Dollar Tree 301

36 Chartered Entries • Penultimate Regular Season Race • v2.0 Update
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Sunday, August 23, 2026
POINTS LEADER: Denny Hamlin (+115)
TV: USA / HBO Max / PRN
STAGES: 70 / 185 / 301

Tech Section: "The Magic Mile" Mechanical Analysis

New Hampshire presents a unique technical challenge as a 1.058-mile flat oval requiring a short-track mechanical philosophy on an intermediate scale. Why? The banking—ranging from a mere 1° to 7°—provides virtually no centrifugal assistance to help the Next Gen car rotate through the corners. So What? This places the entire burden of speed on the mechanical side-bite of the tires and the precision of the suspension geometry; if a car cannot pivot in the center of the turn, the driver will suffer an aero-push on exit, losing critical straightaway momentum.

New Practice Format Intelligence: This weekend marks the debut of a consolidated 50-minute single practice session. Why? NASCAR is moving away from split-group sessions at non-superspeedways to streamline the track schedule. So What? With 36 cars sharing the track simultaneously, clean air for qualifying simulations will be scarce, and teams that miss their baseline setup will have zero time to execute major component changes before the impound deadline.

Weekend Intelligence History (Hard Assets)

  • Goodyear Tire Profile: Teams are running the same "Option/Prime" short-track compound used at Richmond (Left-Side: D-5262 | Right-Side: D-5256).
  • Inflation Parameters: Recommended minimums are LF: 14 psi, RF: 30 psi, LR: 14 psi, RR: 26 psi. Why? Higher right-side pressures support the high lateral load of flat-corner entry.
  • Tire Circumference: Left-side tires measure 2,249 mm (88.5 in.); Right-side tires measure 2,279 mm (89.7 in.).
  • Practice Allotment: Goodyear has added one set of tires to the practice allocation (2 sets total) to account for the increased continuous track time in the 50-minute block.

Drivers & Teams Intelligence: Official 36-Car Chartered Field

The entry list is comprised of the 36 chartered teams with zero open entries. Why? The high mechanical demand of NHMS and the logistical crunch of the penultimate regular-season race discourage non-points-eligible independent efforts. So What? The battle is strictly internal between the Chase contenders and those on the cutline who must maximize every stage point available.

No.DriverOrganizationManufacturerCrew Chief
1Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevroletBrandon McSwain
2Austin CindricTeam PenskeFordBrian Wilson
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevroletRichard Boswell II
4Noah GragsonFront Row MotorsportsFordGrant Hutchens
5Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletCliff Daniels
6Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFordJeremy Bullins
7Daniel SuárezSpire MotorsportsChevroletRyan Sparks
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevroletAlan Gustafson
10Ty DillonKaulig RacingChevroletAndrew Dickeson
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaChris Gayle
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFordJonathan Hassler
16AJ AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevroletTrent Owens
17Chris BuescherRFK RacingFordScott Graves
19Chase BriscoeJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaJames Small
20Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaAdam Stevens
21Josh BerryWood Brothers RacingFordMiles Stanley
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFordPaul Wolfe
23Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyotaCharles Denike
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevroletRyan Fugle
133Austin HillRichard Childress RacingChevroletAndy Street
34Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFordChris Lawson
35Riley Herbst23XI RacingToyotaDavin Restivo
38Zane SmithFront Row MotorsportsFordRyan Bergenty
41Cole CusterHaas Factory TeamChevroletAaron Kramer
42John Hunter NemechekLEGACY MOTOR CLUBToyotaTravis Mack
43Erik JonesLEGACY MOTOR CLUBToyotaJustin Alexander
45Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyotaBilly Scott
47Ricky Stenhouse JrHyak MotorsportsChevroletMichael Kelley
48Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevroletBlake Harris
51Cody WareRick Ware RacingChevroletBilly Plourde
54Ty GibbsJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaTyler Allen
60Ryan PreeceRFK RacingFordDerrick Finley
71Michael McDowellSpire MotorsportsChevroletTravis Peterson
77Carson HocevarSpire MotorsportsChevroletLuke Lambert
88Connor ZilischTrackhouse RacingChevroletRandall Burnett
97Shane Van GisbergenTrackhouse RacingChevroletStephen Doran

Chase Cutline Intel: The Desperation Zone

Shane Van Gisbergen (#97 Trackhouse): Currently holds the 16th and final transfer spot. Why? His road-course dominance has provided a points floor. So What? With a 50-point buffer over the cutline, his goal is to simply finish on the lead lap and survive New Hampshire's abrasive surface to enter Daytona with the cushion intact.

Ryan Preece (#60 RFK Racing): Sits 50 points behind SVG at his home track. Why? Preece has extensive modified-racing experience on this specific flat surface. So What? He likely requires a win to leapfrog the point deficit, meaning the No. 60 team will likely employ high-risk pit strategies (e.g., staying out for track position) regardless of tire wear.

Bubba Wallace (#23 23XI): Holds a 70-point cushion. Why? High consistency in the last six races. So What? Wallace must prioritize stage points over the race win to ensure a "mathematically safe" trip to Daytona next week.

Cross Over & Developmental Watch

Connor Zilisch (#88 Trackhouse Racing): Competing in a developmental role for Trackhouse. Why? To gain high-load aerodynamic data at one of the series' most difficult braking facilities. So What? His performance will be a benchmark for Trackhouse's future short-track setup development.

Austin Hill (#133 Richard Childress Racing): Returning for another part-time Cup start. Why? RCR is testing specific transmission and gearing configurations for the Next Gen platform on flat ovals. So What? While ineligible for Cup points, Hill can significantly disrupt the stage-point haul for playoff bubble drivers.

Weather & Track Metrics

Track: 1.058-Mile Flat Asphalt Oval
Surface: High-Abrasive Granite/Asphalt Mix
Sunday Forecast: Mild temperatures (low-to-mid 70s°F). So What? Cool temps prevent the track from "taking rubber" quickly, likely extending the "green" track conditions and making the first 50 laps a treacherous survival test for rear tire traction.

Official Social Buzz

#DollarTree301: Fans are hyper-focused on Joey Logano's momentum following his Richmond victory. Regional New England buzz is centered on Ryan Preece and his attempt to "save his season" at his home track. The consolidated 50-minute practice format is a major technical talking point among crew chiefs on social platforms.

Appendix: Revision History

v5.0 Aug 24, 2026

v4.0 Aug 23, 2026

v3.0 Aug 22, 2026

v2.0 Aug 18, 2026

v1.0 Aug 18, 2026