NASCAR race at New Hampshire: Can Trackhouse stay hot? Plus how to watch, betting odds

In July, the NASCAR Cup Series has made history on the streets of Chicago and made waves at a high-banked oval.

What else does it have in store?

Fans get their third event of a high-quality month of racing when the Cup Series descends on New Hampshire Motor Speedway at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday for the Crayon 301.

The race around the 1.058-mile flat track — in the town of Loudon, population 6,000 — will be broadcast on USA Network, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

Here are four key story lines to know ahead of the race at Loudon.

What to know before New Hampshire Cup race

1. Ross Chastain lands a huge sponsor. It’s been a good time to be Trackhouse Racing. The Justin Marks-owned race team saw Chastain take home a win at Nashville Superspeedway, then fielded Shane van Gisbergen in its victorious Project91 car in the Chicago Street Race the next week — and then saw Daniel Suárez finish P2 at Atlanta.

That momentum continued earlier this week, when Anheuser-Busch announced that it would be the primary sponsor the 1 car driven by Chastain next year after Kevin Harvick retires. The move is a flex of industry and cultural relevence for Trackhouse Racing: The brewing magnate is a primary sponsor of NASCAR as a whole and is one of the most sought-after sponsors on the Cup circuit.

2. Corey LaJoie is in talks to sign extension with Spire Motorsports. Per a report from Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, LaJoie is working to finalize a multiyear contract extension with Spire Motorsports to continue driving its No. 7 Cup car. The news is another win for the 31-year-old driver who is enjoying a highlight year in his career. He is sitting 24th in points heading into New Hampshire — within a reasonable shot of getting to the 16-car playoffs on points — and notched his first Top 5 this season.

3. NASCAR makes another international move. NASCAR is taking its Garage 56 program — the same one that impressed at 24 Hours of Le Mans earlier this year. The program is going to participate in the Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb in West Sussex, England. Mike Rockenfeller and Jenson Button will pilot the car up the 1.16-mile hill seven times over four days.

4. Who will win at Loudon? Eight of the 26 winners at Loudon will be active this weekend. Kevin Harvick, who has four wins at this racetrack, is still looking for his first victory of his final season. Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Ryan Newman (now driving for Rick Ware Racing) each have three wins. Other winners include Brad Keselowski (2), Joey Logano (2), Aric Almirola (1) and Christopher Bell (who notched his first career Cup win there in 2022).

As far as what the sportsbooks think: Bell opened as the race’s favorite at 11-2 odds, followed by his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. at 13-2. Hamlin was then at 7-1; Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch and Harvick at 9-1; and Chase Elliott at 11-1.

Bell, who is starting on the pole Sunday, is hoping to become just the fifth driver to win consecutive Cup races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The others? Kurt Busch (2004 sweep), Matt Kenseth (2015 fall, 2016 spring), Harvick (2018, 2019) and recent NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Jimmie Johnson (2003 sweep).

NASCAR at New Hampshire Motor Speedway race, TV info

• Race: Crayon 301
• Place: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
• Date: Sunday, July 16
• Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
• Purse: $7,520,319
• TV: USA Network, 2 p.m. ET
• Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
• Distance: 318.46 miles (301 laps)
• Stages: Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 70), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 185), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 301)

Starting lineup at Loudon

Christopher Bell earned the pole after registering a best lap of 124.781 mph in the final round of qualifying on Saturday. It’s his first pole win of the season for the Toyota driver and the fifth of his Cup career.

He’ll be joined on the front row by Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr., and Ford drivers Aric Almirola and Joey Logano will begin right behind them.

Alex Zietlow

The Charlotte Observer

Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22. Support my work with a digital subscription