Venue & Race Details
Race: Mobil 1 301 – NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs
Location: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH
Track Length: 1.058 miles (flat oval)
Laps/Distance: 301 laps / 318.5 miles
Stages: 70 / 185 / 301
Start Time: 2:00 PM ET (Green flag ~2:05 PM ET)
Broadcast: USA Network (TV), PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Radio)
This race marks the first event of the Round of 12 in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, with only eight drivers advancing after this three-race stretch.
Weather Forecast (Loudon, NH)
Temperature: ~72°F (22°C) at race start, cooling into the 60s by evening
Conditions: Clear skies, minimal chance of rain
Impact: Ideal racing weather, unlike last year’s damp conditions that required wet-weather tires.
Playoff Picture & Key Drivers
Denny Hamlin (#11 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing): Top seed entering the Round of 12 with five wins this season. A three-time winner at New Hampshire, Hamlin thrives on flat tracks.
Christopher Bell (#20 Toyota, JGR): Fresh off a Bristol Night Race win, Bell has won two of the last three Cup races at New Hampshire, making him a favorite.
Kyle Larson & William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports): Both +24 above the cutline. Larson’s playoff consistency and Byron’s speed keep HMS in contention.
Chase Elliott (#9 Chevrolet, HMS): Defending Cup champion, +19 above the cutline. New Hampshire hasn’t been his strongest track, but playoff experience matters.
Non-Playoff Spoilers: Brad Keselowski nearly stole a win at Bristol last week, and Josh Berry finished third at New Hampshire in 2024. Chris Buescher, who played spoiler at Watkins Glen last season, is another threat.
Key Storylines
Joe Gibbs Racing Dominance: JGR has won every playoff race so far in 2025. With Hamlin and Bell leading the charge, they are the team to beat.
Track Position Crucial: Passing is notoriously difficult at Loudon, making qualifying, pit road execution, and tire strategy critical.
Playoff Drama: With only eight drivers advancing after this round, stage points and clean races are more valuable than ever.
Series & Track History
First Cup Race at NHMS: 1993
Total Cup Races: 58th running in 2025
Past Winners: Christopher Bell (2022, 2023), Martin Truex Jr. (2024), Denny Hamlin (3x)
Unique Tradition: Winners receive a giant live lobster in Victory Lane.
Betting Trends
Playoff Drivers: Have won all three playoff races so far in 2025.
Christopher Bell: 2 wins in last 3 at NHMS.
Denny Hamlin: 3 career wins at Loudon, strong on flat ovals.
Non-Playoff Spoilers: Rare, but possible—Berry and Buescher have shown speed here.
Historical Betting Results
2024: Martin Truex Jr. won at +900 odds.
2023: Christopher Bell cashed at +600.
2022: Bell again at +700.
Trend: Favorites and mid-tier contenders have dominated recent NHMS races.
DRIVER ODDS
Christopher Bell + 330
Ryan Blaney + 650
Kyle Larson + 650
Denny Hamlin + 650
Chase Briscoe + 700
Joey Logano + 750
William Byron + 1100
Chase Elliott + 1200
Tyler Reddick + 1500
Bubba Wallace + 2200
Ross Chastain + 2500
Brad Keselowski + 2500
Kyle Busch + 2800
Chris Buescher + 2800
Ty Gibbs + 3000
Josh Berry + 4000
Austin Cindric + 4500
Carson Hocevar + 5000
Ryan Preece + 5500
Alex Bowman + 5500
Austin Dillon + 9000
Daniel Suarez + 10000
Michael McDowell + 11000
John Hunter Nemechek + 11000
AJ Allmendinger + 11000
Noah Gragson + 13000
Erik Jones + 13000
Shane Van Gisbergen + 15000
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. + 17000
Zane Smith + 20000
Todd Gilliland + 20000
Justin Haley + 25000
Riley Herbst + 40000
Cole Custer + 40000
Ty Dillon + 50000
Cody Ware + 80000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, September 20, 2025
