New Hampshire
NASCAR New Hampshire race winners and losers: Josh Berry’s big finish, Kyle Busch’s struggles
NASCAR drivers discuss the career and legacy of Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr. recentlty annoucned that he will be retiring at the conclusion of the NASCAR season, so we asked drivers about his legacy at the USA TODAY 301.
It was an eventful and very long Sunday in NASCAR’s New Hampshire race’s USA TODAY 301.
Christopher Bell won for the third time this season, and joked that it wasn’t rain-shortened like his win in the Coca-Cola 600 was in May.
NASCAR also broke out the rain tires for the second time this season and finished on them for the first time since they were approved in 2023. The drivers ran the final 82 laps of the race on rain tires.
Here are the winners and losers from the USA TODAY 301 NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire.
USA TODAY 301 RESULTS: Who won NASCAR Cup race in New Hampshire? Norman native Christopher Bell is winner
Winners from NASCAR’S USA TODAY 301
Christopher Bell
Bell is the easy choice here with his race win. But the way he did it by leading 149 total laps and dominating the final laps of the race was just the way he needed to get the job done and earn the win, his second of the season and second in five starts at New Hampshire.
Josh Berry
The Hendersonville native was strong in Sunday’s race and finished third. Berry was running toward the front all day and utilized the hectic nature of the wet-weather tires to push his way up the leaderboard. Berry’s finish on Sunday was tied for his best finish this season at Darlington. Berry now has four top-10s and two top-5s in the last six races.
Chase Briscoe
Briscoe battled hard throughout Sunday’s race to finish second. He fought off Bell at the end of stage one to stay on the lead lap, which helped with pit strategy and track position. Briscoe utilized the rain-soaked restart with 73 laps remaining and moved through the field in a hurry. He had a couple of chances to win the race with the late restarts inside of the final 10 laps, but couldn’t get the jump he needed to pass Bell.
Losers from NASCAR’S USA TODAY 301
Alex Bowman
Bowman suffered an engine failure on lap 142 after the first incident-related caution of Sunday’s race. Bowman was running 17th at the time and was credited with a 36th-place finish in the 36-car field. Bowman entered the day just outside of the playoff cutline, and that is sure to take a big hit after his last-place finish.
Kyle Busch
Busch had all kinds of struggles in Sunday’s race – much like he has all season. Busch overdrove a corner, spun and collected Noah Gragson. Busch had a spin in the backstretch just before the race went into the red flag and spun under caution after the red flag, slapping the wall and ending his day in 35th place.
LOGANO, ELLIOTT CRASH: Joey Logano, Chase Elliott crash in NASCAR Cup race at New Hampshire in USA TODAY 301
HOW IT HAPPENED: NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire: Live updates, highlights, live leaderboard of USA TODAY 301
NASCAR race management
There are a couple of levels to this one. First, NASCAR red-flagged the race too early with the rain coming in. But bringing the wet-weather tires to New Hampshire was a great call to get the race done to even more than its scheduled distance. On top of that, the racing was fantastic with drivers fanning out to find a different line around the racetrack.
However, NASCAR really struggled in its enforcement of the rules after the drivers went back racing with the rain tires. The officials were strict on the non-competitive pit stops and not allowing race teams dictate the strategy was a big miss. This was the second time the wet-weather tires were used in a points race on an oval and the first at the end of a race, so it’ll just take some time and practice to get it right.
If and when the rain tires are needed again, NASCAR should let the teams decide their strategy and how they want to run the race.
The federal government has activated the New Hampshire National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing in connection with the war with Iran.
“I’ve had a briefing myself, a classified briefing, but it’s really important on the messaging on this that we really coordinate with the Pentagon,” Gov. Kelly Ayotte told reporters during a press briefing following Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting.
Ayotte said she was unable to share additional details about the nature of the New Hampshire National Guard’s activity related to the conflict, including how many guard members have been activated or what role they are playing.
“We’re going to respect what messaging comes out of the Pentagon just to make sure that our men and women in uniform are fully protected and that we aren’t providing any information that could be used in a way that would be harmful to them,” Ayotte said.
In a statement Thursday, Ayotte said the unit had been deployed in late February to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of the operation.
Earlier this week, Pentagon officials confirmed that members of the Vermont National Guard were involved in attacks against Iran over the weekend, though our news partners at Vermont Public were not able to confirm additional details on the nature of the operation.
During the briefing with local reporters, Ayotte also stressed her support for servicemembers and those close to them.
“I have such respect for our men and women in uniform,” Ayotte said. “As you know, I come from a military family, and they have our full support, and we appreciate them and their families, and obviously anyone who is serving right now, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost someone that they love.”
By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment.
He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads.
The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
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