The Spherical of 12 is formally underway, and Staff Penske has shortly asserted themselves as true title threats as soon as once more. Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney mixed to steer over 90% of the laps run at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The race additionally featured some drama between teammates and the staff proprietor’s grandson at Joe Gibbs Racing, whereas 23XI Racing didn’t get something optimistic out of the race weekend.
Here is a take a look at the most important winners and losers from NHMS:
WINNER: Ryan Blaney punches his ticket to the Spherical of 8
Ryan Blaney, Staff Penske Ford
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
Right here we go once more. Staff Penske has received each title to date within the Subsequent Gen period, and so they have already got a automobile assured to enter the Spherical of 8. Blaney led 116 of 301 laps, and the one automobiles that might actually problem him after he bought going had been people who got here from the identical race store. And with tracks like Talladega and Martinsville within the subsequent spherical, there’s a actual path for the No. 12 to go all the way in which this yr.
LOSER: 23XI Racing stumbles in ‘horrible’ Spherical of 12 opener
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota; Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
Photograph by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photos
The entire playoff drivers managed to succeed in the checkered flag at NHMS, which was dangerous information for 23XI as a result of they had been the slowest of the 12 contenders. Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace had been the one playoff drivers to complete outdoors of the highest 20, putting twenty first and twenty sixth, respectively. They simply appeared misplaced, and now they’re in a serious factors deficit. The excellent news is that they now head to Kansas, the place 23XI has received a number of races prior to now.
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
HMS didn’t seem like themselves within the first spherical, and whereas they weren’t the perfect staff at NHMS, they’re lastly on track. All three of their remaining playoff drivers completed inside the highest ten, and Chase Elliott drove from twenty seventh on the grid to attain a high 5. Final week, he felt like they did not even need to advance into this spherical, so it was a much-needed enchancment for Staff Hendrick, particularly at a flat observe the place they do not have an excellent document.
LOSER: Ty Gibbs as issues get ugly between JGR teammates
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota; Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photograph by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photos
Oh boy … Gibbs, one week faraway from a bitter loss at Bristol, was racing his championship-contending teammates very laborious at NHMS. That is tremendous, however at one level, he began to slam doorways with teammate Christopher Bell a number of instances. Straight behind this was Denny Hamlin, who was aggravated with the recklessness of Gibbs. When he tried to move the No. 54 quickly after, he confirmed no mercy, shortly spinning out the boss’s grandson in an explosive second for the group. Hamlin overtly questioned on the radio if the staff are ‘scared’ of speaking to Ty.
WINNER: Josh Berry for practically profitable the race after early spin
Ryan Blaney, Staff Penske Ford, Josh Berry, Wooden Brothers Racing Ford
Photograph by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photos
Berry completed final in all three races that made up the Spherical of 16, and it seemed like dangerous luck continued to comply with him this weekend. He bought spun out early, however in a formidable comeback, he charged again by means of the sector and practically received the race. Berry held the lead on the restart, and even with older tires, he held on to complete an in depth second to Blaney.
LOSER: SVG as his greatest run but on ovals ends in a wreck
Shane van Gisbergen crash, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Getty Photos
Shane van Gisbergen is one other driver who determined to have certainly one of their strongest runs of the yr one week after being eradicated from title rivalry. SVG had 4 wins in 2025 — all on street programs, however this was one of many extra spectacular outings for him on an oval. He certified tenth, drove up inside the highest 5, and scored stage factors on an oval for the primary. Sadly, all of it got here to an finish when Brad Keselowski tried to make it five-wide on a restart, wrecking SVG and several other others.
WINNER: Joey Logano goes from under the cutline to +24 at his dwelling observe
Joey Logano, Staff Penske Ford
Photograph by: Getty Photos
Logano did not get the win, however he was one other Penske driver who made large positive factors on Sunday. After securing pole place, he led 147 laps and completed fourth. That was sufficient to take Logano from under the cutline by two factors to 24 above it. As soon as once more, the three-time champion is positioning himself effectively for a deep playoff run.
LOSER: Ross Chastain loses floor regardless of a high ten end
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
Chastain scored his first high ten of the playoffs on Sunday, which feels like a great factor, however the factors say in any other case. He already entered the race under the cutline, and the mixture of no playoff drivers forward of him stumbling and the No. 1 failing to attain any stage factors meant that he truly misplaced floor. The excellent news is that he is nonetheless inside putting distance, 12 factors adrift of Chase Briscoe within the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
WINNER: Christopher Bell leads the way in which for Staff Toyota
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
Bell entered this race because the defending winner, however he shortly needed to regulate his expectations because the Toyotas appeared to fall behind their rivals. And whereas it was a quiet day for the No. 20, it was precisely what he wanted. He made probably the most of it, and used a four-tire name on the finish to surge as much as sixth within the last working order. Due to that, he is 29 factors above the cutline.
LOSER: Cody Ware wrecks himself in payback gone incorrect
Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford
Photograph by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photos
Ware bought spun out early within the race resulting from contact from Austin Dillon. Whereas it appeared like an harmless mistake, and the No. 51 continued with out injury, the Rick Ware Racing driver didn’t let it go. Later within the race, it appeared that he tried to wreck Dillon in retaliation whereas the No. 3 was lapping him. Truly, he simply wrecked himself and slammed the skin wall, inflicting the ultimate warning flag of the race. That was a bit awkward, and Dillon referred to as him an ‘fool’ on the radio after the obvious try at payback.
