Ryan Blaney dashed through a late pit‑stop nightmare to claim his third win of the season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Rocket‑Start Downturn and Viable Comeback
After 301 laps and nine cautions, Blaney’s first lead slipped away when a slow pit call dropped the Penske No. 12 from the front into the top ten.
On the final stop, Jonathan Hassler’s two‑tire strategy deflected the loss. With four fresher stickers than the field, Daniel Knost defended the flag until the final lap, edging past Wallace and Berry.
Chase Charting Slip‑Ups
Hendrick’s Chase Elliott finished 25th, a drop from 29th on the grid, after the team placed tires in reverse and stalled on an unscheduled stop.
His poor performance dropped him two places in the standings, extinguishing a late‑season bounty of bonus points right before the Chase reset.
Denouement of a Contender’s Season
Josh Berry led a charge that left him third on the board, his 32‑year note for Wood Brothers’ first four‑top‑ten streak in a decade.
William Byron’s three‑hour drift ended suddenly when a left‑rear wheel detached, forcing a 12‑lap penalty and a later crew suspension that will miss Darlington.
Spinning the Table of Hope
Ryan Preece’s ninth‑place finish kept his Chase hopes alive, moving the No. 60 RFK Ford six points closer to the 50‑point gap with Shane van Gisbergen.
Van Gisbergen, after setting a 30‑lap lead early in the wet run, dropped from fifth into 20th as the track slicks gave way to grip, unsettling the Trackhouse driver’s chase dreams.
Cycle About to Close
Bubba Wallace’s runner‑up run out, with 22 laps of command, steadied 23XI’s record for consistency before the playoff opener.
Chase Briscoe, who had pushed Blaney to second at the final restart, slid to 26th, ending a four‑season streak of 6th‑place or better.
Front Row’s Noah Gragson, after a season of stiff climbs, secured his first top‑10 of the year—an indicator that the new contract extension may finally translate into consistent gains.
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