The 2021 Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on July 18, 2021, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. Originally scheduled for 301 laps, the race was shortened to 293 laps due to darkness. on the speedway. It was the 22nd race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. Aric Almirola led the last 28 laps to take a surprise victory, the third of his NASCAR Cup Series career, and his first on a non superspeedway.
Report
Background
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire, which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as the longest-running motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic. Nicknamed "The Magic Mile", the speedway is often converted into a road course, which includes much of the oval.
The track was originally the site of Bryar Motorsports Park before being purchased and redeveloped by Bob Bahre. The track is currently one of eight major NASCAR tracks owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
Driver Team Manufacturer 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 15 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team ChevroletOfficial entry list
Qualifying Kyle Busch was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.
Starting Lineup Pos Driver Team Manufacturer 1 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 2 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 3 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 4 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 5 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 8 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 10 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 11 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 12 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 13 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 14 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 15 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 16 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 17 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 18 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 19 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 20 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 21 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 22 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 23 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 24 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 25 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 26 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 27 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 28 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 29 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 30 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 31 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 32 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 33 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 34 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 35 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford 36 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 37 15 James Davison Rick Ware Racing ChevroletOfficial starting lineup
Race
Stage Results
Stage One Laps: 75
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 102 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 93 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 84 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 75 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 66 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 57 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 48 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 39 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 210 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1Official stage one results
Stage Two Laps: 110
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 102 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 93 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 84 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 75 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 66 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 57 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 48 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 39 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 210 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 1Official stage two results
Final Stage Results
Stage Three Laps: 116
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 22 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 293 462 9 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 293 403 11 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 293 534 15 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 293 335 7 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 293 506 12 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 293 477 10 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 293 358 20 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 293 349 5 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 293 310 6 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 293 3811 14 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 293 2812 2 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 293 2513 8 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 293 3314 21 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 293 2315 29 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 293 2216 4 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 292 2217 13 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 292 2018 3 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 292 719 24 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 292 1820 31 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 292 1721 16 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 292 1622 25 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 292 1523 26 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 292 1424 28 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 292 1325 23 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 292 1226 18 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 292 1127 19 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 291 1028 30 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 291 029 17 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 290 830 32 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 288 031 34 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 285 032 27 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 285 533 33 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 283 034 35 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford 280 335 36 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 187 236 37 15 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 40 137 1 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 8 1Official race results
NOTE: On Lap 284, NASCAR announced ten laps remaining, shortening the race to 293 laps because of a rain delay earlier in the race. This was the last time this specific rule was used, as NASCAR replaced both the ten laps remaining rule and the race shortening rule where officials can shorten the race for weather, darkness, or curfew was replaced by time-certain finishes in 2024.
NOTE: The 9 and 48 teams were penalised 25 points each on July 22, 2021, by NASCAR for an engine violation. Teams are limited to 20 engines during the Cup Series season, as eight full engines, known as long blocks, and eight short blocks, consisting of the engine block, connecting rod, pistons, crankshaft, and camshaft, must be sealed and reused for a second race. As reported by Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass, special rules are in place when a team wins a race. Such race winning engine is marked by a car number, and can only be reused by the same team that used the engine in the race win. At this event, the 48 team used an engine previously raced by the 9 team at either Austin or Road America. By rule, because it was a race winning engine, only the 9 team can reuse that sealed engine. The infraction was discovered when the 48 engine in question was inspected and the 9 car tab was found.
Race statistics Lead changes: 14 among 10 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 6 for 37 Red flags: 1 for 1 hour, 41 minutes and 22 seconds Time of race: 3 hours, 7 minutes and 52 seconds Average speed:
Race recap Kyle Busch would jump to the lead on the start with Truex Jr. following. Throughout the start, light rain started to increase into heavier rain. In an accident similar to the start of the 2001 The Winston, on lap 6 rain picked up heavily in Turn 1, causing the leaders including Kyle Busch. Truex Jr., and Hamlin to all spin and collect damage. As rain picked up even further, NASCAR decided to stop the race on lap 293. Aric Almirola would win. The race did not run the full 301 laps due to sunset.
Media
Television NBC Sports covered the race on the television side. Dale Earnhardt Jr., four-time and all-time Loudon winner Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte called the race from the broadcast booth. Marty Snider and Dillon Welch handled the pit road duties from pit lane.
NBCSNBooth announcersPit reporters Lap-by-lap: Dale Earnhardt Jr.Color-commentator: Jeff BurtonColor-commentator: Steve Letarte Marty SniderDillon Welch
Radio PRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race from the booth when the field races down the frontstretch. Rob Albright called the race from turns 1 & 2 and Pat Patterson called the race from turns 3 & 4. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan and Alan Cavanna handled the duties on pit lane.
PRNBooth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Doug RiceAnnouncer: Mark Garrow Turns 1 & 2: Rob AlbrightTurns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson Brad GillieBrett McMillanAlan Cavanna
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Denny Hamlin 874 2 Kyle Larson 861 (–13) 1 3 William Byron 749 (–125) 1 4 Kyle Busch 740 (–134) 1 5 Joey Logano 733 (–141) 1 6 Chase Elliott 711 (–163) 7 Martin Truex Jr. 696 (–178) 8 Ryan Blaney 689 (–185) 1 9 Brad Keselowski 676 (–198) 1 10 Kevin Harvick 673 (–201) 11 Alex Bowman 612 (–262) 1 12 Tyler Reddick 596 (–278) 1 13 Austin Dillon 591 (–283) 14 Kurt Busch 552 (–322) 15 Christopher Bell 532 (–342) 16 Chris Buescher 475 (–399)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Chevrolet 812 1 2 Ford 758 (–54) 1 3 Toyota 755 (–57)
Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings. Points reflect penalties assessed on July 22, 2021. . – Driver has clinched a position in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
References