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 35^th 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.

NASCAR’s decision not to call Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway when rain halted it with 82 laps to go led to dramatically different results for several drivers.

Only three drivers who were in the top 10 when the race was stopped for rain went on to finish in the top 10. Eventual winner Christopher Bell was ninth when the race was stopped.

The race was delayed 2 hours, 14 minutes and then resumed with the field on wet weather tires. Five drivers outside the top 20 when the race stopped for rain went on to finish in the top 10.

Those who gained the most from where they were when the race was stopped to where they finished:

John Hunter Nemechek (eighth) gained 23 spots.

Chase Briscoe (second) gained 21 positions.

Martin Truex Jr. (ninth) gained 18 spots.

Josh Berry (third) gained 17 positions.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (seventh) gained 17 positions.

“The rain saved us for sure,” Briscoe said. “We were terrible in the dry. We knew typically on the road courses and even the ovals that we’ve ran in the rain we’ve been pretty good truthfully. I didn’t expect to drive up to second, but yeah, really good recovery.”

Said Berry: “We were 20th when it was raining and then we threw some rain tires on it and did what I knew we could do and moved all the way up there. That was a lot of fun honestly.”

Those who lost the most positions from where they were when the race was stopped to where they finished:

Justin Haley (29th) lost 24 positions

Ryan Blaney (25th) lost 23 spots

Denny Hamlin (24th) lost 21 positions

Bubba Wallace (34th) lost 20 spots

Noah Gragson (27th) lost 17 positions

Haley said on social media that his car suffered “significant” splitter and nose damage from contact with McDowell.

Blaney lost his spots while racing McDowell for second and McDowell came up the track and hit him, damaging both cars. That led to the next-to-last caution.

Wallace was collected in a crash triggered by Gragson about 40 laps from the finish. By losing 20 positions from where he was when the race was stopped by rain, Wallace fell out of the final playoff spot.

“I just lacked grip,” Gragson said. “Super loose all the way around the track. Must’ve hit the paint on entry to (Turn) 1, and not intentionally by any means with the 23 (Bubba Wallace). Just a mistake on my part. It was unfortunate and I apologize to the 23 guys for ruining their day.”

Joey Logano moved into the final playoff spot. Wallace is now 13 points below the cutline. Briscoe moves to 25 points from the cutline.

CONCORD — The National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, warns residents and visitors in New Hampshire that there is an enhanced risk for severe storms Sunday.

At about 1 p.m., a tornado watch was issued for parts of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont until 8 p.m. by the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine. A tornado watch means current weather conditions could lead to a tornado, and you should be prepared to move to shelter. A warning means a tornado is occurring or about to happen, seek shelter immediately.

According to the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, thunderstorms are expected to develop between 2 to 4 p.m. and move southeast across the area through the evening by 9 p.m.

The New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management urges residents and visitors to prepare now for the possibility of damaging winds, isolated tornadoes, hail, and flash flooding.

“Stay informed to keep you and your family safe,” said HSEM Director Robert Buxton. “Review your family emergency plan now and make sure your emergency kit is stocked. Your kit should include important documents and contact information along with supplies.”

The NWS said there is the potential for winds over 70 mph, and the Storm Prediction Center has issued a 10% risk for tornadoes across New Hampshire for Sunday.

Campers should have a way to be aware of changing conditions and be prepared to evacuate to higher ground immediately if flooding occurs. Campers also should have a plan for alternative shelter if needed.

The state Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency offers the following safety recommendations:

• Have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. Monitor storm updates from the NationalWeather Service and local news stations. Sign up for NH Alerts and download the GenasysProtect mobile app to receive free emergency notifications.
• If flooding occurs get to higher ground immediately. Just 6 inches of moving water can knockyou down, and 1 foot of water can sweep your vehicle away.
• If driving in a vehicle, remember the saying, “turn around, don’t drown.”
• If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move tohigher ground. Do not leave the car and enter moving water. Just 6 inches of water can reachthe bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of control and possible stalling.
• Prepare your home: Trim trees that may fall and cause damage.
• Tie down or bring indoors any objects that might be blown around by winds (outdoorfurniture, decorations, garbage cans, and other loose objects that are normally left outside).
• Follow instructions from local emergency officials and know how to safely evacuate shouldyou be told to do so.
• Find the latest road conditions at newengland511.org.Learn more about staying informed, having a plan and making a kit as well as the actions to take for different severe weather events online at ReadyNH.gov.Stay informed by following New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, (@NH_HSEM) and Instagram (@NH_HSE.

Unitil readies for potential outages

Unitil Corporation announced Sunday they are prepared to respond to outages in all service regions as potentially severe thunderstorms pass through this afternoon and tonight.

According to the most recent forecast, wind gusts of 40-65 miles per hour or more are possible within the most powerful storm cells today, with isolated chances of tornado activity possible as well. High winds have the potential to take down otherwise healthy tree limbs and branches into poles and wires, causing outages.

Unitil secured additional crews in advance of the storm and will have teams ready to respond in all regions during the expected peak activity.

“Thunderstorm activity in the late spring and early summer is fast moving and has the potential to deliver extremely hazardous conditions with little to no advance warning,” Unitil External Affairs Director Alec O’Meara said. “We recognize conditions are ripe for such activity today, and we are prepared to react should any area see the worst of what is forecasted.”

Unitil will be communicating throughout the event through Public Service Announcements (PSAs), their website, customer call center and through the media. They also encourage customers to follow along with their storm updates via Facebook, Twitter feed (@Unitil) and will provide real-time outage information online at unitil.com/map.