Ryan Blaney wins New Hampshire race; JGR teammates crash

• Ryan Blaney won the Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, securing a spot in the NASCAR playoffs’ Round of 8.
• Blaney held off runner-up Josh Berry in the final laps for his first career victory at the track.
• Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs crashed after battling for position on the track.

Ryan Blaney made sure to shout out Josh Berry.

“I appreciate Josh for not throwing me the bumper when he could have,” he said on the USA Network broadcast. “But what a cool day.”

On an afternoon where Team Penske dominated, Blaney held off a hard-charging Berry during the final 20 laps of the Mobil 1 301 Sunday, Sept. 21. It was Blaney’s first career victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and ensured him a spot in the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

Berry finished as the runner-up.

“That was probably the hardest 20 laps that I drove,” Blaney said.

Sunday’s race was the first of three in the Round of 12. Joe Gibbs Racing drivers claimed all three events in the opening Round of 16.

Here are three takeaways.

1. Ryan Blaney keeps on keeping on in NASCAR playoffs

Blaney has remained remarkably good for the past two-plus months.

Other than a random 18th-place finish at Darlington to open the postseason, the 31-year-old hasn’t ranked outside of the top eight in any race since mid-July. During that 10-race stretch, he’s strung together six top-fives and two of his three wins this season.

He’s the only Penske driver to find Victory Lane since May.

Joey Logano did enjoy a solid performance at New Hampshire, though. After fronting a race-high 147 laps, he placed fourth. 

Logano and Blaney (116) were the lone drivers to lead more than 20 trips around the track.

2. JGR teammates Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs butt heads

You already know Denny Hamlin is pursuing his first career title, but is teammate Ty Gibbs aware? Hamlin is asking.

On Lap 109, Gibbs was blocking Hamlin for 11th place.

“Does Ty know we’re going for a championship?” Hamlin said on his team radio. “What the (expletive)?”

As the battle continued on Lap 110, Hamlin tripped Gibbs, spinning him into the wall. 

“Are they afraid to talk to him?” Hamlin continued. “That’s what I feel like. They’re just scared of him.”

Gibbs, of course, is the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs. Now in his third full Cup Series season, the 22-year-old is still searching for his first victory. He’s the only JGR driver to not win and qualify for the postseason in 2025.

“Game on,” was Gibbs’ reaction to the incident on his radio.

Hamlin ended up 12th. Gibbs was 35th.

3. NASCAR schedule update: Cup Series playoffs fly to Kansas

With one race down in the Round of 12, the Cup Series leaves the East Coast and heads to the Heartland.

Kansas Speedway will host the Hollywood Casino 400 on Sunday, Sept. 28. It will receive the green flag a few minutes after 3 p.m. and span 267 laps and 400.5 miles. The event will air on the USA Network.

Last September, Ross Chastain won the Kansas race.

After that, the playoffs will turn to the Charlotte Road Course to wrap up the playoffs’ second round.