Stock car racing events in the NASCAR Cup Series has been held at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway since 1993. The race is currently held as a 301 lap (318.458-mile (512.508 km) race and under the USA Today 301 name for sponsorship reasons. A second race in September was also formerly held at the track from 1997 to 2017 until it was moved to Las Vegas Motor Speedway starting in 2018.[2]

Quick Facts Venue, Location ...
USA Today 301
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NASCAR Cup Series
VenueNew Hampshire Motor Speedway
LocationLoudon, New Hampshire, United States
Corporate sponsorUSA Today
First race1993 (1993)
Distance318.458 miles (512.508 km)
Laps301[1]
Stage 1: 75
Stage 2: 110
Final stage: 116
Previous namesSlick 50 300 (1993–1995)
Jiffy Lube 300 (1996–1999)
thatlook.com 300 (2000)
New England 300 (2001–2003, 2005)
Siemens 300 (2004)
Lenox Industrial Tools 300 (2006–2007)
Lenox Industrial Tools 301 (2008–2012)
Camping World RV Sales 301 (2013–2014)
5-hour Energy 301 (2015)
New Hampshire 301 (2016)
Overton's 301 (2017)
Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 (2018–2021)
Ambetter 301 (2022)
Crayon 301 (2023)
Former second race:
  • CMT 300 (1997)
    Farm Aid on CMT 300 (1998)
    Dura Lube/Kmart 300 (1999)
    Dura Lube 300 sponsored by Kmart (2000)
    New Hampshire 300 (2001–2002)
    Sylvania 300 (2003–2015)
    Bad Boy Off Road 300 (2016)
    ISM Connect 300 (2017)
Most wins (driver)Kevin Harvick (4)
Most wins (team)Joe Gibbs Racing (14)
Most wins (manufacturer)Chevrolet (20)
Circuit information
SurfaceAsphalt
Length1.058 mi (1.703 km)
Turns4
Close

Christopher Bell is the defending winner, having won it in 2024.

History

The race has been traditionally run in July, but from 2007 to 2010 it was run in late June or early July as the race preceding the Coke Zero 400 in order to allow that race to run as close to the 4th of July as possible. In 2011, the race returned to its traditional mid-July date. From its inaugural running in 1993 through 2007 the race was 300 laps, but after O. Bruton Smith and his company SMI bought the track, their first date was given the moniker of the extra mile and was increased to 301 laps. In 2008, Kurt Busch won the race after it was called due to rain after 284 laps. One year later, Joey Logano became the youngest winner in NASCAR Cup Series history after the race was also shortened because of rain after 273 laps, at the age of 19 years, 1 month, and 4 days.

From 1997 to 2017 (except in 2001, as it was rescheduled as the season finale due to September 11 attacks on the week of the race's original schedule), a second race was held at the track every September, which came at the expense of the fall race at North Wilkesboro Speedway; Jeff Gordon won the inaugural race. From 2004 to 2010, it was the playoff opener race before being moved to Chicagoland Speedway.[3] Starting in 2018, the fall race would be moved to Las Vegas Motor Speedway.[4]

During the practice for the July 2000 event, Kenny Irwin Jr. was killed after he lost control of his car, which slammed head on into the wall, causing it to flip onto its side. His cause of death, basilar skull fracture, was the same cause that killed Busch Series driver Adam Petty eight weeks prior at Busch 200 at the same track, leading NASCAR to make significant rule changes to maintain driver safety, including an experiment on using a restrictor plate for the second New Hampshire Cup race that season. A race won by Jeff Burton leading almost every lap of the race resulting in the experiment being reverted (for Cup cars only) the following year. The second 2003 race, which saw several drivers nearly colliding with an immobilized Dale Jarrett attempting to race back to the caution, resulting in NASCAR banning the practice effective from the next race at Dover; instead, NASCAR would freeze the field immediately at the caution and allowed the first car one lap down (or multiple laps down, if there were no cars one lap down) to rejoin the lead lap. This is officially called the "free pass" by NASCAR, but is widely known by fans and journalists as the "lucky dog" rule.[5]

Race sponsorship

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Foxwoods Resort Casino was the title sponsor of the race from 2018 to 2021

