NASCAR Dollar Tree 301 2026 Preview: Everything You Need to Know
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the 2026 Dollar Tree 301 on Sunday, 23 August. The 301-lap race is the penultimate event of the regular season, putting extra emphasis on points for drivers still fighting to secure a playoff place.
Ryan Blaney arrives as the defending winner after taking the 2025 race by 0.937 seconds from Josh Berry. Blaney led 116 laps on his way to victory, while Berry and William Byron completed the podium.
New Hampshire’s 1.058-mile oval is one of the most distinctive tracks on the Cup Series calendar. Its relatively flat layout rewards drivers who can manage tyres, maintain track position and make the most of changing grip. With the playoff picture becoming increasingly important, the Loudon race could have major consequences before the regular-season finale at Daytona.
When Is The NASCAR Dollar Tree 301 This Year?
The 2026 Dollar Tree 301 takes place on Sunday 23 August 2026, with the NASCAR Cup Series race scheduled to start at 3:00pm Eastern Time at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. NASCAR’s official schedule lists USA Network as the television broadcaster, with PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio also providing coverage.
For viewers in the UK, the scheduled start converts to 8:00pm BST. That makes it an evening race for British fans rather than the 7:00pm start stated in the original article.
The weekend begins on Saturday, 22 August, with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Team EJP 175 at 1:30pm ET. NASCAR has also introduced a change to Cup Series practice: from New Hampshire onwards, Cup teams will have a single 50-minute practice session rather than the previous format.
Where Is The NASCAR Dollar Tree 301 Held?
The Dollar Tree 301 is held at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire, widely known as “The Magic Mile.” The oval measures 1.058 miles and has progressive banking that reaches seven degrees at its steepest point.
That relatively shallow banking makes New Hampshire very different from the heavily banked intermediate tracks on the NASCAR calendar. Drivers need a car that remains stable through the corners while allowing them to run different lines and preserve tyre performance over long runs.
Strategy can be particularly important at Loudon. The track’s characteristics can make fuel mileage and pit timing influential, while restarts can quickly change the running order.
Recent form also suggests that strong New Hampshire performers are not necessarily limited to the biggest names: Josh Berry has finished second and third in the last two Cup races at the track.
How Many Laps Is The NASCAR Dollar Tree 301?
The Dollar Tree 301 covers 301 laps of New Hampshire Motor Speedway. At 1.058 miles per lap, that works out to approximately 318.46 miles, or about 512.5 kilometres.
The race distance creates plenty of opportunities for strategy to influence the result. Teams must balance tyre performance, fuel consumption and track position, while cautions and restarts can alter the preferred pit strategy.
New Hampshire has also developed a reputation for races where fuel mileage can become a major factor. That means the driver leading with a handful of laps remaining is not necessarily guaranteed to be the driver who takes the chequered flag.
Who Won The 2025 NASCAR Dollar Tree 301?
Ryan Blaney won the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The event was officially the Mobil 1 301, and Blaney led 116 of the 301 laps for Team Penske. He finished 0.937 seconds ahead of Josh Berry, with William Byron third and Joey Logano fourth.
The result is particularly relevant heading into 2026 because Blaney returns as the defending winner. He also has an impressive recent record at the track: NASCAR’s data shows he has had the best average starting position among drivers in the last four Next Gen-era New Hampshire races.
Who Is Favourite To Win The 2026 NASCAR Dollar Tree 301?
The leading contenders include:
Ryan Blaney — the defending winner and the current market favourite. He has also been particularly strong in qualifying at New Hampshire in recent Next Gen races.
Christopher Bell — a two-time New Hampshire winner in the Next Gen era, including the 2024 race. He has also led more laps than any other driver in the last four New Hampshire races, according to VSiN’s analysis.
Joey Logano — another driver with a strong New Hampshire record, and he enters the weekend after winning at Richmond. His average running position over the last four New Hampshire races is the best of the group analysed by VSiN.
Denny Hamlin — the current points leader and a perennial threat on flat short tracks.
Chase Briscoe — a strong recent performer who sits among the leading names in the current betting market and VSiN’s pre-race projections.
Josh Berry deserves particular attention as a potential spoiler. He has finished second in 2025 and third in 2024 at New Hampshire, giving him the best average finish at the track over the last four races in VSiN’s analysis.
The race also carries significant championship implications. The Dollar Tree 301 is the penultimate race of the 2026 regular season, so drivers near the playoff cut line will be under considerable pressure.
Odds should be treated as a snapshot rather than a prediction of the final result. Practice, qualifying, weather, starting position and race-day strategy can all affect a driver’s chances, while New Hampshire’s history of fuel-mileage finishes means an outsider can remain competitive deep into the race.
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