After Kyle Busch won his second race of the season at Kentucky, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series moves to New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Race Info
Race: 5-Hour Energy 301
Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Time: Sunday, 1:30 pm ET
TV: NBC Sports Network
Length: 301 laps / 318.46 miles
Last Winner: Brad Keselowski
Track Fast Facts
Location: Loudon, New Hampshire
Type: Oval
Track Length: 1.058 iles
Banking: 2-7 degree turns, 1 degree straightaways
Schedule - (all times Eastern)
Friday, July 17:
11:30 am - 12:55 pm: Sprint Cup Series Practice (NBCSN)
4:45 pm: Sprint Cup Series Pole Qualifying (NBCSN)
Saturday, July 18:
10:00 - 10:55 am: Sprint Cup Series Practice (CNBC)
12:30 - 1:25 pm: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice (NBCSN)
Sunday, July 19:
1:30 pm: Sprint Cup Series 5 Hour Energy 300 (NBCSN)
Race Preview
Going into Kentucky, the big talk was about safety, especially in light of Austin Dillon's scary crash at the end of the Coke Zero 400. NASCAR put those fears to bed, as the Kentucky race still had some spectacular crashes, but none like the crash that ended the Daytona race.
Kyle Busch won his second race of the season in Kentucky, after missing the first half of the season due to a broken leg suffered in the season opening Xfinity series race at Daytona. NASCAR granted him an exception, meaning if he is in the top-30 in points and has a win before the chase starts, he will be in. He has two wins, and is in 34th position. All he has to do to make the chase is average a 17th place finish.
Historically, this track has been dominated by Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, as they are the only active drivers to lead more than 1,000 laps at the track. The next closest is Ryan Newman with a 722-lap lead. They also have combined for six wins at the track.
Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the race weekend at New Hampshire here on the NASCAR section of VAVEL USA.