The NASCAR Cup Series caps off a doubleheader weekend and the July races with the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. After today’s race the teams will take off a couple of weeks to make room for the Summer Olympics from Tokyo.

Quin Houff, Corey LaJoie, Ryan Preece, and BJ McLeod will all have to start the race from the back of the field after pre-race inspection issues. Bubba Wallace will also have to move to the back of the field after the crew made some unapproved adjustments to the number 23 car.

Kyle Busch sits on the pole this week with team mate Martin Truex Jr alongside on the front row. Fresh off of his SRX Racing Series win in Nashville on Saturday night, Chase Elliott starts third behind Busch with last week’s winner Kurt Busch filling out the second row.

NASCAR has called for a competition caution on lap 30.

The starting lineup for the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301:
Kyle Busch
Martin Truex Jr
Chase Elliott
Kurt Busch
Alex Bowman
Denny Hamlin
Ryan Blaney
Tyler Reddick

Christopher Bell
Kyle Larson
Brad Keselowski
Kevin Harvick
Austin Dillon
Matt DiBenedetto
Joey Logano
William Byron
Chris Buescher
Bubba Wallace – moved to the back of the field
Chase Briscoe
Ross Chastain
Cole Custer
Aric Almirola
Michael McDowell
Erik Jones
Ryan Preece – moved to the back of the field
Corey LaJoie – moved to the back of the field
Anthony Alfredo
Ryan Newman
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Justin Haley/

Daniel Suarez
BJ McLeod – moved to the back of the field
Garrett Smithley
Cody Ware
Josh Bilicki
Quin Houff
James Davison

Stages one is 75 laps, stage two is 110 laps, and stage three is 116 laps for a total of 151 laps around the one mile track.

After an overnight rain storm, the track has some weepers that may cause issues for the drivers.

Kyle Busch brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the inside lane and gets out in front for the lead with Martin Truex In second.

Lap two, Kyle Busch is the leader; Martin Treux Jr, Chase Elliott, Kurt Busch, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.

Lap three, the top 20 drivers are separated by five seconds.

Lap four, Kyle Busch ahs pulled out to a lead of over half a second on Martin Truex Jr.

The caution flag comes out on lap six after a sudden rain storm popped up and has caused numerous drivers to wreck due to a lack of grip. Leader Kyle Busch is among those with damaged cars. Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, and Ross Chastain also sustained damage to their cars.

NASCAR has brought the drivers down pit road on lap nine with the red flag.

Kyle Busch reports that the race had actually started under misting conditions and got worse from there. He added that they have been discussing the rain for two laps. Kyle Busch is out of the race.

The rain has picked up.

On the lap before the caution flag, Martin Truex Jr reports that he had radioed in that the track was wet wet.

Head of the Driver’s Council Denny Hamlin noted that it is the responsibility of NASCAR and the corner workers to let everyone know about conditions on the track in a more timely fashion.

A NASCAR official stated that the wreck occurred about the same time that they were preparing to put out the caution flag for rain; adding that they thought they were making the right call at the right time. He added that there is some discussions on adjustments to the current crash clock and what is allowed for making repairs in regard to the drivers with the most severe damage to their cars.

After a 20 minute delay, the rain has stopped but the track is still wet; track driers are working on the track.

When NBC Sport broadcaster were speaking with the drivers and fellow reporters, the most common thread was the importance of communications between NASCAR officials and the crews.

With the race still under red flag conditions, the Joe Gibbs Racing team has loaded the number 18 car on the hauler making pole sitter and race leader at the time of the caution Kyle Busch the first driver out of the race.

Christopher Bell noted that he saw some puddles on the track when the race began. Bell notes that during the break, he will be doing some dirt track racing.

An hour into the red flag, the track drying process is still in progress.

NASCAR has determined that there will be no adjustments to the rules after the early race crash that has resulted in an early exit by Kyle Busch.

Bubba Wallace and Corey LaJoie brought out the football to toss around with fans during the delay.

After nearly an hour and a half delay, NASCAR has called the drivers to their cars as track drying continues in preparation of restarting the race.

There are no lights at New Hampshire and it will take about three hours to complete the race. The crews will be battling the daylight along with their fellow drivers.

NASCAR had called for a competition caution at lap 30 but has now determined that there will be no competition yellow; this break will serve as the competition caution.

Once the yellow flag is displayed, Martin Truex Jr’s crew has just under four minutes to get his car repaired.

At 5:09pm the drivers fire the engines once again – over an hour and a half after the red flag was displayed.

