LOUDON, N.H. (July 14, 2023) – “Pinch me” has a whole new meaning for drivers when it comes to winning at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. That reason dates back to 2010, when “Loudon the Lobster”, the NASCAR circuit’s only living trophy, was first introduced into victory lane by the team at NHMS. Nothing screams Northeast more than an approximate 20 lb. lobster trophy.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway hosts one of a handful of NASCAR events held within the Northeast region, easily making it one of the most popular tracks amongst race fans who hail from the northeast region, and those who come from over the Canadian border to watch the event.. With a population of 18 million people living within 200 miles of its location, it makes sense for race-goers to make the short trek to “The Magic Mile”.
The speedway first opened in 1990 under the name “New Hampshire International Speedway” but that name changed once Speedway Motorsports Incorporated purchased the track nearly thirty years later, in 2008. In addition to the major NASCAR races that take place each year at the facility, NHMS also hosts the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
Richard Childress Racing partner, Whelen Engineering Co., considers NHMS their home track, with two state-of-the-art facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire and over 1,000,000 square feet of manufacturing space. The Whelen name might ring a bell to race fans, especially those who keep up with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and RCR’s driver of the No. 2, Sheldon Creed. Now in its second year of partnership with RCR, Whelen has been the primary sponsor of the No. 2 Whelen Engineering Co. Chevrolet. Last year at Loudon, Creed finished in the top-five, while RCR teammate Austin Hill drove the No. 21 Bennett Transportation and Logistics Chevrolet to a seventh-place finish. Going into the weekend with two top-ten finishes the last time the teams ran the track also nicknamed “The Monster Mile” is just the momentum they need, especially as the playoffs are approaching, and Creed continues to stay on a mission fighting for his first NASCAR Xfinity Series win.
Creed kicked off his race weekend at Whelen’s headquarters in Connecticut earlier this week with crew chief Jeff Stankiewicz and other members of the No. 2 team. There they had the chance to get their hands dirty on the manufacturing side of the emergency warning production industry, all while learning how to assemble lights and sirens this 71-year-old company proudly makes.
While Loudon remains home to RCR’s proud partner, Whelen, and is home to New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s 1,200 acre multi-use complex, it’s an ideal location for many fans to visit a quaint town nestled only 10 minutes away from the state’s capital, Concord.
Make sure to catch all of the action in Loudon this weekend beginning with NASCAR Xfinity Series practice and qualifying on Friday, July 14, at 5:00 p.m. ET, followed by the race on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ET on USA Network. Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch will buckle up for Cup Series practice and qualifying that will be held before Saturday’s race at noon, with the race airing on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network.
