Winless NASCAR drivers got a glimmer of hope of making the playoffs last week in Atlanta after Kurt Busch became just the 12th race winner of the 2021 season — and first first-time winner since Chase Elliott won the Circuit of the Americas on May 23.
The Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway presents the opportunity for a 13th unique winner to earn what should be an automatic berth in the playoffs; but NASCAR hasn’t seen consecutive first-time winners this season since Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch won at Talladega and Kansas on April 25 and May 2, respectively.
That said, there are five more races, Sunday’s included, to fill out four more winners for the 16-car playoffs. Every winless driver from here on out will have even greater pressure to make the playoffs, with time dwindling before the start of the postseason.
Denny Hamlin is the likeliest among that bunch to earn his first win on Sunday. The regular-season points leader — he has 10 points more than four-time winner Kyle Larson — still hasn’t won a race this season, despite 11 top-five finishes and 14 in the top 10. But he has enjoyed success at the NHMS, including three wins and six runner-up finishes.
Stock Market Pioneer is tracking live updates and lap-by-lap highlights from NASCAR’s race at New Hampshire on Sunday. Follow for complete results from the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301.
MORE: Watch today’s NASCAR race live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
NASCAR at New Hampshire live updates, highlights from Foxwoods Resort Casino 301
All times Eastern
2:26 p.m: For anyone curious about the lobster trophy at NHMS:
“We don’t want a plastic trophy. We want to really show New England.”
We caught up with Tom Voyer, the taxidermist behind mounting the unique lobster trophy at @NHMS. #NASCAR // Today 3P ET // NBCSN pic.twitter.com/zpJK9a0rtP
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 18, 2021
2:24 p.m.: Uh-oh. Michael McDowell, Quin Houff, Corey LaJoie, Ryan Preece and BJ McLeod are all sent to the rear of the starting lineup for failing pre-race inspections.
NASCAR start time today
- Time: 3 p.m. ET (TV time)
- TV channel: NBCSN (TSN in Canada)
- Live stream: NBCSports.com | fuboTV (7-day free trial)
The green flag for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is scheduled to drop at 3:18 p.m. ET.
NBCSN’s programming will begin at 2:30 p.m. with the “Countdown to Green” prerace show, followed by race coverage beginning at 3 p.m. ET. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte will call the race and provide analysis. Marty Snider and Dillon Welch will be the pit reporters.
NASCAR starting lineup at New Hampshire
Here is the complete starting lineup for Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the Foxwoods Casino Resort 301.
| Start pos. | Driver | Car No. | Team |
| 1 | Kyle Busch | 18 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 2 | Martin Truex Jr. | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 3 | Chase Elliott | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 4 | Kurt Busch | 1 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 5 | Alex Bowman | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 6 | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 7 | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penske |
| 8 | Tyler Reddick | 8 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 9 | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 10 | Kyle Larson | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 11 | Brad Keselowski | 2 | Team Penske |
| 12 | Kevin Harvick | 4 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 13 | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 14 | Matt DiBenedetto | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 15 | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penske |
| 16 | William Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | 17 | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 18 | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 23XI Racing |
| 19 | Chase Briscoe | 14 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 20 | Ross Chastain | 42 | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 21 | Cole Custer | 41 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 22 | Aric Almirola | 10 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 23 | Michael McDowell | 34 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 24 | Erik Jones | 43 | Richard Petty Motorsports |
| 25 | Ryan Preece | 37 | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 26 | Corey LaJoie | 7 | Spire Motorsports |
| 27 | Anthony Alfredo | 38 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 28 | Ryan Newman | 6 | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 29 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 30 | Justin Haley | 77 | Spire Motorsports |
| 31 | Daniel Suarez | 99 | Trackhouse Racing Team |
| 32 | BJ McLeod | 78 | Live Fast Motorsports |
| 33 | Garrett Smithley | 53 | Rick Ware Racing |
| 34 | Cody Ware | 51 | Petty Ware Racing |
| 35 | Josh Bilicki | 52 | Rick Ware Racing |
| 36 | Quin Houff | 00 | StarCom Racing |
| 37 | James Davison | 15 | Rick Ware Racing |