Hammett Punches Ticket at the Magic Mile: Championship Four Set After New Hampshire Thriller

Loudon, NH — The penultimate round of the Red Light Racing Scrambler Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway served as a high-stakes tactical battle for the eight drivers fighting for only four available spots in the championship finale. Entering the 90-lap event at the Magic Mile, only Maxime Theriault was safely locked into the final four. The remaining seven playoff contenders entered the night separated by thin margins, knowing every position mattered for the upcoming transfer.

The race began with Maxime Theriault on the pole alongside Ethan Troutman. As the green flag dropped, Theriault quickly secured the lead while a frantic battle erupted behind him. Bill Benedict initially moved into second, but Troutman and Chris Hammett stayed glued to his bumper. Early on, James Skelton became the driver to watch; despite starting 12th, he began utilizing an unconventional line, diving onto the flat apron through the corners to perform slide jobs on his competitors.

The track’s unique, flat layout made passing difficult, leading to log jams behind Benedict, who worked to hold off the faster cars of Troutman and Trent Potter. As tires began to wear, handling became treacherous across the field. The first major incident occurred roughly one-third into the race when Zach Mitchell made contact with Connor Blasco, sending Blasco into a slide that he miraculously saved. This brought out the first caution, leading the entire field to pit for four fresh tires.

On the restart, Theriault maintained his lead, but Ethan Troutman showed significant long-run speed. After 55 laps of chasing, Troutman successfully maneuvered under Theriault to take the lead just as the final green-flag pit window opened. Strategy then split the field; while Troutman and Theriault opted for four fresh tires to prioritize grip, several others—including Chris Hammett, Sean Single, and James Skelton—gambled on two right-side tires to gain track position. This move placed Hammett in the lead, roughly three seconds ahead of the field with 15 laps remaining.

As the laps wound down, Hammett managed his two-tire advantage perfectly, maintaining a gap as Troutman struggled to navigate lap traffic. In the closing stages, Sean Single, James Skelton, and Troutman engaged in a fierce three-way battle for second. Skelton, desperate for every point to make the championship four, repeatedly dove to the apron and eventually cleared Troutman.

Chris Hammett took the checkered flag, securing his spot in the final four for the third consecutive year. In a frantic drag race to the line, James Skelton edged out Sean Single by a tenth of a second to claim second place, with Troutman finishing fourth. The results created a dramatic tie for the final playoff spot between Skelton and Bill Benedict. Because Skelton held the tiebreaker with four wins on the season, he secured the final transfer spot. The Championship Four heading into the finale at Auto Club Speedway are Maxime Theriault, Chris Hammett, Trent Potter, and James Skelton.