Newell Rubbermaid, through its Lenox Industrial Tools subsidiary, was the title sponsor of the first race from 2006 to 2012. Starting in 2008, organizers added an extra lap to represent that Lenox Industrial Tools "is looking for users and suppliers of industrial tools that go the extra mile, whose jobs are physically demanding, day after day, and still find time to contribute to their communities in a meaningful way." The race was dubbed "The Extra Mile at the Magic Mile." Under the Lenox Industrial Tools sponsorship, the race was 318.5 miles (512.6 km) in length while the fall race remained at 317.4 miles (510.8 km). After Lenox Industrial Tools left as title sponsor, Camping World picked up the sponsorship of the event through its RV Sales department for 2013 and 2014, and since the 301 moniker became popular with the fans, NHMS decided to keep their July event 301 laps long. In fact, the first two races with the 301 lap distance did not go the whole distance.[6]

In 2017, the first race (along with the track's Xfinity Series race the day before) received sponsorship from water sports store Overton's (which is owned by Camping World), branding it the Overton's 301.[7]

Starting in 2018, Foxwoods Resort Casino, located in Ledyard, Connecticut, became the title sponsor of the race after announcing a multi-year sponsorship agreement with the racetrack on May 31, 2018.[8][9]

In 2022, Ambetter, which was the title sponsor of the Xfinity Series race at New Hampshire in 2021, became the title sponsor of the race, replacing Foxwoods.[10] Before the 2022 Cup Series race at the track, it was announced that Crayon Software Experts, which replaced Ambetter as the title sponsor of the Xfinity Series race at New Hampshire in 2022, would sponsor the track's Cup Series race in 2023.[11] It had been announced the previous week that Ambetter would move their title sponsorship to the spring Cup Series race at Atlanta in 2023.[12] USA Today became the title sponsor for the 2024 race.[13]

Trophy

Unlike other races, the trophy (for the July race only between 1997-2017) is in the form of an American lobster provided by Makris Lobster and Steak House of Concord, New Hampshire.[14][15] The restaurant selects the largest lobster in its tank, usually weighing in at 20 lbs or more. After the winning driver poses with the lobster on victory lane, Makris pressure cooks it and sends the meat to the winning pit crew while a taxidermist reassembles the shell and mounts it on a trophy for the driver.[16][17][18]

There were some exceptions to this tradition. After winning the race in 2008, Kurt Busch donated his lobster to the New England Aquarium; it died shortly after its arrival.[18]

