NASCAR bumped Sunday’s Dollar Tree 301 start time up one hour to beat an incoming storm system at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The early call gives the Cup Series a tighter window to finish all 301 laps before afternoon showers reach the Magic Mile, leaving crews and fans little room for error.
NASCAR Communications confirmed the change on social media Friday afternoon, moving Sunday’s green flag from its original 3 p.m. ET slot.
“Due to forecasted inclement weather, the start time for Sunday’s Dollar Tree 301 NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway has been moved up one hour to 2 p.m. ET on USA Network, PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio,” the account posted.
Dollar Tree 301 Start Time Moves to 2 p.m. ET
NASCAR, the track, and USA Network made the joint call to give the field the best shot at completing the full 318.46-mile distance before the weather window closes in, according to Racing America‘s Toby Christie. The broadcast lineup stays the same, with an abbreviated pre-race show leading into coverage. Saturday’s truck race and qualifying schedule remain untouched.
Fans heading to Loudon should note the ripple effects. Parking lots open at 7 a.m. ET, ticket booths at 8:30 a.m., and gates open at 10 a.m. The drivers’ meeting now lands at 1 p.m., with introductions at 1:25 p.m. and engines firing at 2 p.m. sharp.
Meteorologists tracking the race weekend project temperatures in the mid-70s with rain chances climbing past 60 percent in the hours after the original green-flag time, according to The Daily Downforce. NASCAR has wet-weather tires on hand, a contingency last used at the track in 2024, which should help crews manage a light shower without stopping the show entirely.
New Hampshire Weather Outlook and Race Stakes
A full postponement to Monday looks unlikely given the earlier start and the typical timing of these systems, though some delay remains a real possibility if heavier storms arrive ahead of schedule. Officials have added incentive to finish Sunday, since the Dollar Tree 301 is the penultimate regular-season race before the Chase field locks in at Daytona next weekend.
Denny Hamlin leads the points standings by 115 over Ryan Blaney, who enters as the betting favorite and defending winner at the Magic Mile, according to TheSpread‘s Michael Cash. Blaney held off Josh Berry for the win a year ago at New Hampshire and has already visited victory lane twice this season. Christopher Bell sits just behind him on the board, carrying the deepest track record at the Magic Mile among active drivers but still chasing his first win of the year after a string of runner-up finishes.
Hamlin himself and Joey Logano round out the top tier of the odds, with Logano riding momentum from a Richmond victory the previous weekend. Ty Gibbs and Tyler Reddick sit third and fourth in the standings, according to Racing News‘ Shane Walters, though Reddick’s rough summer has pushed his title odds outside the top ten despite five wins earlier this year.
Shane van Gisbergen currently holds the final playoff transfer spot, with Ryan Preece and Ross Chastain chasing from just outside the cutline. Only one race remains after New Hampshire before the 16-driver Chase field is set at Daytona, meaning every position on Sunday’s leaderboard carries added weight for drivers on the bubble. Qualifying figures to matter more than usual at the flat, one-mile oval, where track position has historically decided a large share of finishes.
Why is NASCAR Dollar Tree 301 Start Time Changed Sunday? What’s the New Time?