NASCAR
Can The Magic Mile Gain A Record-Tying 4-Time Winner in 2019?
For nearly 20 years, Jeff Burton’s all-time win record at New Hampshire Motor Speedway has stood untouched. Since his 4th victory at The Magic Mile in 2000, the Loudon venue has yet to see another 4-time winner. This weekend, 6 drivers have the chance to tie Burton’s record. Will another driver raise a lobster in victory lane for the 4th time? Let’s take a look at each of these driver’s chances at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Jimmie Johnson
While the 7-time champion is a 3-time Loudon winner, none of these victories have occurred since 2010. Jimmie Johnson’s first 2 NHMS wins came in a sophomore-season sweep way back in 2003. In 33 career starts at The Magic Mile, Johnson has 10 top 5s, 22 top 10s, and an average finish of 10.6. In the last 5 trips up north, the 48 has scored 3 top 10s. Regardless of recent consistency, Johnson is far from a favorite this weekend. However, expect to see the 48 contending for a strong top 10 run.
Outside of last week at Kentucky, Johnson is riding a wave of top 5s. These strong runs have seen him trend upward in the Playoff standings. While currently tied at 15th on the postseason grid, the 48 should be a strong car in Loudon. If pit strategy and luck can fall in favor of the 48 team, then a top 10 day could lead to an even stronger result. 4-time winner at Loudon is a title that Jimmie Johnson would gladly welcome. This is due to him not winning a race in over 2 years.
Kyle Busch
The man listed as the favorite heading into Loudon has been near-perfect lately on the flat mile. Kyle Busch won the last Playoff race at New Hampshire in 2017. Rowdy was also just 7 laps away from winning last year’s race. The Candy Man leads the Cup Series in points scored at Loudon over the last 10 trips to The Granite State. In addition, he has 11 top 5s, 15 top 10s, and 1009 laps led in 27 NHMS starts. To put it bluntly, Kyle has reigned supreme in recent history at Loudon. This strong consistency comes in spite of just 2 wins since 2015.
With recent speed and execution in Loudon in their favor, the 18 is arguably the favorite to become a 4-time winner this weekend. One of very few stats that Kyle Busch cannot lay claim to is the all-time win record at a Cup Series venue. If Sunday goes in favor of the 18, he will share Loudon’s all-time winningest stat with NASCAR On NBC’s Jeff Burton.
Kevin Harvick
The defending winner at Loudon, Kevin Harvick is still looking to break through for his first win of 2019. New Hampshire was Harvick’s 6th win last year, coming after one of 2018’s best battles. Late in the race, Harvick had caught leader Kyle Busch. The 4 nudged the 18 out of the groove in turn 1 and went on to victory. This year however has been a much different story for Harvick and the 4 car. His season-best finish is only 4th, and his laps-led total is only 441 to date. Despite the slow start to the year, can the 4 become a 4-time Loudon winner? With the higher horsepower package this weekend, Harvick will be one of the strongest contenders. But Harvick will have to out-duel Busch, Truex, and others to get the win.
Denny Hamlin
In each of his 3 past Loudon wins, Denny Hamlin has held off late charges from past champions. In 2007, the 11 kept Jeff Gordon at bay. For the 2012 Playoff race, Hamlin took the checkers ahead of Jimmie Johnson. Lastly in 2017, Hamlin took the win from his teammate Matt Kenseth. As a Virginia short track racer at heart, a flat 1-mile track should be right in Hamlin’s wheelhouse. He should also be a threat for the 4-time NHMS win record. However, the 11 team has been recently plagued by a variety of pit road penalties. If Hamlin and his team can execute a clean race, then they should be in the dogfight for the win.
Even though Hamlin is one of the favorites for Sunday, his path to a 4th NHMS win got steeper on Friday. With just 3 minutes left in the weekend’s opening practice, Hamlin spun in turn 3 and made heavy wall contact. The 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team will go to a backup car, forgoing any qualifying position. Hamlin has proven before that passing from deep in the field at Loudon is possible. The Fedex 11 just needs to execute a perfect race on all ends.
Kurt Busch
The most recent Cup Series winner, Kurt Busch’s 3 Loudon wins came in a 2004 season-sweep and then in 2008. Although New Hampshire is one of the toughest tracks to pass on, Kurt started outside of the top 25 in 2 of his victories. With the pressure of winning gone, expect the 1 team to be very aggressive in going for 2-straight checkered flags. Tied with Harvick at a series-high 35 starts in New Hampshire, Kurt’s veteran experience should pay off with a new team. While Kurt has not won at NHMS in over 10 years, he has top 10s in 3 of the last 4 races.
Ryan Newman
The biggest underdog of the 6 drivers with 3 Loudon wins to become a 4-time winner, do not count out Ryan Newman yet. While no victories have come for the Indiana driver at The Magic Mile since 2011, he does have one advantage this weekend. Newman will be competing in Saturday’s 100-lap Modified race at Loudon. Extra track time is always at a premium, but Newman did put his team in a hole on Friday. With minutes remaining in opening practice, the 6 Roush Fenway Mustang found the outside wall in turn 3. Along with Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman will start from the rear of the field on Sunday in a backup car.
Using the higher horsepower package, Ryan Newman should be considered a threat for a top 10 at Loudon. A win would likely require a bold strategy call by the 6. However, Newman has stunned the racing world before with upset victories. At 17th in points, Newman is fighting tooth-and-nail to put Roush back in the Playoffs. Loudon is perhaps Newman’s strongest venue, so magic could strike for the 6 at The Magic Mile.
It’s been 19 years since Jeff Burton led every lap in his most recent New Hampshire win. Since then, 6 active drivers have become 3-time Loudon winners. They all have yet to join Burton in the 4-time NHMS winner column though. With names like Busch, Harvick, Hamlin, and Johnson, that stat could likely change on Sunday. Tune into NBCSN on Sunday to see if one of their broadcaster’s records can be tied.
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Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo credit to NASCARMedia.
