New Hampshire Motor Speedway 2025 NASCAR Track Profile

[Editor’s note: The following article is from Athlon Sports’ 2025 Racing Annual magazine. Order your copy online today, or buy one at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.]

New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H., moves back into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs in 2025. The one-mile flat track previously had two race dates – the second being in the playoffs from 2004-17. After losing the fall date, the series visited each summer, but that race now shifts to September as the Round of 12 playoff opener.

The Magic Mile is unique in that it has long straightaways followed by turns with just two to seven degrees of banking. That equals high speeds followed by heavy braking, so the track rewards those who take care of their equipment.

The master of New Hampshire has been Christopher Bell. He led 149 of 305 laps to win in 2024 after sitting on the pole in 2023. Prior to that, Bell won in 2022 and was second in 2021 when the race was called due to darkness.

Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch are tied with the most New Hampshire wins among active drivers with three apiece, but neither has won since 2017. Among active drivers with four or more starts, it’s also Hamlin on point, posting a 9.9 average finish. Two-time New Hampshire winner Brad Keselowski (10.5) slots in just behind Hamlin.

Among mid-tier drivers, Chase Briscoe finished second last year, giving him consecutive top 10s at NHMS. A step up to Joe Gibbs Racing could pay big dividends for Briscoe in the Granite State this fall.

Toyota and Ford have won the past nine New Hampshire races, shutting out Chevrolet. The bow ties have only been victorious once in the past 18 races (Kevin Harvick, 2016). Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are the only Chevy drivers to finish top 5 at NHMS in the Next Gen era.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway track info

Site: Loudon, New Hampshire

Laps: 1.058-mile oval

Banking/Turns: Variable (2-7 degrees)

Banking/Straightaways: 1 degree

2025 Date: Sept. 21

Distance: 301 laps, 318.46 miles

2024 winner

Christopher Bell

Scouting report

Like a lot of flatter short tracks, New Hampshire has been negatively effected by the current-generation racecar. It makes so much grip and has so little power relative-to-weight that passing is extremely challenging once cars get single-file. But Goodyear and NASCAR are both inspired by finishing the 2024 race on the wet weather tire. It’s a playoff race this year, so don’t expect any experimental rules packages unless it rains again.