2024 USA Today 301

The 2024 USA Today 301 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on June 23, 2024, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. Contested over 305 laps -- extended from 301 laps due to an overtime finish, on the 1.058-mile (1.703 km) speedway, it was the 18th race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. Christopher Bell won the race, his 9th career win, and his 3rd of the 2024 season. Chase Briscoe finished 2nd, and Josh Berry finished 3rd, matching his career-best finish. Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher rounded out the top five, and Tyler Reddick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., John Hunter Nemechek, Martin Truex Jr., and Ross Chastain rounded out the top ten.

2024 USA Today 301
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Race 18 of 36 in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series
DateJune 23, 2024 (2024-06-23)
LocationNew Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire
CoursePermanent racing facility
1.058 mi (1.703 km)
Distance305 laps, 322.69 mi (519.415 km)
Scheduled Distance301 laps, 318.458 mi (512.603 km)
Average speed84.832 miles per hour (136.524 km/h)
Pole position
DriverHendrick Motorsports
Time3.250 (Pandemic Formula)
Most laps led
DriverChristopher BellJoe Gibbs Racing
Laps149
Winner
No. 20Christopher BellJoe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
NetworkUSA
AnnouncersRick Allen, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte
Radio in the United States
RadioPRN
Booth AnnouncersDoug Rice and Mark Garrow
Turn AnnouncersRob Albright (1 & 2) and Pat Patterson (3 & 4)

Report

Background

New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the track where the race was held.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a 1.058-mile (1.703 km) oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire, which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as the longest-running motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic. Nicknamed "The Magic Mile", the speedway is often converted into a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) road course, which includes much of the oval.

The track was originally the site of Bryar Motorsports Park before being purchased and redeveloped by Bob Bahre. The track is currently one of eight major NASCAR tracks owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports.

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
No.DriverTeamManufacturer
1Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
2Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Josh Berry (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord
5Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
6Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord
7Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
8Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
10Noah GragsonStewart-Haas RacingFord
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
14Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord
15Kaz Grala (R)Rick Ware RacingFord
16Ty Dillon (i)Kaulig RacingChevrolet
17Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord
19Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Harrison BurtonWood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
31Daniel HemricKaulig RacingChevrolet
34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord
38Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord
41Ryan PreeceStewart-Haas RacingFord
42John Hunter NemechekLegacy Motor ClubToyota
43Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubToyota
45Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota
47Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51Justin HaleyRick Ware RacingFord
54Ty GibbsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
71Zane Smith (R)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet
77Carson Hocevar (R)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet
99Daniel SuárezTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
Official entry list

Practice

Carson Hocevar was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 29.865 seconds and a speed of 127.534 mph (205.246 km/h).[10]

Practice results

PosNo.DriverTeamManufacturerTimeSpeed
177Carson Hocevar (R)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet29.865127.534
234Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord29.917127.312
36Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord29.940127.214
Official practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying for the race was cancelled due to inclement weather. Chase Elliott will start on the pole was awarded the pole for the race as a result of NASCAR's pandemic formula with a score of 3.250[11]

Starting lineup

PosNo.DriverTeamManufacturer
19Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
212Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
324William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
420Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
548Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
622Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
719Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
81Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
96Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord
104Josh Berry (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord
1199Daniel SuárezTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
1245Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota
1347Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
1411Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
1517Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord
1638Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord
1723Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota
1854Ty GibbsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
195Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
2077Carson Hocevar (R)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet
2110Noah GragsonStewart-Haas RacingFord
223Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
2314Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord
2451Justin HaleyRick Ware RacingFord
2534Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord
267Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
2721Harrison BurtonWood Brothers RacingFord
2842John Hunter NemechekLegacy Motor ClubToyota
292Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord
308Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
3141Ryan PreeceStewart-Haas RacingFord
3243Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubToyota
3331Daniel HemricKaulig RacingChevrolet
3471Zane Smith (R)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet
3515Kaz Grala (R)Rick Ware RacingFord
3616Ty Dillon (i)Kaulig RacingChevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race

Race results

Stage results

Stage OneLaps: 70

PosNoDriverTeamManufacturerPoints
120Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota10
222Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord9
39Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet8
412Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord7
54Josh Berry (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord6
619Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota5
711Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota4
81Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet3
945Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota2
1048Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1
Official stage one results

Stage TwoLaps: 115

PosNoDriverTeamManufacturerPoints
111Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota10
219Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota9
322Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord8
420Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota7
512Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord6
638Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord5
75Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet4
84Josh Berry (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord3
99Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2
101Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet1
Official stage two results

Final Stage results

Stage ThreeLaps: 116

PosGridNoDriverTeamManufacturerLapsPoints
1420Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota30557
22314Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord30535
3104Josh Berry (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord30543
4195Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30537
51517Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord30532
61245Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota30533
71347Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet30530
82842John Hunter NemechekLegacy Motor ClubToyota30529
9719Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota30542
1081Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet30531
113141Ryan PreeceStewart-Haas RacingFord30526
121638Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord30530
133243Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubToyota30524
142721Harrison BurtonWood Brothers RacingFord30523
152534Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord30522
161854Ty GibbsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota30521
172077Carson Hocevar (R)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet30520
1819Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30529
19292Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord30518
203616Ty Dillon (i)Kaulig RacingChevrolet3050
211199Daniel SuárezTrackhouse RacingChevrolet30516
223515Kaz Grala (R)Rick Ware RacingFord30515
23267Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet30514
241411Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota30527
25212Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord30525
26324William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet30511
272110Noah GragsonStewart-Haas RacingFord30510
2896Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord3059
292451Justin HaleyRick Ware RacingFord3058
303571Zane Smith (R)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet3047
313331Daniel HemricKaulig RacingChevrolet3036
32622Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord30522
33223Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2684
341723Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota2653
35308Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet2222
36548Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet1422
Official race results

Race statistics

  • Lead changes: 6 among 5 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 14 for 85
  • Red flags: 1 for 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 49 seconds
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 48 minutes, and 14 seconds
  • Average speed: 84.832 miles per hour (136.524 km/h)

Media

Television

USA covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, four-time and all-time Loudon winner Jeff Burton, and Steve Letarte called the race from the broadcast booth. Kim Coon, Parker Kligerman, and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane.

USA
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen
Color-commentator: Jeff Burton
Color-commentator: Steve Letarte
Kim Coon
Parker Kligerman
Marty Snider

Radio

PRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race from the booth when the field races down the frontstretch. Rob Albright called the race from turns 1 & 2 and Pat Patterson called the race from turns 3 & 4. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan and Alan Cavanna handled the duties on pit lane.

PRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Mark Garrow
Turns 1 & 2: Rob Albright
Turns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson
Brad Gillie
Brett McMillan
Alan Cavanna

Standings after the race

Manufacturers' Championship standings
PosManufacturerPoints
1Chevrolet650
2Toyota647 (–3)
3Ford623 (–27)
  • Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
  • . – Driver has clinched a position in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

References


Previous race:
2024 Iowa Corn 350
NASCAR Cup Series
2024 season
Next race:
2024 Ally 400