Ryan Blaney held off intense pressure from Josh Berry in the closing laps of Sunday’s Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, earning his third victory of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. This win guarantees Blaney’s progression to the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Race Overview and Playoff Driver Performances
During the race, nine of the twelve playoff drivers finished among the top 12, demonstrating strong performances overall. However, Austin Cindric, Tyler Reddick, and Bubba Wallace had difficult outings, each finishing outside the top 15. Wallace’s No. 23 car struggled with setup issues, leading to an early drop from competitiveness and a 26th-place result, one lap behind the leaders.
Tyler Reddick dealt with brake problems throughout the 301-lap event, which limited his ability to challenge, resulting in a 21st-place finish. Despite these setbacks, all three drivers managed to complete the race.
Points Standings and Playoff Implications Heading to Kansas
Following the race, Ross Chastain (-12 points), Austin Cindric (-19), Tyler Reddick (-23), and Bubba Wallace (-27) find themselves on the bubble as the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs continue. These drivers face the next challenge at Kansas Speedway, where their performances will be critical to securing advancement to the Round of 8.
The latest playoff grid after the Mobil 1 301 marks the first event of the Round of 12, with Blaney’s win ensuring his automatic qualification moving forward.
The Road Ahead in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs
Blaney’s victory at New Hampshire not only stamps his ticket to the next stage of the playoffs but also intensifies the competition for remaining spots as drivers head to Kansas Speedway. The pressure will mount on those trailing in points to perform strongly in coming races to extend their championship hopes.
