Michael Truex celebrates his NASCAR win at Loudon last July. Believe it or not, race weekend is here with the big USA Today 301 set for Sunday at NHIS. (AP photo)

LOUDON — The ‘Magic Mile’ awaits NASCAR Cup Series drivers this weekend as they prepare to take on the USA Today 301 from New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

A unique aspect of New Hampshire Motor Speedway is its 1.058-mile layout, the only of its kind on the schedule, but even more unique is the giant New England lobster the track awards the race winner in Victory Lane.

The action begins on Saturday afternoon with the NASCAR Xfinity Series (Sci Aps 200, 3:30 p.m. USA Network), followed by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (Mohegan Sun 100, 6:40 p.m. FloRacing), ahead of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race.

Six former ‘Magic Mile’ winners come to New Hampshire this weekend hoping to capitalize, led by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin and Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch with three victories each:

Denny Hamlin (2017, 2012, 2007); Kyle Busch (2017, 2015, 2006); Brad Keselowski (2020, 2014); Joey Logano (2014, 2009); Martin Truex Jr. (2023); and Christopher Bell (2022)

Of the six former New Hampshire winners entered this weekend, three are still in search of their first win of the season – Truex Jr., Busch and Logano.

Both Busch and Logano are currently ranked below the Playoff outlook cutline. Truex is the defending winner of this race, and is riding a 33-race winless streak dating back to this race last season.

One driver that will be tough to beat this weekend is Hamlin– all three of his wins in 2024 have come on tracks 1-mile in length or shorter (Bristol, Richmond and Dover).

Hamlin’s track record at New Hampshire proves it’s one of his better tracks– in 30 starts he’s put up three wins, 11 top fives (both his wins and top fives are tied with Kyle Busch for most among active drivers) and 19 top 10s (most among active drivers).

Last season’s New Hampshire Motor Speedway victory was the third win of the year Truex, and remains as his last win to date. Last weekend in Iowa, Truex announced that 2024 will be his last fulltime season of NASCAR Cup Series racing.

The New Jersey native hopes to snap the 33-race winless streak and become the fifth driver all-time to win consecutive Cup races at the 1.058-mile track; joining Jimmie Johnson (2003 sweep), Kurt Busch (2004 sweep), Matt Kenseth (2015 fall, 2016 spring) and Kevin Harvick (2018, 2019).

Truex has made 30 NASCAR Cup Series career starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway collecting two poles, one win, nine top fives and 15 top 10s.

He is one of just four drivers all-time to lead more than a 1,000 laps at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1,170 – most among active drivers), and his average finish at 1.058-mile track is 11.3 – third-best among active drivers.

DOUBLE DUTY FOR BONSIGNORE

Three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Champion Justin Bonsignore will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series Debut with Joe Gibbs Racing this weekend at NHIS.

The Holtsville, New York native will run double duty on Saturday at the ‘Magic Mile’, beginning with the NASCAR Xfinity Series, wheeling the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the Sci Aps 200, and will cap his day with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, the Mohegan Sun 100.

Bonsignore boasts two wins at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, and hopes to carry the success into his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut.