Winners and losers from a Penske perfect NASCAR Cu...

The Spherical of 12 is formally underway, and Team Penske has rapidly asserted themselves as true title threats as soon as once more. Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney combined to lead over 90% of the laps run at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The race additionally featured some drama between teammates and the group proprietor’s grandson at Joe Gibbs Racing, whereas 23XI Racing did not get something constructive out of the race weekend. 

Here is a take a look at the most important winners and losers from NHMS:

WINNER: Ryan Blaney punches his ticket to the Spherical of 8

Here we go again. Team Penske has won every title so far in the Next Gen era, and they already have a car guaranteed to go into the Round of 8. Blaney led 116 of 301 laps, and the one vehicles that might actually problem him after he acquired going had been people who got here from the identical race store. And with tracks like Talladega and Martinsville within the subsequent spherical, there’s a actual path for the No. 12 to go all the way in which this yr.

LOSER: 23XI Racing stumbles in ‘horrible’ Spherical of 12 opener

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota; Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota

Photograph by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photos

The entire playoff drivers managed to achieve the checkered flag at NHMS, which was unhealthy information for 23XI as a result of they had been the slowest of the 12 contenders. Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace had been the one playoff drivers to complete exterior of the highest 20, putting twenty first and twenty sixth, respectively. They only appeared misplaced, and now they’re in a serious factors deficit. The excellent news is that they now head to Kansas, the place 23XI has received a number of races prior to now.

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos

HMS didn’t appear to be themselves within the first spherical, and whereas they weren’t the very best group at NHMS, they’re lastly on target. All three of their remaining playoff drivers completed inside the highest ten, and Chase Elliott drove from twenty seventh on the grid to attain a prime 5. Final week, he felt like they did not even need to advance into this spherical, so it was a much-needed enchancment for Staff Hendrick, particularly at a flat observe the place they do not have an ideal file.

LOSER: Ty Gibbs as issues get ugly between JGR teammates

Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota; Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Photograph by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photos

Oh boy … Gibbs, one week faraway from a bitter loss at Bristol, was racing his championship-contending teammates very arduous at NHMS. That is nice, however at one level, he began to slam doorways with teammate Christopher Bell a number of occasions. Instantly behind this was Denny Hamlin, who was aggravated with the recklessness of Gibbs. When he tried to pass the No. 54 soon after, he showed no mercy, quickly spinning out the boss’s grandson in an explosive moment for the organization. Hamlin openly wondered on the radio if the team are ‘scared’ of talking to Ty.

WINNER: Josh Berry for almost successful the race after early spin

Ryan Blaney, Staff Penske Ford, Josh Berry, Wooden Brothers Racing Ford

Photograph by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photos

Berry completed final in all three races that made up the Spherical of 16, and it regarded like unhealthy luck continued to observe him this weekend. He acquired spun out early, however in a powerful comeback, he charged again by means of the sphere and almost received the race. Berry held the lead on the restart, and even with older tires, he held on to complete a detailed second to Blaney.

LOSER: SVG as his finest run but on ovals ends in a wreck

Shane van Gisbergen crash, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Photograph by: Getty Photos

Shane van Gisbergen is one other driver who determined to have one in every of their strongest runs of the yr one week after being eradicated from title competition. SVG had 4 wins in 2025 — all on highway programs, however this was one of many extra spectacular outings for him on an oval. He certified tenth, drove up inside the highest 5, and scored stage factors on an oval for the primary. Sadly, all of it got here to an finish when Brad Keselowski attempted to make it five-wide on a restart, wrecking SVG and several others.

WINNER: Joey Logano goes from beneath the cutline to +24 at his house observe

Joey Logano, Staff Penske Ford

Photograph by: Getty Photos

Logano did not get the win, however he was one other Penske driver who made massive beneficial properties on Sunday. After securing pole place, he led 147 laps and completed fourth. That was sufficient to take Logano from beneath the cutline by two factors to 24 above it. As soon as once more, the three-time champion is positioning himself properly for a deep playoff run.

LOSER: Ross Chastain loses floor regardless of a prime ten end

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos

Chastain scored his first prime ten of the playoffs on Sunday, which feels like a superb factor, however the factors say in any other case. He already entered the race beneath the cutline, and the mixture of no playoff drivers forward of him stumbling and the No. 1 failing to attain any stage factors meant that he really misplaced floor. The good news is that he’s still within striking distance, 12 points adrift of Chase Briscoe within the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

WINNER: Christopher Bell leads the way in which for Staff Toyota

Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos

Bell entered this race because the defending winner, however he rapidly needed to alter his expectations because the Toyotas appeared to fall behind their rivals. And whereas it was a quiet day for the No. 20, it was precisely what he wanted. He made probably the most of it, and used a four-tire name on the finish to surge as much as sixth within the remaining working order. Due to that, he is 29 factors above the cutline.

LOSER: Cody Ware wrecks himself in payback gone improper

Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford

Photograph by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photos

Ware acquired spun out early within the race as a result of contact from Austin Dillon. Whereas it appeared like an harmless mistake, and the No. 51 continued with out harm, the Rick Ware Racing driver didn’t let it go. Later within the race, it appeared that he tried to wreck Dillon in retaliation whereas the No. 3 was lapping him. Actually, he just wrecked himself and slammed the outside wall, causing the final caution flag of the race. That was a bit awkward, and Dillon known as him an ‘fool’ on the radio after the obvious try at payback.