With the Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway drawing to a close the first race of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12, Team Penske drivers Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano demonstrated their power by getting good results. In the meantime, 23XI Racing has gone through a situation of polar opposites, as both of its playoff competitors, Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace, have had to deal with some unforeseen difficulties. Reddick began in fourth, but had problems with the brakes, and Wallace struggled with handling problems early. This single game threw the script on their postseason hopes, and how rapidly the dynamics of the playoffs may change.
At the start of the playoff 12, Wallace was fourth with a +50 cushion, and Reddick was seventh, having earned it with good efforts in the Roun