The 2018 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup is nearing the end of its elimination phase with seven races remaining on schedule. That includes this weekend’s race at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Read on for our preview of the New Hampshire 301 (aka Foxwoods Resort Casino 301) below.
Currently seated atop the Monster Energy Cup with 799 points, Busch will head to this weekend’s raise in New Hampshire riding a rolling wave of momentum. He placed fourth last week in Kentucky and has finished inside the top five in four of his last five races, which includes a win in Chicago earlier this month. Projected to enter the playoffs as the top overall seed, Busch will look to add more points to his total at intermediate track in New Hampshire, where he won last September during the The ISM Connect 300. Busch has two wins and eight top fives in 14 races on intermediate tracks since 2016.
Martin Truex Jr.
Truex is coming off a win in Kentucky last week to boost his win total to four. He also cut down Kevin Harvick’s lead in the second spot down to two playoff points, and a strong performance this weekend in New Hampshire could pull himself closer to the top of the standings. Truex has not won in New Hampshire, but since 2016, he has placed twice in the top five and thrice in the top 10. The Furniture Row Racing driver has been scorching hot like a burning tire rubber of late, having won twice and finished four times in his last four races.
Jimmie Johnson
Johnson has not won a race so far in the series, but it’s going to be hard to ignore his chances of winning his first this weekend. Johnson likes race on intermediate tracks, as evidenced by the fact that he has 18 wins in 95 races on such type of courses. He also has a 9.92 average finish on intermediate tracks.
Sleeper Pick
Aric Almirola
Almirola helped his playoff chances with a top 10 finish in Kentucky last week, placing a respectable eighth overall. It was his third top 11 finish over his past four races, so he’s building up some momentum. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver raced four times in New Hampshire since 2016, and placed inside the top 20 only twice. So far in his career, he has recorded only one top five performance there.
Long Shot Pick
Ty Dillon
In 19 starts in the series, Dillon has only finished inside the top 20 just five times. Mediocrity defines Dillon’s campaign so far, which is also why you’re reading his name under the long shot category. He has five top 20 finishes in 10 races on intermediate tracks dating back to February of 2016.
