round of Eight.
- This weekend marks the first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race since 2017, and the first cut of the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs. Unlike the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series, the Trucks’ first cut is of two drivers, rather than four, with Jake Garcia and Chandler Smith currently sitting below the cutline.
- Toyota Dominance was the main story of the first Round of the playoffs. Of the five Toyotas to make the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, all five advanced to the Round of Eight, with all three Joe Gibbs Playoff entries sweeping the first Round. The only question is, will this continue in New Hampshire? History suggests yes, as JGR has won all three NASCAR Next Gen races at the track, with Christopher Bell winning in 2022 and 2024.
Entry Lists
Cup Series

Open and Notable Entries:
- #4 – Noah Gragson
- #23 – Bubba Wallace
- #34 – Todd Gilliland
- #35 – Riley Herbst
- #38 – Zane Smith
- #45 – Tyler Reddick
Truck Series

Notable Entries:
- #02 Jayson Alexander
- #2 Stephen Mallozzi
- #7 Patrick Emerling
- #16 Christian Eckes (i)
- #20 Mason Massey (i)
- #22 Balke Lothian
- #33 Tyler Tomassi (i)
- #62 Michael Christopher Jr
- #97 Carson Kvapil (i) – Withdrawn
Note: This article will be updated as more information about the weekend comes out.
