Blaney Overcomes Challenging Start
Ryan Blaney returned to Victory Lane at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, winning the Dollar Tree 301 for the second consecutive year. The Team Penske driver overcame a difficult pit stop and changing weather conditions to secure his third NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2026 season and the 20th win of his career.
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The race began under challenging conditions after rain soaked the 1.058-mile oval. The field initially took the green flag on Goodyear wet-weather tires, forcing teams to carefully manage the changing track conditions. As the surface dried, NASCAR transitioned the field to slick tires around Lap 40.
Larson Wins Stage 1
Kyle Larson was one of the strongest drivers early in the race. The Hendrick Motorsports driver led 14 laps and captured the opening stage, holding off Christopher Bell. Larson’s stage victory was his fifth of the 2026 season and gave him an early advantage in a race where track position proved important.
Blaney eventually found his rhythm and became a major factor in the second stage. He led 38 laps before the halfway point and captured Stage 2 for his series leading seventh stage victory of the season.
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The second stage also featured one of the race’s biggest incidents when Carson Hocevar and Connor Zilisch made contact. Hocevar spun on the frontstretch, while Joey Logano and Austin Dillon were also caught up in the incident. All four drivers were able to continue.
Blaney Takes Control Late
After the final stage began, Blaney positioned himself near the front and eventually took control. His No. 12 Ford was strong on the long green flag runs, allowing him to build a lead while the competition battled behind him.
Bubba Wallace emerged as Blaney’s biggest threat in the closing laps. Wallace stayed within striking distance and appeared capable of making a late move for the victory.
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However, with five laps remaining, Wallace locked up the brakes and lost valuable ground. That gave Blaney the breathing room he needed to secure the victory.
Wallace Finishes Second
Wallace crossed the finish line 0.586 seconds behind Blaney to finish runner-up. Josh Berry recorded a season best third-place finish, while Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson rounded out the top five.
Blaney led 115 of the race’s 301 laps, demonstrating the speed and consistency needed to win at New Hampshire once again. His victory also marked his second straight win at the track and his third Cup Series win of the season.
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For Blaney, the New Hampshire victory was another major statement heading toward the NASCAR playoffs. After overcoming rain, changing track conditions and a troublesome pit stop, he once again proved to be the driver to beat at the Magic Mile.
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