Mobil 1 301
Location: Loudon, N.H.
Course: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Format: 1.06-mile oval
Laps: 301
NASCAR Mobil 1 301 Race Preview
Christopher Bell won last week's race at Bristol, securing a sweep of race wins for Joe Gibbs Racing in the first round of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. The JGR Toyota team is out of the gate strongly and the rest of the garage is playing catch up. With the next three-race elimination round kicking off with this week's Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, they have their work cut out for them. Toyota has won the last three New Hampshire races, and Bell is the defending winner after leading 149 of 305 laps at the track last season. In fact, no Chevrolet-powered driver has won at New Hampshire since Kevin Harvick did it back in 2016. Each round closer to the championship finale at Phoenix gets a bit more difficult to navigate, and everyone is working hard to stop the JGR streak. With the points reset for the round of 12, Austin Cindric -1, Joey Logano -2, Ross Chastain -2, and Tyler Reddick -3 will all start below the cut line. Their first chance to change those circumstances come this week in the Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Key Stats at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
- Number of races: 53
- Winners from pole: 6
- Winners from top-5 starters: 17
- Winners from top-10 starters: 29
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 10
- Fastest race: 117.134 mph
Previous 10 New Hampshire Winners
2024 - Christopher Bell
2023 - Martin Truex Jr.
2022 - Christopher Bell
2021 - Aric Almirola
2020 - Brad Keselowski
2019 - Kevin Harvick
2018 - Kevin Harvick
2017 fall - Kyle Busch
2017 spring - Denny Hamlin
2016 fall - Kevin Harvick
New Hampshire's flat 1.0-mile oval has hosted 53 total races for the series, but it switched to just hosting one race each year in 2018. With its long straights and flat corners, the track resembles Martinsville despite being nearly twice the size. In short, it is generally a single-groove track where precision in setup, braking, and throttle application make the difference between a competitive run or a struggle of an afternoon. Minimal banking in the turns means heavy braking after the long straights and significant lateral load through the turns. Drivers will have to be cautious with throttle application in order to not overuse the equipment. The best opportunities for passing will come under braking, or getting through the long turns quicker to have more momentum on the next straight. Track position is also critical. Since the current generation of car has raced at the track, no driver has started outside of the top five and won. Even prior to that, most victors started inside the top 10. Toyota-powered drivers won the last three New Hampshire races, and no Chevrolet driver has won at the circuit since Kevin Harvick turned into Victory Lane back in 2016.
RotoWire NASCAR DFS Tools
DraftKings Value Picks for the Mobil 1 301 (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
Christopher Bell - $11,200
Denny Hamlin - $11,000
Chase Briscoe - $10,700
Ryan Blaney - $10,500
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Joey Logano - $10,000
William Byron - $9,500
Chase Elliott - $9,200
Tyler Reddick - $8,700
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Bubba Wallace - $8,500
Ross Chastain - $8,300
Ty Gibbs - $8,100
Brad Keselowski - $7,600
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Josh Berry - $7,400
Ryan Preece - $7,000
AJ Allmendinger - $6,600
John Hunter Nemechek - $6,200
NASCAR DFS Picks for the Mobil 1 301
Chase Briscoe - $10,700
Chase Elliott - $9,200
Ross Chastain - $8,200
Ty Gibbs - $8,100
Josh Berry - $7,400
John Hunter Nemechek - $6,200
While Christopher Bell has a tremendous record at New Hampshire, Chase Briscoe (DK $10,700, FD $13,500) may offer better value for some fantasy players this race. He has been at the top of his game since the playoffs began and he is driving the car that Martin Truex Jr. won this race with just two seasons ago. Briscoe's ninth-place finish early this season at Martinsville also suggests what he may be capable of this week, too. By opting for Briscoe over Bell, fantasy players save salary room while retaining the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota strengths.
Alongside Briscoe, one of the Chevrolet drivers to consider this week is Chase Elliott (DK $9,200, FD $11,000). He led 41 laps from pole at the track last season and started in the first two rows four of his last five New Hampshire stops. He finished second in the 2022 New Hampshire race and has been one of the most consistent finishers this season. While the initial round of the playoffs didn't go to plan, Elliott and team get a new start this week at a place they should be fast enough to get out front at. Ross Chastain (DK $8,200, FD $7,200) has also been a consistent top finisher at New Hampshire. With three top-10s from the last four New Hampshire races, this is a track Chastain has been good at, and past results are good indicators of future success for him.
Keeping with the JGR Toyota theme, fantasy players should take a good look at Ty Gibbs (DK $8,100, FD $8,200). He does not have the same New Hampshire pedigree of his teammates, but he is on a good run of form and shares the same successful equipment. Three top-10s from the last four races is one of his best stretches of results this season, too. He finished 16th at this track last season and should be in contention for a better outcome this year.
In the Ford camp, Josh Berry (DK $7,400, FD $8,000) deserves a look. He has just one series start at this track but that ended with a third-place finish. He may have been eliminated from the playoffs last week but could make a statement with another top finish to add to his season as soon as this weekend. John Hunter Nemechek (DK $6,200, FD $6,000) could also make a statement. He has two series starts at this oval with his best run being in last year's race. He started that day deep in the field in the 28th position, but he was able to work his way forward to eighth by the finish. He also has two top-10s from the last three races and should have a head full of confidence heading into the weekend.
NASCAR Cup Series Betting Picks for the Mobil 1 301
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook as of 5:00 PM ET Friday
Race Winner - Christopher Bell +330, Chase Briscoe +700
Top-Five Finish - Ty Gibbs +400
Group Winner - Bubba Wallace +180, Brad Keselowski +240, Ty Gibbs +275, Josh Berry +400
The driver with the best record at New Hampshire is Christopher Bell, but his odds are also the lowest. He has two series wins, won this race last season, and claims an impressive four Xfinity Series wins from four tries, too. Winning back-to-back races is statistically rare, but Bell got three wins in a row earlier this season and is capable of doing it again. There is not a huge reason not to go with Bell this week, but I'd like to see a little more return for doing so. Greater value might be seen in teammate Chase Briscoe. The playoff contender is at the top of his game right now, leading laps in the last four races and more than 100 in two of those efforts. With playoff finishes of first, second, and ninth so far, Briscoe just needs to keep that form going all the way to Phoenix. There are good reasons to go with either driver as a potential winner this week, but I would opt for Briscoe given the better return.
Other options to consider this week center on Ty Gibbs. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has turned his form around recently and now enters this week's race on the heels of three top-10 finishes from the last four races. Arguably his best performance came last week at Bristol when he led 201 of 500 laps. Outside of Bristol, it hasn't been the most fruitful of seasons for him, but things are turning around recently. That turnaround, coupled with the great success of JGR at New Hampshire, make him a longshot option worth considering for a top-five this week. He also could come out on top of a four-way wager pitting him against Bubba Wallace, Brad Keselowski, and Josh Berry. Given his teammates' success this season and at New Hampshire, Gibbs should also continue his upward swing this week in the northeast.
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