In recent years, Toyota has dominated at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, particularly in the Next Gen era. Since 2022, Toyota drivers have won all three races, swept all six stages, and led 83% of the laps. Christopher Bell secured victories in 2022 and 2024, while Martin Truex Jr. added a win in 2023. This consistent performance underscores Toyota’s stronghold on the “Magic Mile.”
Ryan Blaney rolled into the 2024 New Hampshire race with high hopes, snagging second on the grid and showing off serious speed from the green flag. But late-race drama stole the show. In a tight battle, contact with Michael McDowell sent both cars spinning, turning Blaney’s strong run into a gut-punch 25th-place finish. Despite the heartbreak, his strategic moves and relentless drive proved he has what it takes to contend at New Hampshire.
Now, with the 2025 Mobil 1 301 kicking off the Round of 12, Blaney’s got his eyes on the prize: NHMS’s iconic lobster trophy.
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Blaney’s lobster dreams at Loudon
On a recent SiriusXM chat, Ryan Blaney didn’t hide his excitement for New Hampshire. “I’ve always wanted all that lobster in Victory Lane. It’s one of the coolest traditions. I really enjoy New Hampshire. I love the area. It’s gorgeous up there, especially in September, everything’s starting to change, and the fans up here are just incredibly passionate about Motorsports,” he said.
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The “Magic Mile” is famous for its lobster trophy, a quirky nod to New England’s culture, and its fall backdrop of turning leaves draws crowds as passionate as Dover or Watkins Glen fans. Blaney’s love for NHMS’s vibe, rooted in the Northeast’s racing fever, shows why he’s pumped to race there.
He also praised the track’s return to prominence. “I’m happy they got a playoff race that New Hampshire got a playoff race because that’s the way it was for a while. It was either in the chase or the playoffs or whatever, and then they lost it for a bit. And it’s nice that it’s back cause I feel like that place puts on a good show, and the track’s gotten pretty wide,” Blaney noted.
NHMS was a playoff staple from 2004 to 2010, dropped briefly, and returned in 2014. Recent repaves have widened its racing surface, opening a fourth lane that lets drivers like Blaney experiment with high lines for passing, which is key to challenging Toyota’s dominance, similar to Bell’s rain-soaked 2024 win. Post his Bristol win, helping JGR’s first round sweep, Bell said, “Just so excited about the start to the Playoffs … We’ve got fast cars right now. It means a lot.”
Even Denny Hamlin acknowledged the Toyota domination after winning his first at Gateway, his fifth of the year. “It’s so big for everyone at Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing. The Progressive Toyota was great there at the end. So happy to get this victory.”
But amidst this, Blaney’s optimism shines. “But now in the last couple of years, we’ve gotten up there in the race, and it just makes it for another lane, and that’s always important when you have another lane to go to. I’m looking forward to it and starting the next round. Hopefully, we can keep the momentum going that we’ve had,” he said.
With a fourth at Bristol and steady top finishes in 2025, Blaney’s No. 12 Penske Ford is hitting its stride. The track’s new grooves and his team’s execution, crucial after 2024’s late crash, give him a shot to start the Round of 12 strong and steal the lobster from Toyota’s claws.
Blaney’s hunger for NHMS’ lobster ties to his racing ethos, which he opened up about in Loudon.
Blaney lets in on his ‘nice-guy’ edge
Unlike rock star Alice Cooper’s “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” Blaney embraces his good-guy rep in a sport with its share of rough elbows. “There’s always this discussion brought up specifically about me, like, ‘Hey, do you think guys take advantage of you because you race a certain way and maybe they feel like they can take more of an advantage of you?’” he said at Ford’s media session.
Raised by sprint car legend Dave Blaney and his grandfather, Lou, Ryan learned respect early. “My dad taught me at a young age, when I was getting going as a racer, that you give respect and you hope to get it back,” he added.
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That respect shapes his racing. “I’ve tried to be really respectful, no matter what it is. When I was a rookie and as I’ve been in it for a while, I try to be respectful. It’s just not in my nature to be the rough guy,” Blaney said. Growing up racing late models, he saw mutual respect among drivers, a contrast to NASCAR’s occasional bump-and-run chaos.
But don’t mistake kindness for weakness. “If a driver tries to push him around, Blaney knows that he can’t let that happen,” he noted, and his clean but firm racing, like battling Bell at Bristol, earns him respect. That balance could be key at NHMS, where tight racing and multiple grooves demand precision over aggression to end Toyota’s reign and snag that lobster.