After a little over a week off, the NASCAR Cup Series was back in action at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 Sunday afternoon. Aric Almirola won the pole by a draw with Denny Hamlin starting in second. Four drivers were sent to the rear of the field Cory LaJoie, and Bubba Wallace (improperly mounted ballast) not only went to the rear of the field but also lost ten points each, and both crew chiefs were suspended for the race. The other drivers, Matt Kenseth (inspection failure) and Austin Dillon (unapproved adjustments), also went to the rear of the field.
The lobster hunt at @NHMS is green! 📺: NBCSN 📱: https://t.co/BHXvTwJmNc pic.twitter.com/iDbSRwRpmI — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 2, 2020
Three laps into the race, Kurt Busch got loose on turn three, going from 8th place to 17th. On the same lap, Brad Keselowski took the lead from Almirola. Kurt Busch continued to fall further behind as now he now found himself in the 22nd position. On lap 16, Kyle Busch slammed the outside wall at turn three with a flat right-front tire to bring out the first caution of the day. Busch’s day was done; he would finish in last place.
The dog days of summer continue to hound @KyleBusch. His day is done at @NHMS. pic.twitter.com/ov3JIH1vZY — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 2, 2020
During the caution, several drivers came to pit road, including Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick and others taking four tires while others stayed out. Keselowski led the field back to green on lap 22. Six laps into the restart, Clint Bowyer made an aggressive move on William Byron to take him out of his groove for ninth place, Byron would fall to 16th place. The competition caution would come out on lap 32 with Erik Jones getting the free pass. During the caution, some of the drivers came to pit road, including Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson, Cole Custer, Chase Elliott, Aric Almirola, Matt Kenseth, and four others.
Knocking the chrome off that horn 👀.#Foxwoods301 | @NHMS pic.twitter.com/VATA3RmFt3 — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 2, 2020
The race resumed on lap 35. Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, and Denny Hamlin were battling for the lead. Blaney and Keselowski were two-wide for the lead as Hamlin sat back. Hamlin would use the bumper on Blaney to get him loose and take the second position. Four laps later, Hamlin would get the lead from Keselowski. Keselowski would come back at Hamlin to retake the lead on lap 59. While those two were battling for the lead, Ryan Blaney was closing in on them. Hamlin would retake the lead two laps later as Jimmie Johnson made contact with Clint Bowyer and spun at turn three to bring the third caution of the day.
Not ideal. With the No. 48 right on the bubble, @JimmieJohnson is going to need to avoid moments like this. pic.twitter.com/58QHe9xj7Z — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 2, 2020
During the caution, some of the leaders pitted, including Denny Hamlin, Cole Custer, and seven others. Chase Elliott was caught speeding and had to go to the rear of the field as the race resumed on lap 68. Denny Hamlin had restarted in seventh place with new tires and made his way back up the field to take the lead from Ryan Blaney on lap 70. Hamlin would lead the rest of the way to take stage one. Joey Gase got the free pass. During the caution, some of the leaders pitted but Denny Hamlin stayed out. Hamlin led the field back to green on lap 83 to start stage two.
The restart only lasted nine laps until the fourth caution of the day would come out for rain. The rain was brief and did not affect the track at all as some of the leaders would come to pit road with Tyler Reddick winning the race off of pit road. Martin Truex Jr. pitted from the third position; however, he would have to go to the rear of the field for a tire violation. Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney, Clint Bowyer, and seven others stayed out. The race got back underway at lap 101 with Harvick in the lead.
The rain is gone and we can see clearly now 🙌. Back to green in the #Foxwoods301 on NBCSN! pic.twitter.com/s0TdxzmGLN — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 2, 2020
Three laps into the restart, Denny Hamlin got by Harvick with an inside pass on turn one to take the lead. Harvick began to fall back as he was losing positions on older tires. His teammate Aric Almirola passed him for third place. On lap 142, Brad Keselowski got the lead from Hamlin. Hamlin would get it back a lap before Keselowski took it back on lap 146.
Denny. Brad. Denny. Another 🔥 battle for the lead at @NHMS. pic.twitter.com/TPDTwR0Bho — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 2, 2020
Kevin Harvick would come to pit road on lap 165 to change tires. Ryan Blaney would pit a lap later. Christopher Bell would bring out the sixth caution of the day after spinning on turn two with a flat tire. During the caution, all of the leaders came to pit road with Austin Dillon winning the race off of pit road only taking two tires while others took four. He would lead the field back to green on lap 177.
