NASCAR Cup Series Predictions at New Hampshire
Christopher Bell and wife Morgan posing in victory lane with Louden the Lobster following the Ambetter 301 in July 2022.
NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Magic Mile in New Hampshire for the Crayon 301 at 2:30 PM EST on USA.
Last year’s event was held under scrutiny following the first caution on Lap 6 as drivers crashed into Turn 1 as it was raining at that end of the racetrack.
Christopher Bell emerged victorious in last year’s race and also emerges as the favorite to win on Sunday. Outside of his 28th place run in 2020, New Hampshire is Bell’s best track. In Truck competition Bell has a 2nd place finish in 2016 and a win in 2017. In Xfinity competition Bell has won in every start at New Hampshire, winning in 2018, 2019, and 2021. He also finished 2nd in the 2021 Cup race. Don’t be surprised if Bell wins on Sunday.
Martin Truex Jr and Denny Hamlin will be looking to contend with Christopher Bell on Sunday, and they’re not too far behind in speed at the Magic Mile. Truex Jr hasn’t finished worse than 16th since switching to Toyota in 2016, with two poles, five Top 5’s, seven Top 10’s, and an average finish of 6th. Hamlin has three wins at this track, his last win coming in 2017. Over his last nine starts, Hamlin’s captured one win, three Top 5’s, six Top 10’s, and an average finish of 7th. Joe Gibbs Racing will have plenty of speed this Sunday.
Kevin Harvick had a disappointing run last Sunday in Atlanta, but he’s looking for a return to victory at a track that’s been one of his best. Harvick has four wins in New Hampshire, his most recent came in 2019. Since 2016, Harvick’s worst finish at New Hampshire was 36th in 2017. Other than that, he’s had seven Top 5’s, eight Top 10’s and an average finish of 7th. That #4 car has one more Top 5 in them for this track, watch out for Harvick.
Ross Chastain has finished outside the Top 20 two straight races since his win in Nashville. But New Hampshire is a track where he’s had great finishes in Cup competition. He only has two Cup starts but has finished 8th in both races. Not to mention Trackhouse Racing’s last three weeks have shown they still have race winning speed. Chastain’s win at Nashville, Shane Van Gisbergen’s win at Chicago, and Daniel Suarez finished 2nd last week in Atlanta. Expect Chastain to have a Top 10 performance at the Magic Mile.
Ryan Preece has had a lackluster Cup season in 2023, but look for him to break out of his shell at New Hampshire. He’s had success in the Wheelin Modified at this track, with a win in 2021, eight Top 5’s and thirteen Top 10’s. Not to mention he won pole at Martinsville earlier this year, a track with similar characteristics to the Magic Mile. He led the most laps with 135 en route to a 15th place finish. That was his best performance so far in 2023, but he could be looking for that first Top 10 or even a Top 5 on Sunday.
Odds to Win Outright (FanDuel)
Bell (+600)
Truex Jr (+650)
Hamlin (+700)
Harvick (+1000)
Chastain (+1800)
Preece (+5000)
Odds to Finish Top 10 (FanDuel)