Tires will be burning again this week with the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series headed to New Hampshire for the 2021 Foxwoods Resort and Casino 301. In this preview of the race, you’ll get to know more about three of the favorites, a couple of sleepers, and a long shot to win down in Loudon.
Larson has seemingly cooled off as of late, but he’s still a heavyweight this season. He finished 16th in the 2021 Jockey Made in America 250 and 18th a week after at the 2021 Quaker State 400 presented by Kwik Trip. The upcoming race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway should give Larson a chance to get another win, especially since he’s been solid there in his career. While he’s yet to win a race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, his career average finish there is 12.90 across 10 starts.
Truex Jr. should definitely be a driver to watch out for this coming weekend. It’s not only because he’s got three wins on the season to go with seven top 5s and 11 top 10s, but also since he’s been among the strongest drivers at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He has finished inside the top 10 in each of his last six appearances at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a stretch that includes his third-place campaign in the 2020 Foxwoods Resort Casino 301.
After his debacle in the Pocono 350, Elliot has come out strong in the next two races. He won the 2021 Jockey Made in America 250 then finished seventh in the 2021 Quaker State 400 presented by Kwik Trip last Sunday. That’s a great setup for him heading to New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where he’s been among the best — if not the best in the current group of active drivers. After all, he’s got four top 5s and five top 10s in 10 career starts there.
In 20 starts this season, Jones has only managed a pair of top 10s and a total of seven laps led. You can choose to focus on that. Or you can feel encouraged for him over the fact that he’s got an average finish of 12.25 in his last four starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Wallace is showing some stability lately. He has cracked the top 15 in three of his last four starts overall, including a season-best fifth place in the 2021 Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 at Pocono Raceway back in June. He hasn’t finished better than 22nd in any of his three career stars at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but it’s fair to expect Wallace will have a better showing this time around there.
Houff is coming off a 35th-place performance in the 2021 Quaker State 400 presented by Kwik Trip, which extended his streak of sub-30 finishes to five starts. Outside of his 15th-place performance in the All-Star Open Race, the best showing he’s had thus far this season was a 24th in the 2021 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 last April.
Writer’s Prediction
Chase Elliott wins the 2021 Foxwoods Resort and Casino 301.
