New Hampshire Motor Speedway
5-Hour Energy 301
By Richard Tix
After a 1.5 mile Kentucky track where NASCAR tested out a new aero package we now head to a short track to mix things up again. Short tracks are one of my favorite stops every season because it lets drivers get up on the wheel, mis it up with other drivers, and at the same time not ruin there chances because of aero after making contact with someone else.
These tracks sometimes bring high emotion with its close quarter racing, but they can also bring some underdog results that could play huge down the road in the Chase field. Could a guy like Newman, Larson, or Bowyer use NHMS to get into the Chase? Or will guys like Johnson, Keselowski, or Logano shut the door?
The Good
- Kyle Larson- He has only two Cup starts at Loudon, but in both he finished top 3 (3rd and 2nd last year). He only lead any laps in the first of the two NHMS races, but he needs a win so look for him to be aggressive this weekend.
- Brad Keselowski- In BK's last 7 starts at Loudon he has 6 top 10's (the other finish was 11th). Last year he won this race and in the Fall his Penske teammate Joey Logano won. He has lead at least 1 lap in 8 of his 11 starts here, look for him up front.
- Jimmie Johnson- 18 top 10's in 26 career starts at Loudon, not a bad stat to be behind. He has 15 of those in the last 19 race's, however he hasn't won since 2010.
The Middle
- Ryan Newman- Newman has 16 top 10's in 26 NHMS starts, but many of those came early in his career. Those days are long gone, but Newman does seem to be consistently near the top 15. He could be a sleeper this weekend, but it is safer to think he finishes 6th-15th.
The Bad
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr- Ricky does have a top 10 in four starts here (this race last year), but everything else after that is downhill. His other three starts are all finishes outside the top 20 and 2 of the are outside the top 30.
- Danica Patrick- I will start this off by saying Danica has gotten better every start here including her first top 20 last time around (19th). However, that is her only top 20 in four tries. I actually think she has learned a thing or two here, but might still end up with a result outside the top 20 again.
- Casey Mears- 24 tries and only 2 top 10's...Casey has ten straight finishes outside the top 20 including 7 finishes of 36th or worse. Mears really hasn't run well here since joining Germain Racing.
About the Track: NHMS
Track Stats- Rusty Wallace won the first race at Loudon in 1993. He started 33rd
- Most cautions was the second race at Loudon, 1994, 17 for 78 laps. Ricky Rudd won the race.
- In 1999 Jeff Burton won after starting 38th (farthest back a winner has started).
- A Cup race at Loudon has been won from the Pole position five times (Newman-2011, Clint Bowyer-2007, Kevin Harvick-2006, Newman-2002, and Jeff Gordon-1998).
- Ryan Newman has won the Pole at Loudon an astounding 7 times in his 25 starts.
- 5 current full time drivers have 3 total wins at Loudon (Gordon, Newman, Johnson, Stewart, and Ku Busch).
- In 2014 Team Penske swept Loudon (BK in the first race, JoLo the second). Both started 7th
- A Chevy has not won a race at Loudon in 5 straight starts.
Track Info
- Surface
- Asphalt and Granite
- Length
- 1.058 miles
- Banking
- Turns: variable at around 12% grade (2/7 degree)
- Straight: 1 degree
New
Hampshire Motor Speedway
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Race
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Date
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Cars
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Winner(s)
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St
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Make / Model
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1993-16
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7/11/1993
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40
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Rusty Wallace
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33
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Pontiac
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1994-16
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7/10/1994
|
42
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Ricky Rudd
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3
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Ford
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1995-16
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7/9/1995
|
41
|
Jeff Gordon
|
21
|
Chevrolet
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1996-16
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7/14/1996
|
40
|
Ernie Irvan
|
6
|
Ford
|
1997-17
|
7/13/1997
|
42
|
Jeff Burton
|
15
|
Ford
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1997-25
|
9/14/1997
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
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13
|
Chevrolet
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1998-17
|
7/12/1998
|
43
|
Jeff Burton
|
5
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Ford
|
1998-23
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8/30/1998
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
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1
|
Chevrolet
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1999-18
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7/11/1999
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43
|
Jeff Burton
|
38
|
Ford
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1999-26
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9/19/1999
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43
|
Joe Nemechek
|
11
|
Chevrolet
|
2000-18
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7/9/2000
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
6
|
Pontiac
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2000-26
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9/17/2000
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43
|
Jeff Burton
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2
|
Ford
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2001-19
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7/22/2001
|
43
|
Dale Jarrett
|
9
|
Ford
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2001-36
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11/23/2001
|
42
|
Robby Gordon
|
31
|
Chevrolet
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2002-19
|
7/21/2002
|
43
|
Ward Burton
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31
|
Dodge
|
2002-27
|
9/15/2002
|
43
|
Ryan Newman
|
1
|
Ford
|
2003-19
|
7/20/2003
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
2003-27
|
9/14/2003
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
8
|
Chevrolet
|
2004-19
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7/25/2004
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
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32
|
Ford
|
2004-27
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9/19/2004
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
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7
|
Ford
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2005-19
|
7/17/2005
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
13
|
Chevrolet
|
2005-27
|
9/18/2005
|
43
|
Ryan Newman
|
13
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Dodge
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2006-19
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7/16/2006
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43
|
Kyle Busch
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4
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Chevrolet
|
2006-27
|
9/17/2006
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43
|
Kevin Harvick
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1
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-17
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7/1/2007
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43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
11
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-27
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9/16/2007
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43
|
Clint Bowyer
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1
|
Chevrolet
|
2008-17
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6/29/2008
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43
|
Kurt Busch
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26
|
Dodge
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2008-27
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9/14/2008
|
43
|
Greg Biffle
|
9
|
Ford
|
2009-17
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6/28/2009
|
43
|
Joey Logano
|
24
|
Toyota
|
2009-27
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9/20/2009
|
43
|
Mark Martin
|
14
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Chevrolet
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2010-17
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6/27/2010
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43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
10
|
Chevrolet
|
2010-27
|
9/19/2010
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43
|
Clint Bowyer
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2
|
Chevrolet
|
2011-19
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7/17/2011
|
43
|
Ryan Newman
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2011-28
|
9/25/2011
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
20
|
Chevrolet
|
2012-19
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7/15/2012
|
43
|
Kasey Kahne
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
2012-28
|
9/23/2012
|
43
|
Denny Hamlin
|
32
|
Toyota
|
2013-19
|
7/14/2013
|
43
|
Brian Vickers
|
13
|
Toyota
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2013-28
|
9/22/2013
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
9
|
Toyota
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2014-19
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7/13/2014
|
43
|
Brad Keselowski
|
7
|
Ford
|
2014-28
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9/21/2014
|
43
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Joey Logano
|
7
|
Ford
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2014 Sylvania 300 Photos
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