With the cars parked on pit road, pit road is still very wet. Once the drivers get moving back out on the track, the crews will work on drying pit road.

At 5:11pm NASCAR has pulled the red flag and displayed the yellow flag.

Depending on weather and lighting conditions, NASCAR has announced to the teams that the race may be shortened.

Pit road is closed but Joey Logano brought his car down for an issue. There was a piece of debris in the engine body. As a result, NASCAR has issued a two lap penalty to the 22 car. The crew feared that the debris would cause some major issues for driver Joey Logano.
Under the NASCAR rules no crew members may work on the cars during a red flag condition. A crew member from Joey Logano’s crew was seen lifting a hood flap and reaching inside the car during the red flag. That is why he received a two lap penalty.

Normally temperatures inside the cars approach triple digits, Tyler Reddick reported that it was cold in his car as the cars moved around the track under caution.

Once pit road is open, several drivers make a pit stop including Martin Truex Jr for more repairs but the leaders stayed out on the track.

After several caution flag laps, Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green restart of the race from the inside lane with Kurt Busch alongside on lap 24 Elliott edges out for the lead as drivers get three wide going into turn one.

Kurt Busch takes the lead with Chase Elliott in second; Christopher Bell, Alex Bowman, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Christopher Bell battle with Chase Elliott for second.

Lap 26, Chase Elliott passes Kurt Busch for the lead. Christopher Bell takes second.

Martin Truex Jr has met minimum speed and will continue in the race.

Lap 27 Chase Elliott leads the race with Christopher Bell in second; Ryan Blaney, Kurt Busch, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.

Lap 29, Brad Keselowski passes Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman for fifth.

Lap 31, there are 35 cars on the lead lap; Joey Logano is the only drive not on the lead lap with Kyle Busch out of the race.

The caution flag comes out on lap 32 when Anthony Alfredo spins out and hits the inside wall.

Joey Logano is the “lucky dog” and gets one of his laps back.

Bubba Wallace comes down pit road with a flat tire. Bubba has to make a second trip down pit road.

William Byron reports that he ran over something.

Some of the drivers come down pit road for service.

Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 39 from the outside lane. Chase Elliott battles with Christopher Bell for the lead. Cody Ware spins out but the track stays green.

Lap 40, Chase Elliott passes Christopher Bell for the lead; Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, and Kurt Busch round out the top five.

Drivers are getting three wide across the track.

Lap 43, Chase Elliott has a lead of over half a second on Ryan Blaney; Christopher Bell, Brad Keselowski, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.

Kurt Busch is reporting some radio issues.

Lap 45, James Davison is off the track with 32 cars on the lead lap.

The top eleven drivers have yet to make a pit stop.

Lap 48 Christopher Bell and Brad Keselowski battle for third.

Lap 50, the top five are Chase elliott, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Brad Keselowski, and Kevin Harvick.

Lap 55, after making several trips down pit road for repairs after the lap seven wreck, Martin Truex Jr has moved up to 21st place.

Lap 60, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott battle for the lead. Ryan Blaney takes the lead on lap 62.

There are 29 cars on the lead lap.

The top five are Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Christopher Bell, and Kevin Harvick.

Lap 66, Ryan Blaney has pulled out to a one second lead on Chase Elliott; Brad Keselowski, Christopher Bell, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.

Lap 67, Kevin Harvick passes Christopher Bell for fourth.

Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell battle for fifth.

Lap 70, Tyler Reddick takes fifth from Christopher Bell.

Brad Keselowski battles with Chase Elliott for second.

Five laps remain in stage one with Ryan Blaney a second and a half in front as Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski battle for second.

James Davison is out of the race with 28 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 72, Brad Keselowski finally gets around Chase Elliott for second.

With a lead of nearly two seconds, Ryan Blaney wins stage one for his fourth stage win of the season.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Ryan Blaney
Brad Keselowski
Chase Elliott
Kevin Harvick
Tyler Reddick
Christopher Bell
Denny Hamlin
Ross Chastain
Matt DiBenedetto
Kyle Larson

Drivers come down pit road for service Kevin Harvick winning the race off of pit road. Denny Hamlin advances five spots when he comes off of pit road in second.

Kevin Harvick leads his first laps in two months when he leads the field down for the green flag start of stage two from the outside lane on lap 83. Kevin Harvick jumps out in front of Denny Hamlin to take the lead. Ross Chastain makes it a three wide battle going into turn one.

Lap 84, Chase Elliott and Tyler Reddick battle for second.

