The 2024 USA TODAY 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was a wild one, testing drivers and fans alike. A two-hour rain delay forced NASCAR to make a rare call, resuming the race on wet-weather tires, only the second time a points-paying Cup race finished that way. The slick, damp track turned the “Magic Mile” into a high-stakes chess game, but Christopher Bell played it like a grandmaster.

Leading 149 of 305 laps, he held off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe and Josh Berry in overtime for a commanding win. Bell’s ability to tame the rain-soaked 1.058-mile oval cemented his status as a Loudon ace, blending precision with guts to add another trophy to his growing collection.

Now, as the 2025 playoffs hit the Round of 12 opener with the Mobil 1 301, Bell’s back at New Hampshire with a target on his back. Fresh off his Bristol win, where he charged from fifth to first in the final four laps, he’s the odds-on favorite to repeat at Loudon. Can he pull off another “Magic Mile” masterpiece, or will playoff pressure and a stacked field shake things up?

NASCAR at Loudon schedule

The Mobil 1 301 weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is set to kick off the Round of 12 with a full slate of action. Friday starts with Modified practice at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 2:45 p.m. ET. The Craftsman Truck Series gets rolling with a 50-minute practice and qualifying session at 4:05 p.m. on FS2, with sunny 70s and no rain in sight.

Saturday brings the Modifieds’ Mohegan Sun 100 at 9:15 a.m. ET on FloRacing, the Truck Series’ EJP 175 at noon on FS1 (split into 55-55-65 lap stages), and Cup Series practice at 3 p.m. ET and qualifying at 4:10 p.m. ET on TruTV. Expect cooler 60s, dipping to the 50s for the Modified race, with clear skies.

Sunday’s main event, the Mobil 1 301, starts with a pre-race show at 1:30 p.m. on USA, followed by the race at 2 p.m. (70-115-116 lap stages), broadcast on USA, PRN, and SiriusXM. The forecast holds steady in the 70s with zero chance of rain, setting the stage for a clean, high-speed showdown.

Christopher Bell leads the odds for Loudon

Bell’s not just riding momentum into New Hampshire; he’s the betting favorite to dominate. Per Caesar’s Sportsbook on September 15, Bell tops the odds at +260, a nod to his 2024 Loudon win and a stellar 12.2 average finish at the track. His Bristol charge, outrunning Keselowski’s bump and run, and JGR’s Round of 16 sweep with Hamlin and Briscoe only boost his case.

Denny Hamlin follows at +500, with his three Loudon wins and 9.9 average finish. Ryan Blaney’s at +550, fresh off a Bristol podium, while teammate Chase Briscoe sits at +700 after a strong 2024 Loudon run. Kyle Larson (+850) and Joey Logano (+1200), a two-time Loudon winner, round out the top tier, with William Byron (+1500) and Tyler Reddick (+1800) in the mix. Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs, and Bubba Wallace are longer shots at +2200, despite JGR’s strength, while Austin Cindric and Keselowski lag at +2800.

The odds reflect Bell’s edge at a track where he’s proven he can win under pressure, like last year’s rain-soaked thriller. With a 60-minute practice Saturday at 3 p.m. and qualifying at 4:10 p.m., Bell’s team, led by Adam Stevens, has time to dial in the No. 20 for the 301-lap grind.

The clear weather forecast, unlike 2024’s rain chaos, means strategy will hinge on the new high-fall-off tire tested by Bell, Logano, and Ross Chastain in July. Bell’s confidence, shared on Dale Jr.’s podcast, “It’s all in our hands,” and his 149 laps led in 2024 make him the man to beat. But with Hamlin, Blaney, and Logano hungry, and only eight spots open for the Round of 8, the “Magic Mile” could spark some playoff fireworks.