NASCAR insider predicts winner, top 5 finishers, darkhorse at New Hampshire

NASCAR has returned to New Hampshire for the USA Today 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. There, drivers are going to do their best to take on and dominate on the Magic Mile.

Ahead of the race, NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass shared his prediction for a winner, the top five finishers, and a darkhorse at New Hampshire on social media.

“My pick for Loudon today: Logano … top-5: Logano Bell Larson Truex Elliott … longshot: Berry,” Pockrass wrote. “ET 2-USA on-air 2:06-USA-Cup green, stages 70-115-116, 8 setst ires, fuel 90-96.”

Joey Logano is the pick to win in New Hampshire from Bob Pockrass. He’ll be driving the number 22 car and starting in row three in the sixth spot, out of 36 total drivers, next to Alex Bowman. Chase Elliott, who Pockrass has in his top five finishers, is on the pole.

Logano is entering the race in need of a win. He’s currently ranked 15th with 408 points, which is 183 points off the pace. He does have a pair of top-five finishes this season, though.

Josh Berry, who Bob Pockrass has as the longhsot to win at Loudon, is going to be starting in the 10th spot. He’s currently ranked 21st and has 314 points, which is 277 behind. He has only finished in the top five once so far.

The race itself is 301 laps around a 1.058-mile oval track. That puts it at about 318.46 total miles and it will take place in three separate stages. The USA Today 301 itself is the only NASCAR Cup Series event set to take place in New England.

The New Hampshire Motor Speedway is unique in many aspects. That includes both its flat straightaways and the 7-degree banking on its turns. The nickname of the “Magic Mile” goes back to the track’s original owners. As the story goes, they went to Disney to learn customer service and make sure NASCAR fans had an excellent experience.

USA TODAY 301 starts at 2 p.m. ET at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. NASCAR fans are going to be able to watch it on FS1, following a pre-race show on the same channel. The winner will, of course, be given a lobster. That’s one of the more unique trophy celebrations in NASCAR and goes back to 2010.

Martin Truex Jr, another driver Pockrass has in his top five for New Hampshire, is the defending winner.