1 of 8
Getty Images
By Kenny Bruce
LOUDON, N.H. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. is out, Alex Bowman is in and jockeying for the final handful of spots in this year's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is underway. Earnhardt Jr. made headlines before the weekend officially began, announcing he would miss Sunday's New Hampshire 301 due to concussion-like symptoms.
Meanwhile, Team Penske driver Brad Keselowski is riding a two-race win streak. Can he make it three in a row?
LOUDON, N.H. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. is out, Alex Bowman is in and jockeying for the final handful of spots in this year's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is underway. Earnhardt Jr. made headlines before the weekend officially began, announcing he would miss Sunday's New Hampshire 301 due to concussion-like symptoms.
Meanwhile, Team Penske driver Brad Keselowski is riding a two-race win streak. Can he make it three in a row?
2 of 8
Getty Images
Where: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a 1.058-mile layout located in Loudon, New Hampshire
Green flag: 1:39 p.m. ET
TV/Radio: NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Forecast: Partly sunny with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. (NOAA.gov)
Canadian National anthem: Kirk Young, Tilton, New Hampshire resident
National anthem: Caroline Burns, NBC's The Voice contestant
Honorary starter: Kelly Ayotte, U.S. Senator
Grand marshal: Maggie Hassan, Governor of New Hampshire
Race Distance: 301 laps, 318.46 miles
Pit road speed: 45 mph
Caution car speed: 50 mph
Green flag: 1:39 p.m. ET
TV/Radio: NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Forecast: Partly sunny with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. (NOAA.gov)
Canadian National anthem: Kirk Young, Tilton, New Hampshire resident
National anthem: Caroline Burns, NBC's The Voice contestant
Honorary starter: Kelly Ayotte, U.S. Senator
Grand marshal: Maggie Hassan, Governor of New Hampshire
Race Distance: 301 laps, 318.46 miles
Pit road speed: 45 mph
Caution car speed: 50 mph
3 of 8
.jpg)
Getty Images
Foreshadowing The Chase?
How important is this weekend's New Hampshire 301? For starters, it's the final track on the schedule that teams will see again later this year in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
'You look at this track and I don't know if there is another track in the Chase that races back to back so quickly, in such a short time span,' said Brad Keselowski, driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford. 'That means that generally what works here in the first race carries over to the second race.'
How important is this weekend's New Hampshire 301? For starters, it's the final track on the schedule that teams will see again later this year in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
'You look at this track and I don't know if there is another track in the Chase that races back to back so quickly, in such a short time span,' said Brad Keselowski, driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford. 'That means that generally what works here in the first race carries over to the second race.'
4 of 8
Getty Images
Looking for a Bump
Jimmie Johnson is one of four competitors with three career victories at NHMS and 'Six-Time' will start on the pole. But it's been a rough couple of races of late, and recent races here haven't been kind -- Johnson hasn't led a lap here since the 2013 season. 'Anytime you are fast it's a huge boost,' said Johnson. '… We worked hard on this race car that we brought here, it's a new car, so to validate that is big for the shop, big for Chad (Knaus, crew chief), big for our engineers.'
Jimmie Johnson is one of four competitors with three career victories at NHMS and 'Six-Time' will start on the pole. But it's been a rough couple of races of late, and recent races here haven't been kind -- Johnson hasn't led a lap here since the 2013 season. 'Anytime you are fast it's a huge boost,' said Johnson. '… We worked hard on this race car that we brought here, it's a new car, so to validate that is big for the shop, big for Chad (Knaus, crew chief), big for our engineers.'
5 of 8
Getty Images
Turning the Corner
Greg Biffle has two tops 10s this season and they've come in the last two races. Does he have a car capable of another top 10 this week?
'It is going to be a hard fought top 10 but yes, I think we do,' Biffle said after Saturday's final practice at NHMS. '… We need to drive good bunched up in traffic and that will be the determining factor.'
Greg Biffle has two tops 10s this season and they've come in the last two races. Does he have a car capable of another top 10 this week?
'It is going to be a hard fought top 10 but yes, I think we do,' Biffle said after Saturday's final practice at NHMS. '… We need to drive good bunched up in traffic and that will be the determining factor.'
6 of 8
Getty Images
'Magic' Driver Rating
The only three drivers with a driver rating above 100.0 at NHMS are Tony Stewart (103.4), Denny Hamlin (103.2) and Jimmie Johnson (101.1). The trio have combined for eight wins at the 'Magic Mile.'
But the last win by one of the three came four years ago when Hamlin went to Victory Lane in the fall race. Teammates have swept the last two years' events, with Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano (Team Penske) turning the trick in 2014 and Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth (Joe Gibbs Racing) taking the honors in '15.
The only three drivers with a driver rating above 100.0 at NHMS are Tony Stewart (103.4), Denny Hamlin (103.2) and Jimmie Johnson (101.1). The trio have combined for eight wins at the 'Magic Mile.'
But the last win by one of the three came four years ago when Hamlin went to Victory Lane in the fall race. Teammates have swept the last two years' events, with Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano (Team Penske) turning the trick in 2014 and Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth (Joe Gibbs Racing) taking the honors in '15.
7 of 8
Getty Images
'Its Own Animal'
Defending race winner Kyle Busch says New Hampshire's 1.058-mile layout is unlike any other Sprint Cup venue, and it's unlikely that what works elsewhere would be helpful here.
'This place is kind of its own animal, it's a lot of a short track … it kind of reminds you a little bit of Martinsville, but it doesn't drive near the same,' Busch said after qualifying second. 'This place is definitely pretty tricky.'
Defending race winner Kyle Busch says New Hampshire's 1.058-mile layout is unlike any other Sprint Cup venue, and it's unlikely that what works elsewhere would be helpful here.
'This place is kind of its own animal, it's a lot of a short track … it kind of reminds you a little bit of Martinsville, but it doesn't drive near the same,' Busch said after qualifying second. 'This place is definitely pretty tricky.'
8 of 8
Getty Images
First Sprint Cup Start In New England
A late surge in final practice on Saturday put Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Chase Elliott atop the board, and the Hendrick Motorsports driver was solid in practice both Friday and Saturday. Carl Edwards (Joe Gibbs Racing) led Saturday's first session while fellow Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row Racing) paced Friday's opening practice.
Elliott is making his first Sprint Cup start at NHMS, but has a pair of top-10 finishes in two XFINITY Series runs here.
A late surge in final practice on Saturday put Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Chase Elliott atop the board, and the Hendrick Motorsports driver was solid in practice both Friday and Saturday. Carl Edwards (Joe Gibbs Racing) led Saturday's first session while fellow Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row Racing) paced Friday's opening practice.
Elliott is making his first Sprint Cup start at NHMS, but has a pair of top-10 finishes in two XFINITY Series runs here.