LOUDON, NH – Ryan Blaney defended his 2025 victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday by navigating lapped traffic and outrunning Bubba Wallace to win the Dollar Tree 301.

Blaney’s Team Penske No. 12 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford was the fastest car for much of the race. He rolled off the grid in eighth and finished Stage 1 in sixth; however, in Stage 2, Blaney really began to show off his speed. He won Stage 2 and led the most laps throughout the race.

“We did two (tires) at the end to try to hopefully get the lead, and we did,” Blaney said. “It was a long, long run to the end, longest run we had. Just tried to manage my stuff. Knew the four-tire guys would pressure me eventually.”

In the final laps, he had to methodically maneuver through traffic because Wallace was just behind him. Wallace got close but locked up the brakes late in Turn 3 and never recovered. Blaney held on to win his third race of the 2026 season.

“Bubba came on hard there,” Blaney said. “Just tried to manage the lap traffic and manage the tire, not make a mistake. What a cool race. Fun day starting in the rain. Ended up being beautiful day. Everybody came out, thanks for sticking with it.”

Wallace held on to finish runner-up in the 23XI Racing No. 23 Cincoro Tequila Toyota, earning his fourth top-five finish of the season. Wallace’s car also came to life following the rain and wet conditions. He finished Stage 2 in third, and he led 22 laps throughout the day.

“We fought, man,” Wallace said. “Had a nice day just by myself, regrouping. Got the head right. I knew I had to fight all day. That’s what it takes. Where it starts is with this 23 team. Man, they pushed me to be the absolute best. I fail them a lot, but they stick behind me. It’s super cool.”

Josh Berry started the race on the outside pole and his Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford was super fast on Sunday as he led 73 laps. Berry finished Stage 1 in fifth and Stage 2 in second. He and Wallace traded paint for position as well as they fought for strong finishes. The third-place effort marked his best run of the season.

“I was a little rougher than I wanted to be today, but it just comes down to, I mean, everybody knows the situation I’m in right now,” Berry said referring to racing for a ride for the 2027 season. “All these guys I’m racing with right now have a lot of respect for me. I think they understand the situation that I’m in.

“Yeah, I mean, just time to go. If you do it long enough, it comes back around. I think in this scenario, they’ll understand.”

Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson completed the top-five. Rounding out the top-10 was Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, who spun early while leading, Ryan Preece and Noah Gragson.

There were 15 lead changes among seven drivers. Blaney led a race high of 115 laps.

The caution came out on nine occasions for 51 laps.

The action started early when Reddick spun on Lap 2 while leading in the wet weather. Denny Hamlin and Chris Buescher just barely stopped in enough time as they avoided the accident coming out of Turn 4.

Carson Hocevar had a really rough day in New Hampshire. He spun before the race began and then two additional times once the race got underway. On Lap 85, he spun on the frontstretch after contact with Connor Zilisch. Then he spun alone on Lap 204 in Turn 4.

Towards the end of the race, several drivers took hard hits. On Lap 226, Riley Herbst pounded the outside wall after contact with Michael McDowell in Turn 3. With nowhere to go, Zilisch slammed into Herbest.

The final caution of the day came out on Lap 234, when William Byron lost a left-rear wheel in Turn 3 while leading.

STORY: William Byron Loses Wheel While Leading At New Hampshire Motor Speedway

With just one race to go in the Regular Season, the top-13 drivers have clinched a spot in The Chase, including Hamlin, Blaney, Gibbs, Reddick, Bell, Chase Briscoe, Larson, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Buescher, Hocevar, Byron and Daniel Suarez.

Drivers trying to stay eligible are Wallace, Austin Cindric and Shane Van Gisbergen who currently holds the 16^th and final transfer position. Ryan Preece, who sits 31 points out, is the only driver with a realistic chance of changing his fortune. Brad Keselowski, who is 66 points out, has a mathematical chance as a driver can earn up to 75 points in a race. The good news for the two RFK Racing drivers is that they’re extremely strong at Daytona, and anything can happen.

The NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season will come to a close on Saturday, Aug. 29. The Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway will broadcast live on NBC at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Photo Credit: Patricia McCormack/TheFourthTurn.com