Big strategy implications after this spin by @CBellRacing! Do you come in to pit or gamble and try to make it to the end of the stage? pic.twitter.com/ZlRrlPn7uq — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 2, 2020
The restart only lasted two laps when Matt Kenseth made contact with teammate Kurt Busch and got loose off of turn two to bring out the caution for the seventh time. Only six drivers, including Ryan Blaney, pitted while everyone else stayed out.
A bump between teammates will set up a drag race to the end of Stage 2! 📺: NBCSN 📱: https://t.co/BHXvTwrLoC pic.twitter.com/COfef6QqOy — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 2, 2020
The race got back underway at lap 184 with Keselowski in the lead. On the same lap, Denny Hamlin passed Keselowski on the inside for the lead. Keselowski came right back and made contact with Hamlin entering turn three to retake the lead and win stage two. During the caution, seven cars pitted, including Kevin Harvick, while everyone else stayed out.
It's going to get INTENSE at the Magic Mile. If drivers are pushing this hard for a stage win, what will they do with the race on the line? pic.twitter.com/4dkQhIxePv — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 2, 2020
The final stage got underway on lap 192 with Keselowski leading. On the same lap, Denny Hamlin took the lead away from Keselowski as Almirola was challenging for second. Four laps into the restart, Matt Kenseth lost a tire on turn three to bring out the caution for the ninth time. During the caution, Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Ty Dillon, and Michael McDowell pitted.
Denny Hamlin led the field back to green on lap 201. The restart only lasted three laps before Matt Kenseth lost another tire at turn three to bring out the tenth caution of the day. Kenseth would then take his car to the garage. During the caution, Chase Elliott, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, and Christopher Bell all stayed out while others pitted. The race got back underway at lap 209.
Ryan Blaney got by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on the inside off of turn two for second place. Denny Hamlin made his way up to third after restarting seventh. John Hunter Nemechek slammed the outside wall entering turn three to bring out the eleventh caution of the day.
.@JHNemechek's car is absolutely destroyed. @NHMS // @NASCAR // NBCSN pic.twitter.com/TzxEWWpawY — NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 2, 2020
During the caution, the drivers that did not come in under the last caution, including Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, all pitted while the rest of the field stayed out. Hamlin would lead the field back to green at lap 219. Three laps into the restart, Brad Keselowski passed Denny Hamlin on the inside for the lead with 80 laps to go. On lap 248, Christopher Bell had a flat right rear tire and managed to get to pit road as the race stayed green.
🔊 #MOOD pic.twitter.com/cGCvhJNNo7 — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 2, 2020
Keselowski had over a two-second lead on Hamlin. He would lead the last 83 laps to win the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 by 1.647 seconds over Denny Hamlin. This is Keselowski’s third win of the season.
RETWEET to congratulate @keselowski for winning at @NHMS! 🏁🦞🏁 pic.twitter.com/5bAIODUuiJ — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 2, 2020
The rest of the top ten finishers were Martin Truex Jr. third, Joey Logano fourth, Kevin Harvick fifth, Matt DiBenedetto sixth, Aric Almirola seventh, Cole Custer eighth, Chase Elliott ninth, and Tyler Reddick tenth. There were 22 lead changes with 11 cautions for 52 laps.
Updated playoff standings are Denny Hamlin first (5 wins), Kevin Harvick second (4 wins), Brad Keselowski third (3 wins), Joey Logano fourth (2 wins). Ryan Blaney is fifth (1 win), Chase Elliott sixth (1 win), Martin Truex Jr. seventh (1 win), Alex Bowman eighth (1 win), Austin Dillon ninth (1 win), and Cole Custer tenth (1 win). Those drivers are locked in the playoffs. The rest vying for playoff spots are Aric Almirola eleventh, Kurt Busch twelfth, Kyle Busch thirteenth, Clint Bowyer fourteenth, Matt DiBenedetto fifteenth, and William Byron sixteenth.
Next up for the NASCAR Cup Series is a doubleheader weekend at Michigan International Speedway beginning with race one Saturday, August 8th, for the FireKeepers Casino 400 at 4 pm on NBCSN.
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