# 2024 USA Today 301

The 2024 USA Today 301 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on June 23, 2024, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. Contested over 305 laps—extended from 301 laps due to an overtime finish, on the 1.058-mile (1.703 km) speedway, it was the 18th race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. Christopher Bell won the race, his 9th career win, and his 3rd of the 2024 season. Chase Briscoe finished 2nd, and Josh Berry finished 3rd, matching his career-best finish. Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher rounded out the top five, and Tyler Reddick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., John Hunter Nemechek, Martin Truex Jr., and Ross Chastain rounded out the top ten.

## Report
### Background

New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a 1.058-mile (1.703 km) oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire, which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as the longest-running motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic. Nicknamed "The Magic Mile", the speedway is often converted into a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) road course, which includes much of the oval.
The track was originally the site of Bryar Motorsports Park before being purchased and redeveloped by Bob Bahre. The track is currently one of eight major NASCAR tracks owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports.

#### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Josh Berry (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Noah Gragson | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | Kaz Grala (R) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 16 | Ty Dillon (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota |
| 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Justin Haley | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 71 | Zane Smith (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 77 | Carson Hocevar (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Practice

Carson Hocevar was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 29.865 seconds and a speed of 127.534 mph (205.246 km/h).

### Practice results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 77 | Carson Hocevar (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 29.865 | 127.534 |
| 2 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 29.917 | 127.312 |
| 3 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 29.940 | 127.214 |
| Official practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying for the race was cancelled due to inclement weather. Chase Elliott will start on the pole was awarded the pole for the race as a result of NASCAR's pandemic formula with a score of 3.250

### Starting lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 5 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 7 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 8 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 10 | 4 | Josh Berry (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 13 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 15 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 16 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 17 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 18 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 77 | Carson Hocevar (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 10 | Noah Gragson | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 22 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 24 | 51 | Justin Haley | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 25 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 26 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 28 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota |
| 29 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 30 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 32 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota |
| 33 | 31 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 71 | Zane Smith (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 35 | 15 | Kaz Grala (R) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 36 | 16 | Ty Dillon (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race
### Race results
#### Stage results

Stage One Laps: 70
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 9 |
| 3 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 4 | Josh Berry (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 4 |
| 8 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage Two Laps: 115
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 5 |
| 7 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 4 | Josh Berry (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage results

Stage Three Laps: 116
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 4 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 305 | 57 |
| 2 | 23 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 305 | 35 |
| 3 | 10 | 4 | Josh Berry (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 305 | 43 |
| 4 | 19 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 305 | 37 |
| 5 | 15 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 305 | 32 |
| 6 | 12 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 305 | 33 |
| 7 | 13 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 305 | 30 |
| 8 | 28 | 42 | John Hunter Nemechek | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 305 | 29 |
| 9 | 7 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 305 | 42 |
| 10 | 8 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 305 | 31 |
| 11 | 31 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 305 | 26 |
| 12 | 16 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 305 | 30 |
| 13 | 32 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Toyota | 305 | 24 |
| 14 | 27 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 305 | 23 |
| 15 | 25 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 305 | 22 |
| 16 | 18 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 305 | 21 |
| 17 | 20 | 77 | Carson Hocevar (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 305 | 20 |
| 18 | 1 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 305 | 29 |
| 19 | 29 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford | 305 | 18 |
| 20 | 36 | 16 | Ty Dillon (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 305 | 0 |
| 21 | 11 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 305 | 16 |
| 22 | 35 | 15 | Kaz Grala (R) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 305 | 15 |
| 23 | 26 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 305 | 14 |
| 24 | 14 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 305 | 27 |
| 25 | 2 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 305 | 25 |
| 26 | 3 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 305 | 11 |
| 27 | 21 | 10 | Noah Gragson | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 305 | 10 |
| 28 | 9 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 305 | 9 |
| 29 | 24 | 51 | Justin Haley | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 305 | 8 |
| 30 | 35 | 71 | Zane Smith (R) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 304 | 7 |
| 31 | 33 | 31 | Daniel Hemric | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 303 | 6 |
| 32 | 6 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 305 | 22 |
| 33 | 22 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 268 | 4 |
| 34 | 17 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 265 | 3 |
| 35 | 30 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 222 | 2 |
| 36 | 5 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 142 | 2 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 6 among 5 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 14 for 85
* Red flags: 1 for 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 49 seconds
* Time of race: 3 hours, 48 minutes, and 14 seconds
* Average speed: 84.832 miles per hour (136.524 km/h)

## Media
### Television

USA covered the race on the television side. Rick Allen, four-time and all-time Loudon winner Jeff Burton, and Steve Letarte called the race from the broadcast booth. Kim Coon, Parker Kligerman, and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane.
USA :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte | Kim Coon Parker Kligerman Marty Snider |

### Radio

PRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race from the booth when the field races down the frontstretch. Rob Albright called the race from turns 1 & 2 and Pat Patterson called the race from turns 3 & 4. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan and Alan Cavanna handled the duties on pit lane.
PRN :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Doug Rice Announcer: Mark Garrow | Turns 1 & 2: Rob Albright Turns 3 & 4: Pat Patterson | Brad Gillie Brett McMillan Alan Cavanna |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Kyle Larson | 620 |
| 1 | 2 | Chase Elliott | 620 (–0) |
| | 3 | Denny Hamlin | 580 (–40) |
| 1 | 4 | Martin Truex Jr. | 572 (–48) |
| 1 | 5 | Tyler Reddick | 560 (–60) |
| 2 | 6 | Christopher Bell | 555 (–65) |
| 3 | 7 | William Byron | 548 (–72) |
| 1 | 8 | Ryan Blaney | 526 (–94) |
| 1 | 9 | Ross Chastain | 510 (–110) |
| 1 | 10 | Brad Keselowski | 507 (–113) |
| | 11 | Ty Gibbs | 499 (–121) |
| | 12 | Alex Bowman | 476 (–144) |
| | 13 | Chris Buescher | 467 (–153) |
| 1 | 14 | Joey Logano | 430 (–190) |
| 1 | 15 | Bubba Wallace | 417 (–203) |
| 1 | 16 | Chase Briscoe | 405 (–215) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 650 |
| 2 | Toyota | 647 (–3) |
| 3 | Ford | 623 (–27) |