FYI WIRZ: NASCAR Goes Short but Fast at New Hampshire Mile

New Hampshire Motor Speedway is about to host NASCAR speed at its 1.058-mile oval in Loudon, New Hampshire, during the 5-Hour Energy 301 event on July 19 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

NHMS now has four-degree to seven-degree variable banking in corners and a low two-degrees in straightaways. That makes the Magic Mile a relatively flat venue as compared to other short NASCAR tracks. But NHMS is never short on excitement as cars contend for speedy positions on limited asphalt. 

Eight NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers in contention for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship shared their comments about the challenge they face this weekend.

All Chase drivers are keen on NHMS results and data because Chase teams will return to NHMS for an elimination race in the fall. Drivers already have extensive NHMS experience. Perhaps fans can benefit from their many laps.

Kevin Harvick hasn’t known much less than a championship and the lead in points for the past two seasons. He also knows NHMS. 

“The most important thing at Loudon is track position because it’s hard to pass,” he said. “You want to be up front and on the right strategy no matter what you do. If the caution flag falls in the wrong spot and you lose track position, it usually becomes a longer day.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. looks to add to his resume.

“I love short-track racing, and the corners and the speeds there kind of lend itself to that style,” he said. “It’s just a little bit frustrating that I haven’t won there because I feel like it’s a track that I should be capable of winning.”

Martin Truex Jr. has run up front most of season and understands NHMS.

“New Hampshire is a very difficult track to complete a pass on,” he said. “It makes life a lot easier if you have a strong qualifying effort and a car that is equally as strong in race trim. Track position is obviously very important.”

Matt Kenseth knows the subtle effects of NHMS.

“At New Hampshire, you need to be able to have your car turn well through the middle yet still have rear grip,” he said. “One of the most challenging things about flat tracks like Loudon is when you’re slow across the middle, you can’t do much with your car.”

Jeff Gordon has a plan for NHMS even though this is his last season.

“The 2015 rules package equals less power and less downforce, and it seems less power is the bigger issue,” he said. “At Loudon, we’ll be driving into the corner a little deeper, and we’ll get back to the gas more aggressively.”

Aric Almirola is competing to get into the Chase again, and he has a strategy.

"Right now, our focus is consistency,” he said. “We made up some ground in the points last week, and we have to keep chipping away at it. We're not at a point yet to gamble everything for a win. We need to race smart right now.”

Carl Edwards is pleased with recent results at Joe Gibbs Racing.

“It’s always fun to go to a track where the team has a lot of confidence,” he said. “This is a chance for us to prepare for the Chase race at New Hampshire, so this gives us something to work towards and gives us a good goal mentally to not only perform well.”

Kyle Busch has two wins, but he still needs great results to get into the Chase after injuries kept him off track earlier this season. He seems ready for NHMS. 

“Loudon is a Martinsville-like short track,” he said. “It’s a little more spread out, but there’s some rooting and gouging going on because it’s a one-lane track and everybody fights for that particular groove. To be fast at Loudon, you have to have good brakes.”

Drivers have shared fine points about the race this weekend. Maybe racing devotees can assimilate their information into better observation. 

Dwight Drum

Fans not in the New England area this Sunday can view the fast action around short and low configuration on NBCSN. 

FYI WIRZ is the select presentation of topics by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com. Unless otherwise noted, information and all quotes were obtained firsthand or from official release materials provided by sanction and team representatives.