LOUDON, N.H. – Ryan Blaney powered to victory today in the Mobil 1 301 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Playoffs race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS), kicking off the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Playoffs and marking another thrilling chapter in the track’s storied racing history. The race drew a sold-out crowd for the NCS’s only stop in New England this season.
Since first hosting NASCAR’s premier series in 1993, NHMS has been a cornerstone of the sport in the Northeast. This year’s playoff battle once again showcased the intensity of racing on “The Magic Mile,” with drivers trading paint and battling for crucial postseason points.
2023 NCS champion Blaney secured today’s win after crossing the finish line ahead of Josh Berry and William Byron. The victory clinched Blaney’s spot in NASCAR’s Round of 8 in the NCS Playoffs and marked his third win of the season.
“I’ve wanted to hold that [expletive] lobster for like 30 years,” Blaney told reporters. “I wanted to hold that thing up in victory lane just because I saw guys doing it when I was growing up.”
Blaney established his dominance early, taking the win in stage one and staying consistently up front throughout the race. The momentum continued deep into the final stage, where, with 40 laps to go, Blaney made the decisive pass on Berry for the lead and never looked back.
Fans packed NHMS for an unforgettable day of racing, enjoying not only the high-speed action but also the energy of NASCAR’s return to the region. The event highlighted the speedway’s longstanding role as New England’s hub for major motorsports events.