Lap 85, the top five are Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and Brad Keselowski.

Lap 87, Kevin Harvick has pulled out to a lead of nearly a second on Chase Elliott; Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Chase Briscoe is running very slow on the track but gets the car moving again and is the last car on the lead lap in 29th.

Lap 90, Kevin Harvick now has a lead of nearly a second and a half on Chase Elliott.

Lap 94, Kevin Harvick has a second and a half lead on Chase Elliott.

Lap 98, Denny Hamlin getsw around Tyler Reddick for fourth.

Lap 98, Ryan Blaney moves into the top five after having a slow pit stop due to an air gun issue.

Chase Elliott has cut into Kevin Harvick’s lead; which is now less than a second and a half.

Lap 100, Kevin Harvick leads the race with Chase Elliott in second; Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Lap 108, Kevin Harvick’s lead is down to just half a seocn on Chase Elliott.

There are 28 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 109, Kevin Harvick has increased his lead to over a second on Chase Elliott; Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Lap 115, Kevin Harvick has a second and a half lead on Chase Elliott; Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five with 27 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 118, Chase Elliott has closed the gap on leader Kevin Harvick to a second.

Lap 120, Kevin Harvick has a lead of just over half a second on Chase Elliott; Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Lap 127, leading 48 laps so far, Kevin Harvick has led his most laps of the season so far. Harvick has a one second lead on Chase Elliott.

Quin Houff gets into the wall after some on track contact and brings out the caution flag on lap 128. Austin Dillon is caught on pit road when the caution flag comes out.

Drivers come down pit road for service with several drivers reporting handling and grip issues. Kevin Harvick wins the race off of pit road.

Kevin Harvick brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane on lap 136 with Denny Hamlin alongside. Kevin Harvick jumps out in front as drivers make it a three wide battle back in the field.

The top five are Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Aric Almirola, and Chase elliott.

Aric Almirola, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson are in a three wide battle for fourth.

Bubba Wallace and Chris Buescher make contact and bring out the caution flag on lap 139. Buscher has a flat tire. Buescher’s car is smoking as he makes his way to his pit stall. Bubba Wallace got loose before the contact.

Joey Logano is the “lucky dog” and is now back on the lead lap.

During the last pit stops, Ryan Newman bumped a tire held by the tire carrier and turned hin around. The tire carrier is fine.

Kevin Harvick brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane on lap 145. Harvick jumps out in front for the lead with Brad Keselowski in second. Denny Hamlin missed the restart.

Lap 146, Brad Keselowski passes Kevin Harvick for the lead.

The top five are Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Aric Almirola, and Ryan Blaney.

With 27 cars on the lead lap, Brad Keselowski has pulled out to a lead of nearly a second on Kevin Harvick on lap 150.

Lap 152, Brad Keselowski has increased his lead ot a second and a half on Kevin Harvick; Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.

Lap 154, Chase Elliott and Aric Almirola battle for fifth.

Lap 155, the race is now official and will be considered complete if it must be shortened for any reason.

Lap 157, Chase Elliott finally gets around Aric Almirola for fifth but does not pull away.

Ryan Blaney passes Denny Hamlin for third.

Lap 162, the top five are Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott.

The battle between Chase Elliott and Aric Almirola continues.

Lap 164, Brad Keselowski has a second and a half lead on Kevin Harvick; Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.

Lap 166, Aric Almirola passes Chase Elliott for fifth.

Lap 168, Brad Keselowski increases his lead over Kevin Harvick to two seconds.

Lap 173, 13 laps remain in stage two, Brad Keselowski has a two second lead on Kevin Harvick; Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.

Lap 180, six laps remain in stage two, Brad Keselowski continues to lead the race by nearly a second and a half over Kevin Harvick; Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Aric Almirola round out the top five. Since getting back on the lead lap, Joey Logano has moved up to 16th place.

Brad Keselowski wins stage two for his second stage win of the season.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Brad Keselowski
Kevin Harvick
Ryan Blaney
Denny Hamlin
Aric Almirola
Chase Elliott
Kyle Larson
Tyler Reddick
Ross Chastain
Kurt Busch

Drivers come down pit road for service with Brad Keselowski just barely beating out Kevin Harvick off of pit road.

Denny Hamlin had to make a second trip down pit road with a lug nut issue. Hamlin will restart the race back in the field.

Lap 193, Brad Keselowski brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane with team mate Ryan Blaney alongside. Keselowski gets out in front for the lead.

The top five are Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney
Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, and Aric Almirola.

