Ryan Blaney Wins New Hampshire NASCAR Cup Series Race: Top 10 Results

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Ryan Blaney Goes Back-to-Back at New Hampshire, Securing His Third Win of 2026

The Team Penske driver mastered a chaotic, weather-plagued Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to claim his second victory at the 1.058-mile oval.

Ryan Blaney is developing a serious fondness for Loudon. One year after conquering New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the Team Penske driver returned on Sunday, August 23, 2026, and delivered another masterclass, taking the checkered flag in the NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire to secure his third victory of the 2026 season.

Driving the No. 12 Ford, Blaney capitalized on a day that began with immense uncertainty and wet-weather tires. While the afternoon ended in bright sunshine for the closing laps of the Dollar Tree 301, the road to victory lane was anything but straightforward.

Weather Chaos and a Shaky Start on Goodyear Wets

Rain dictated the early narrative at the one-mile oval. Persistent showers Sunday morning and early afternoon forced officials to juggle the schedule, moving the initial start time up an hour to 2 p.m. ET. Even with the proactive adjustment, the field rolled off on Goodyear wet-weather tires as moisture lingered on the pavement.

The slippery conditions immediately caught out the front of the field. Polesitter Tyler Reddick spun on the opening lap, while Carson Hocevar later looped his car during the pace laps as the rain intensified. The worsening weather forced NASCAR to halt the field on pit road for additional track-drying efforts.

Once the track finally dried and racing resumed in earnest, Kyle Larson established himself as an early powerhouse. The Hendrick Motorsports driver led 14 of the opening 70 laps and held off Christopher Bell to win Stage 1. Blaney kept a low profile early on, quietly cruising to a sixth-place finish in the opening segment.

The No. 12 Penske Ford Takes Command

As the race progressed into Stage 2, the complexion of the afternoon shifted toward the No. 12 camp. Blaney surged to the front, capturing the Stage 2 victory—his series-leading seventh stage win of 2026—ahead of Josh Berry and Bubba Wallace. That performance positioned him squarely at the front of the field for the final stretch.

Photo: news-journalonline.com

When the sun finally broke through the clouds for the closing laps, Blaney held firm. He led 115 laps overall, expertly managing his equipment and holding off a hard-charging Bubba Wallace, who crossed the finish line second. Josh Berry capped off a strong day by taking third, while Christopher Bell finished fourth and Kyle Larson rounded out the top five.

The remainder of the top 10 featured Ty Gibbs in sixth, followed by Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Preece, and Noah Gragson.

Heartbreak for Chastain as the Regular Season Nears Its End

While Blaney celebrated another banner afternoon, the race dealt a devastating blow to Ross Chastain’s playoff hopes. Entering the weekend 18th in the standings and fighting to keep his Chase hopes alive, Chastain saw his afternoon end abruptly due to a drivetrain problem.

Photo: motorbiscuit.com

The No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet completed just 41 laps before heading to the garage, making Chastain the race’s first retirement. The mechanical failure eliminated Chastain from Chase contention before the regular-season finale.

Heading to the Daytona Wild Card

Sunday’s trip to Loudon marked the last normal event of the regular season. The Cup Series now prepares for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, a notoriously unpredictable wild card where the final playoff grid will be officially locked into place.

For Blaney and the Team Penske crew, however, the pressure of the bubble is already off. They leave New Hampshire with another gleaming trophy, further cementing their status as legitimate championship contenders as the postseason looms.