The chase for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship is heating up as the series enters the Round of 12. Following the first elimination race at Bristol Motor Speedway, the championship battle has narrowed to 12 drivers who are all vying for a shot at the title.
Joe Gibbs Racing dominated the Round of 16, with Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, and Christopher Bell winning the three races, setting a high bar for the next stage of the playoffs.
When and Where to Watch the New Hampshire Playoff Race Today
The Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway kicks off the second round of the playoffs on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. ET. This marks the first playoff race at New Hampshire since 2017 and only the fourth under the current playoff format.
The 1.058-mile track presents unique challenges for drivers, with Bell having a strong history here, winning two of the last three events at the venue, albeit in warm summer conditions.
The race will be broadcast live on USA Network, with the race scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET and pre-race coverage starting at 1:30 p.m. ET. Fans can also stream the event via Peacock, HBO Max, Sling TV, and Fubo, with some free trials available for new subscribers.
Full Starting Lineup
The Mobil 1 301 field includes a mix of playoff drivers and strong challengers. P stands for Playoff drivers; car number in parentheses:
- (22) Joey Logano (P), Ford
- (12) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford
- (21) Josh Berry, Ford
- (45) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota
- (24) William Byron (P), Chevrolet
- (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
- (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
- (1) Ross Chastain (P), Chevrolet
- (11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota
- (88) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet
- (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet
- (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
- (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
- (23) Bubba Wallace (P), Toyota
- (17) Chris Buescher, Ford
- (5) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet
- (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford
- (19) Chase Briscoe (P), Toyota
- (20) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota
- (38) Zane Smith, Ford
- (7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet
- (2) Austin Cindric (P), Ford
- (60) Ryan Preece, Ford
- (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
- (35) Riley Herbst, Toyota
- (43) Erik Jones, Toyota
- (9) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet
- (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
- (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota
- (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
- (41) Cole Custer, Ford
- (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet
- (4) Noah Gragson, Ford
- (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
- (51) Cody Ware, Ford
- (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford
Race Format and Total Laps
The Mobil 1 301 spans 301 laps totalling 318.46 miles. The race is broken into three stages:
- Stage 1: 70 laps
- Stage 2: 115 laps
- Stage 3: 116 laps
This structure emphasizes strategy, pit stops, and tire management, making every lap critical in this contested playoff field.
Recent Winners at New Hampshire
Christopher Bell dominated the USA TODAY 201 in June 2024, leading 149 laps and outlasting rivals in a dramatic finish.
Two years ago, Martin Truex Jr. earned his 34th and final Cup Series victory in the Crayon 301, leading 254 laps in a masterclass performance. Both results highlight the track’s history of rewarding precision, endurance, and strategy.
Current Cup Series Playoff Standings
The playoff reset at New Hampshire has Denny Hamlin at the top with 3,034 points, narrowly ahead of William Byron and Kyle Larson (3,032 points each). Christopher Bell sits fourth with 3,028 points, followed closely by Ryan Blaney.
The points gaps are razor-thin, meaning every lap at New Hampshire could significantly impact the championship race.
- Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, 3,034 points
- William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, 3,032
- Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, 3,032
- Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing, 3,028
- Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, 3,028
- Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing, 3,018
- Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, 3,013
- Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing, 3,009
- Austin Cindric, Team Penske, 3,008
- Joey Logano, Team Penske, 3,007
- Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing, 3,007
- Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, 3,006
Related: 2025 NASCAR Cup Series: New Hampshire Race Playoff Preview
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Sep 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the Racing section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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