Past winners

July

More information Year, Date ...
Year Date No. Driver Team Manufacturer Sponsor Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Report Ref
Laps Miles (km)
1993 July 11 2 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Pontiac Miller Genuine Draft 300 317.4 (510.805) 2:59:45 105.947 Report [19]
1994 July 10 10 Ricky Rudd Rudd Performance Motorsports Ford Tide 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:37:24 87.599 Report [20]
1995 July 9 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont 300 317.4 (510.805) 2:57:56 107.029 Report [21]
1996 July 14 28 Ernie Irvan Robert Yates Racing Ford Texaco/Havoline 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:12:30 98.93 Report [22]
1997 July 13 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Exide Batteries 300 317.4 (510.805) 2:42:35 117.134 Report [23]
1998 July 12 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Exide Batteries 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:04:54 102.996 Report [24]
1999 July 11 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Exide Batteries 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:06:56 101.876 Report [25]
2000 July 9 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac The Home Depot 273* 288.834 (464.833) 2:48:01 103.145 Report [26]
2001 July 22 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford UPS 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:06:28 102.131 Report [27]
2002 July 21 22 Ward Burton Bill Davis Racing Dodge Caterpillar 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:26:14 92.342 Report [28]
2003 July 20 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:16:29 96.924 Report [29]
2004 July 25 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Irwin Industrial Tools/Sharpie 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:14:36 97.862 Report [30]
2005 July 17 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet The Home Depot 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:05:36 102.608 Report [31]
2006 July 16 5 Kyle Busch Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Kellogg's 308* 325.864 (524.427) 3:12:51 101.384 Report [32]
2007 July 1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet FedEx Ground 300 317.4 (510.805) 2:55:59 108.215 Report [33]
2008 June 29 2 Kurt Busch Penske Racing Dodge Miller Lite 284* 300.472 (483.562) 2:48:56 106.719 Report [34]
2009 June 28 20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota The Home Depot 273* 288.834 (464.833) 2:57:45 97.497 Report [35]
2010 June 27 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's 301 318.458 (512.508) 2:48:38 113.308 Report [36]
2011 July 17 39 Ryan Newman Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet U.S. Army 301 318.458 (512.508) 3:03:33 104.1 Report [37]
2012 July 15 5 Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Farmers Insurance 301 318.458 (512.508) 2:44:24 116.226 Report [38]
2013 July 14 55 Brian Vickers Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine 302* 319.516 (514.211) 3:14:10 98.735 Report [39]
2014 July 13 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford Redd's Apple Ale 305* 322.69 (519.319) 2:58:03 108.741 Report [40]
2015 July 19 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Interstate Batteries 301 318.458 (512.508) 2:56:06 108.504 Report [41]
2016 July 17 20 Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Dollar General 301 318.458 (512.508) 2:57:53 107.416 Report [42]
2017 July 16 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota FedEx Office 301 318.458 (512.508) 3:00:36 105.8 Report [43]
2018 July 22 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Busch Beer 301 318.458 (512.508) 2:52:56 110.49 Report [44]
2019 July 21 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Busch Beer/National Forest Foundation 301 318.458 (512.508) 3:03:37 104.062 Report [45]
2020 August 2* 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford Western Star/Alliance Truck Parts 301 318.458 (512.508) 3:10:22 100.372 Report [46]
2021 July 18 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Smithfield 293* 309.994 (498.887) 3:07:52 99.004 Report [47]
2022 July 17 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Rheem 301 318.458 (512.508) 3:14:45 98.113 Report [48]
2023 July 17* 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Reser's Fine Foods 301 318.458 (512.508) 3:08:07 101.572 Report [49]
2024 June 23 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Rheem 305* 322.69 (519.415) 3:48:14 84.832 Report [50]
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Notes

  • 2000, 2008, and 2009: Race shortened due to rain.
  • 2006, 2013, 2014, and 2024: Race extended due to a NASCAR overtime finish.
  • 2020: Race postponed from July 19 to August 2 due to schedule changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.[51]
  • 2021: Race delayed due to rain and shortened by eight laps due to darkness.[52]
  • 2023: Race postponed from Sunday to Monday due to rain.[53]

Multiple winners (drivers)

More information Wins, Driver ...
Wins Driver Years Won
3 Jeff Burton 1997–1999
2 Tony Stewart 2000, 2005
Kurt Busch 2004, 2008
Jimmie Johnson 2003, 2010
Kyle Busch 2006, 2015
Denny Hamlin 2007, 2017
Kevin Harvick 2018, 2019
Brad Keselowski 2014, 2020
Christopher Bell 2022, 2024
Close

Multiple winners (teams)

More information Wins, Team ...
Wins Team Years Won
10 Joe Gibbs Racing 2000, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2015–2017, 2022-2024
5 Hendrick Motorsports 1995, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2012
4 Roush Racing 1997–1999, 2004
Team Penske 1993, 2008, 2014, 2020
Stewart-Haas Racing 2011, 2018, 2019, 2021
2 Robert Yates Racing 1996, 2001
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Manufacturer wins

More information Wins, Manufacturer ...
Wins Manufacturer Years Won
12 Ford 1994, 1996–1999, 2001, 2004, 2014, 2018–2021
9 Chevrolet 1995, 2003, 2005–2007, 2010–2012
8 Toyota 2009, 2013, 2015–2017, 2022-2024
2 Pontiac 1993, 2000
Dodge 2002, 2008
Close
More information Wins, Sponsor ...
Wins Sponsor Years Won
3 Exide Batteries 1997–1999
The Home Depot 2000, 2005, 2009
2 Miller 1993, 2008
Lowe's 2003, 2010
FedEx 2007, 2017
Busch 2018, 2019
Rheem 2022, 2024
Close