With 108 laps remaining in the race, the drivers are chasing daylight to get all of the race in before darkness.

Lap 198, Ryan Blaney battles Brad Keselowski for the lead. Blaney takes the lead but the battle continues.

Lap 200, Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski continue to battle for the lead. Fellow Penske driver Joey Logano has entered the top 10.

Lap 201, Ryan Blaney leads the race with Brad Keselowski in second; Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Lap 208, Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski continue to battle for the lead with Blaney in front; Devin Harvick has pulled to within half a second of the leaders.

Quin Houff is off the track.

Lap 211, Ryan Blaney leads the race with Brad Keselowski in second; Kevin Harvick is in third on Keselowski’s bumper.

Tyler Reddick gets into the wall but the track stays green. Reddick reports that he didn’t hit it that hard.

Lap 214, the top five continues to be Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola, and Kyle Larson.

Lap 217, Joey Logano is now in seventh place.

Lap 220, Ford holds the top four spots with Ryan Blaney leading the race.

Lap 226, leader Ryan Blaney is running the fastest laps on the track. His front brake rotors are glowing bright red.

Quin Houff is out of the race.

Lap 230, Ryan Blaney has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Brad Keselowski; Aric Almirola, Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Currently in 27th place in the point standings, Aric Almirola is running the fastest laps on the track on lap 233.

With darkness approaching, there are still 67 laps remaining in the race. The drivers cannot make it to the end of the race without making a stop for fuel.

Lap 237, Aric Almirola and Brad Keselowski battle for second with Almirola taking second.

Ryan Blaney is in the lead by over a second.

Lap 239, Aric Almirola has closed the gap on leader Ryan Blaney to under a second.

Lap 241, amid lapped traffic, Aric Almirola catches leader Ryan Blaney and begins to challenge for the lead.

Lap 243, Aric Almirola battles Ryan Blaney for the lead; so far, Blaney has held him off.

Lap 246, Aric Almirola passes Ryan Blaney for the lead. Almirola jumps from 27th to 13th place in the points race after taking the lead.

Lap 248, drivers begin making their green flag pit stops.

Lap 250, leader Aric Almirola makes his green flag pit stop and gives the lead over to Ross Chastain.

Lap 255, Ross Chastain makes his green flag pit stop and gives the lead over the Matt DiBenedetto.

Lap 257, as green flag pit stops continue, there are only 12 cars on the lead lap.

Lap 259, Aric Almirola and Brad Keselowski battle for third with Almirola getting around Keselowski; leader Matt DiBenedetto has yet to make a pit stop.

Lap 268, Matt DiBenedetto leads the race with Aric Almirola in second; Brad Keselowski, Christopher Bell, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Lap 271, with 18 cars on the lead lap, Matt DiBenedetto has a lead of nearly six seconds on Aric Almirola; but the lead is getting smaller.

Lap 274, Matt DiBenedetto makes his green flag pit stop and gives the lead over to Aric Almirola; Christopher Bell, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.

Twenty five laps remain in regulation but the skies are getting darker.

With 22 laps remaining in the race, Aric Almirola has a lead of over a second and a half on Christopher Bell.

Lap 282, NASCAR has announced that there are just 10 laps remaining in the race.

Aric Almirola has a lead of over a second on Christopher Bell; the Penske drivers are three, four, and five – Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano.

With just six laps remaining in the race, Aric Almirola has a lead of just over half a second on Christopher Bell.

Aric Almirola passes Austin Dillon to put him a lap down.
Four to go, there are 15 cars on the lead lap.

Aric Almirola takes the white flag.

Shortened by eight laps for darkness, Aric Almirola becomes the 13th driver to win a race this season and win the big lobster. This is the first win for Stewart-Haas Racing in the 2021 season. Almirola went from 27th place in the point standings to securing a spot in the playoffs.


The unofficial results of the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301:
Aric Almirola
Christopher Bell
Brad Keselowski
Joey Logano
Ryan Blaney
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Larson
Ross Chastain
Alex Bowman
Denny Hamlin
Matt DiBenedetto
Martin Truex Jr
Tyler Reddick
Cole Custer
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Kurt Busch
Austin Dillon
Chase Elliott

Erik Jones
Daniel Suarez
William Byron
Ryan Preece
Corey LaJoie
Ryan Newman
Michael McDowell
Bubba Wallace
Chase Briscoe
Justin Haley
Chris Buescher
BJ McLeod
Cody Ware
Anthony Alfredo
Garrett Smithley
Josh Bilicki
Quin Houff
James Davison
Kyle Busch