Joey Logano just won at Richmond, but if you’re looking at the 2026 Dollar Tree 301 this Sunday at the Magic Mile, Mike McClure is telling you to pump the brakes on the +550 co-favorite. The NASCAR Cup Series is down to just two races before the playoffs kick off, and things are getting wild at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. This isn’t just another Sunday drive; it’s crunch time, and the predictions from McClure’s legendary model are throwing some serious curveballs.
The Magic Mile’s History and This Year’s Contenders
We’re headed to New Hampshire, the track everyone calls the Magic Mile, for the Dollar Tree 301. The green flag drops at 3 p.m. ET, and if history tells us anything, we could be in for a predictable yet intense race. Last year, Ryan Blaney took the checkered flag here, and guys like Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell have multiple wins under their belts at this very track. Get this: drivers from Penske, Joe Gibbs Racing, or Stewart-Haas have absolutely dominated, winning every single one of the last 17 NASCAR New Hampshire races. That’s a streak that’s almost unbelievable. Speaking of those top dogs, Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell are sitting at +400 as co-favorites. Then you’ve got Joey Logano, fresh off his Richmond win, and Denny Hamlin, chasing his fourth win at the Magic Mile, both at +550. Chase Briscoe rounds out the top five with +850 odds, and honestly, no one else is even close, sitting shorter than +1300.
McClure’s Model Drops Some Bombshells
Now, let’s talk about the guy who’s been absolutely crushing it: Mike McClure. This dude is a legendary professional DFS player, pulling in over $2 million in career winnings. His powerful prediction model simulates every single lap of NASCAR action 10,000 times, and it’s been deadly accurate. Since 2021, the model has nailed an incredible 30 winners, even calling Denny Hamlin’s back-to-back wins at Michigan and Pocono back in June. So when McClure speaks, you listen. And he’s got some shocking calls for the Dollar Tree 301. First up, he’s fading Joey Logano, despite those +550 odds. McClure’s model says Logano finishes outside the top 5. Why? His two New Hampshire wins were over a decade ago, and his recent form on comparable one-mile tracks has been rough: 31st at Phoenix and 33rd at Darlington. Logano’s simply overvalued. But here’s the kicker: McClure’s model is high on Josh Berry at a sweet +1500. Berry has been on fire lately, racking up three straight top 10 finishes going into New Hampshire. That’s more top 10s than he had in the first 21 races combined! Berry’s had nothing but success, and the model sees him as a serious play.
With the playoffs just around the corner, this race at the Magic Mile is critical. Will the established favorites like Blaney or Bell hold strong? Or will McClure’s bold picks pay off, with Logano sputtering and Berry charging hard? This Sunday, every lap counts.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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