LOUDON, N.H. — Ryan Blaney navigated lap traffic and a late-race challenge to secure victory Sunday in the Dollar Tree 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, scoring his third win of the 2026 season and the 20th triumph of his NASCAR Cup Series career.
Key moments and the late restart
The decisive sequence unfolded after a caution triggered when William Byron lost a left-rear tire. On the subsequent restart, Blaney fought with Chase Briscoe for control before taking the lead for good on lap 241. From there, the No. 12 Ford led the final 60 laps, weaving through lapped traffic and fending off a charge from Bubba Wallace in the closing laps.
"Bubba came on hard there. I just tried to manage the lap traffic and manage the tire, not make a mistake," Blaney said after the race.
Blaney credited concentration and traffic management for the result, saying he expected a strong challenge down the stretch and hoped fans enjoyed the close racing.
How the finish unfolded
Wallace pushed late and applied pressure, but Blaney maintained enough pace and composure to keep the lead until the checkered flag. Josh Berry finished third, continuing a string of strong runs that extended his streak of top-10 finishes to four in a row.
Berry’s performance is notable for Wood Brothers Racing; the team hasn’t produced four consecutive top-10s for a driver since Morgan Shepherd in 1994. Meanwhile, Berry’s current ride will change next season — he is scheduled to be replaced in the No. 21 Ford by Jesse Love.
Team Penske momentum
The Loudon victory extends a hot stretch for Team Penske on the Cup circuit. Over recent weeks, the organization has picked up multiple wins across different tracks, and Blaney’s success at New Hampshire marks the team’s continued run of strong results.
Blaney also joins an exclusive list of drivers to win consecutive races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a group that includes former stars Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick.
- Race: Dollar Tree 301
- Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon
- Date: Aug. 23, 2026
- Winner: Ryan Blaney (No. 12, Team Penske)
| Position | Driver | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryan Blaney | Led final 60 laps; took lead on lap 241 |
| 2 | Bubba Wallace | Late charge fell short |
| 3 | Josh Berry | Fourth straight top-10; will be replaced by Jesse Love next season |
Implications for the season
Blaney’s Loudon victory serves as both a momentum boost and another marker in the race toward the postseason. The win adds to his season tally and reinforces Team Penske’s strong form across the Cup schedule. For drivers like Berry, strong results at Loudon carry personal and professional implications as teams finalize lineups and contracts for the coming seasons.
The race featured the usual variables that make New Hampshire competitive — strategy through traffic, tire management and timing restarts. William Byron’s blown left-rear tire that produced the late caution played a pivotal role by bunching the field and setting up the sprint to the finish.
What drivers said
Blaney reflected on the intensity of the closing laps and highlighted the importance of avoiding mistakes while navigating slower cars. He said the contest was "a heck of a battle" and sounded appreciative that his crew and car held together under pressure.
For Wallace, the runner-up showing underscored his capability to challenge up front, but the final laps demonstrated how thin the margin can be between seizing the lead and narrowly missing out.
Looking ahead
With Loudon in the books, teams will turn their attention to upcoming events on the Cup calendar as the regular season continues toward its climax. For New Hampshire fans, back-to-back wins by a driver at their track help keep the spotlight on Loudon and its role in shaping playoff narratives.
This story will be updated with additional quotes and results as officials finalize race statistics and postrace inspections are completed.
