Several drivers will be on the hunt for another Cup Series win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. Joey Logano and Christopher Bell headline the list of drivers to watch.
Logano has two wins at New Hampshire in 25 Cup starts (2009, 2014). He has 14 top-10 finishes, a testament to his consistency at the 1.058-mile track, and an average finish of 14.1. Logano has only failed to finish two Cup races at New Hampshire.
In the past 13 races at New Hampshire, Logano has 10 top-10s and seven top-fives. This stretch includes last year's runner-up finish behind Martin Truex Jr.
"That's one track I'm probably more excited about than any other one coming up, for sure," Logano said. "It's a great track for us. I'd say it's Paul Wolfe's best track as a crew chief.
"I can't say I ran really well there until Paul set up my car, so I'd say it's a really good track for him. I feel confident going there, for sure."
Photo credit: Nigel Kinrade Photography
Bell has far less experience at New Hampshire, but he has achieved some success. Bell has two top-two finishes in four starts, headlined by a win during the 2022 season.
Bell scored stage points in last season's race after starting from the pole, but he finished 29th due to a crash with 13 laps remaining in the race. He lost control of the No. 20 while running in the eighth position, and he backed the car into the outside wall.
The Oklahoma native has even more success at New Hampshire in Xfinity, a significant detail considering that he will pull double duty this weekend.
Bell has made a mere three Xfinity starts at the 1.058-mile track. He has won all three races while leading 430 of 600 possible laps. His average Xfinity finish at New Hampshire is 1.0.
The two drivers are in significantly different situations after the first 17 Cup races of the season. Logano is winless and six points below the playoff cutline. He struggled early in the season but has finished top five in two of the past three races. Winning at New Hampshire would lock him into the playoffs alongside teammates Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney.
Bell, for comparison, has won two races this season -- Phoenix and Charlotte. He is eighth in the Cup standings heading to New Hampshire. Winning at the track would secure another five playoff points.