Ryan Blaney got quite a catch this afternoon. And how he reached there was a team effort, as crew chief Jonathan Hassler nailed the strategy once the No. 12 driver got the lead. With 69 laps to go, Blaney made what seemed like an early green flag stop, then returned for a two-tire change with 46 laps left. He rejoined the track in third, trailing Josh Berry and Chase Elliott, who had stayed out. Just seven laps later, Blaney surged past them, reclaiming the lead with 39 to go and never giving it back. And soon enough, it was time to live out his much-awaited dream.

Speaking in a post-race interview, the 31-year-old could not hold back his excitement about the bizarre prize: “Yeah, I watched a lot of races here growing up, whether I was here or watching on TV. I thought the lobster was one of the coolest things. In particular, I’ve wanted to hold that f*cking lobster for like, 30 years. I’ve wanted to hold that thing up for Victory Lane. Just ’cause I saw guys doing it when I was growing up, and it was just the coolest thing ever. And it’s funny, like tracks have certain trophies that catch your eye as a kid. And this is one of them. And it was super cool to do that today. Sorry for swearing.” 

For over 15 years now, the Cup Series winner has been handed the Loudon Lobster from Makris Lobster and Steakhouse in Concord. And the tradition has produced unforgettable scenes, with Denny Hamlin famously backing away in 2017 thanks to his lobster phobia, while Martin Truex Jr. finally lifted a 22-pounder in 2023, joking about tossing it on the grill. Part bizarre and beloved, Loudon’s Lobster has become one of NASCAR’s most iconic quirks. And finally, Blaney lifted the oversized crustacean, claws banded, as he posed with his trophy.

Back in 2008, Kurt Busch became the first NASCAR driver to receive a lobster as a trophy after his victory at New Hampshire. This marked the beginning of a beloved tradition at the track. Since then, the largest and most eye-catching lobster has been selected as the trophy. And as tradition goes, the lobster’s shell is taxidermied for the winner, while the meat is cooked and delivered to the winning pit crew. With that, the No. 12 garage will be having a feast.

Ryan Blaney also bowed down to the race fans, grateful for the love and support: “But lobster’s cool, man. It’s so cool. And but yeah, I love coming up here. This part of the country is gorgeous, and especially this time of year, everything’s changing. Like you said, dedicated race fans up here in the Northeast. They were fantastic. It was a great crowd today. Was lucky with the weather. Couldn’t ask for a better weekend, so, yeah, it means a lot coming up here, and this place is deserving of a playoff race. It was a shame they lost one for a few years, and it’s nice that they have one back, and the fans showed out and showed their support for everybody.” 

All in all, Ryan Blaney deserved this New Hampshire win amid the Joe Gibbs Racing internal battle between Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs. Blaney’s season has been anything but smooth, coming out with 7 DNFs on his record. Despite the setbacks, he showed speed early, leading laps in 10 of the first 21 races, and has caught fire lately by leading in eight of the last nine. He also turned the momentum results, winning two of the past five events, including the regular season finale at Daytona, and now the playoff opener in the Round of 12.

Sunday’s victory locked him into the Round of 8, giving him two stress-free weeks at Kansas and the Charlotte Roval, where results won’t decide his fate. Still, stage wins or another trip to victory lane could provide valuable playoff points to strengthen his push deeper into the championship. Blaney’s hard-fought win was made even sweeter by the fact that one Team Penske affiliate did not get in his way, and Blaney tips his cap to Josh Berry.

Ryan Blaney is grateful that Josh Berry stayed clear in the NHMS shootout

In the final 20 laps of the 2025 Mobil 1 301 at Loudon, the battle between Ryan and Berry intensified. The No. 12 driver, who had taken the lead with 40 laps remaining, managed to hold off Berry’s persistent challenges. Despite Berry’s efforts and a strategic misstep, Blaney maintained his position and secured victory by a margin of 0.937 seconds. In scenarios of what could have been, Berry was determined to race Blaney clean.

In fact, in a post-race interview, he said, ” I was going to race him. It’s definitely a tough situation. You’ve got to take care of him. That’s how I try to race, anyway. These restarts and stuff, I try to do the best I can to be smart. It’s tough out there sometimes. I was going to race him hard but clean.” 

And Blaney didn’t let that sportsmanship slide. Speaking to NBC Sports, he said, “That was probably the hardest 20 laps that I drove…That was good racing and clean racing. I appreciate Josh for not throwing me the bumper when he could have.” This win marked the 31-year-old’s third of the season. Even Josh Berry’s performance was commendable, as he finished a strong second, showcasing the competitiveness and skill of both drivers in the closing stages of the race.