September

More information Year, Date ...
Year Date No. Driver Team Manufacturer Sponsor Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Report Ref
Laps Miles (km)
1997 September 14 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:09:45 100.364 Report [54]
1998 August 30 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet DuPont 300 317.4 (510.805) 2:49:55 112.078 Report [55]
1999 September 19 42 Joe Nemechek SABCO Racing Chevrolet BellSouth 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:09:10 100.673 Report [56]
2000 September 17 99 Jeff Burton Roush Racing Ford Exide Batteries 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:06:42 102.003 Report [57]
2001 November 23* 31 Robby Gordon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Lowe's 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:03:50 103.594 Report [58]
2002 September 15 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing Ford Alltel/Mobil 1 Speedpass 207* 219.006 (352.455) 2:05:03 105.081 Report [59]
2003 September 14 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lowe's 300 317.4 (510.805) 2:58:41 106.58 Report [60]
2004 September 19 97 Kurt Busch Roush Racing Ford Irwin Industrial Tools/Sharpie 300 317.4 (510.805) 2:53:31 109.753 Report [61]
2005 September 18 12 Ryan Newman Penske Racing Dodge Mobil 1/Alltel 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:18:36 95.891 Report [62]
2006 September 17 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Reese's 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:06:21 102.195 Report [63]
2007 September 16 07 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Jack Daniel's 300 317.4 (510.805) 2:52:23 110.475 Report [64]
2008 September 14 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford Dish Network Turbo HD 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:00:34 105.468 Report [65]
2009 September 20 5 Mark Martin Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet CarQuest/Kellogg's 300 317.4 (510.805) 3:09:01 100.753 Report [66]
2010 September 19 33 Clint Bowyer* Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Cheerios/Hamburger Helper 300 317.4 (510.805) 2:58:22 106.769 Report [67]
2011 September 25 14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet Mobil 1/Office Depot 300 317.4 (510.805) 2:43:13 116.679 Report [68]
2012 September 23 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota FedEx Freight 300 317.4 (510.805) 2:43:02 116.81 Report [69]
2013 September 22 20 Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Husky Tools/Matt Kenseth 500th Start 300 317.4 (510.805) 2:57:02 107.573 Report [70]
2014 September 21 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford Shell/Pennzoil 303* 320.574 (515.913) 3:14:53 98.697 Report [71]
2015 September 27 20 Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Dollar General 300 317.4 (510.805) 2:58:51 106.480 Report [72]
2016 September 25 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet Ditech 300 317.4 (510.805) 2:54:15 109.291 Report [73]
2017 September 24 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota M&M's Caramel 300 317.4 (510.805) 2:54:47 108.958 Report [74]
Close
  • 2001: Race postponed from September 16 to November 23 due to 9/11.
  • 2002: Race shortened due to rain.
  • 2010: Clint Bowyer's was found to have illegal car modifications in the post-race inspection, and he was penalized 150 points, while crew chief Shane Wilson was suspended four races.
  • 2014: Race extended due to a NASCAR Overtime finish.

Multiple winners (drivers)

More information # Wins, Driver ...
# Wins Driver Years Won
2 Jeff Gordon 1997–1998
Ryan Newman 2002, 2005
Clint Bowyer 2007, 2010
Matt Kenseth 2013, 2015
Kevin Harvick 2006, 2016
Close

Multiple winners (teams)

More information # Wins, Team ...
# Wins Team Years Won
4 Hendrick Motorsports 1997–1998, 2003, 2009
Richard Childress Racing 2001, 2006–2007, 2010
Joe Gibbs Racing 2012–2013, 2015, 2017
3 Roush Fenway Racing 2000, 2004, 2008
Team Penske 2002, 2005, 2014
2 Stewart-Haas Racing 2011, 2016
Close

Manufacturer wins

More information # Wins, Manufacturer ...
# Wins Manufacturer Years Won
11 Chevrolet 1997–1999, 2001, 2003, 2006–2007, 2009–2011, 2016
5 Ford 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2014
4 Toyota 2012–2013, 2015, 2017
1 Dodge 2005
Close

References

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