Essary Puts on a Clinic at the New Hampshire in First Round of the Chase

The OBRL YesterYear Cup Series opened its postseason Chase at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where 25 drivers faced 130 laps around the flat, unforgiving 1.058-mile “Magic Mile.” Cool, overcast conditions changed the handling equation, with the cooler track allowing tires to hold their performance longer than expected. That put an even greater emphasis on consistency, right-front management, and finding grip through New Hampshire’s notoriously flat corners.

The race erupted almost immediately when a mid-pack check-up in Turn 1 collected Robert Guarisco, Nick Self, Lloyd Moore, and Todd Cousins. The four-car incident dramatically reduced the field and gave pole-sitter Tom Ogle plenty of clean air to establish the early pace. Ogle looked comfortable out front, but a new restriction on the traditional apron line forced the entire field to search for alternative ways around the Magic Mile.

Eric Essary adapted better than most. Instead of relying on the traditional groove, Essary searched for grip on the north side of the track and gradually closed the gap to Ogle. On Lap 61, the strategy paid off when Essary found enough momentum off the corners to make the pass for the lead. From there, he began building what looked like a race-winning advantage.

Ogle’s night unraveled during the green-flag pit cycle on Lap 75. As he slowed to enter pit road, Allen Wannamaker made contact with him, sending Ogle into the pit attenuator. The incident resulted in a black flag and ultimately ended the dominant driver’s race, completely changing the complexion of the Chase opener.

With Ogle gone, Roger Hurley emerged as Essary’s biggest challenger. Hurley steadily worked his way forward and spent the closing stages defending second place from Josh Robinson. Robinson had gained ground with a late stop and aggressive pace, but Hurley countered by “diamonding” the corners, entering high, squaring off the middle, and driving straight off the corner to maximize traction. The strategy kept Robinson behind and secured Hurley a critical runner-up finish, with Robinson taking third.

Eric Essary’s victory gives him a major early boost in the Chase, while Roger Hurley’s second-place finish provides valuable momentum heading into the next round. Josh Robinson’s podium run also puts him in a strong position after a race that demanded patience as much as speed.

Points leader Dwayne McArthur had a much more stressful afternoon. Severe packet loss threatened to end his race with an “internet meatball flag,” but McArthur managed to keep the car running and salvage a 10th-place finish. With Matt Watkins and Cortney Nelson absent from the event, the damage to McArthur’s championship position was limited, allowing him to retain the advantage despite the difficult day.

The Chase now heads to Dover Motor Speedway and the legendary “Monster Mile,” where the flat-track finesse required at New Hampshire will be replaced by high-speed aggression and even less forgiveness. Essary has announced himself as an early threat, McArthur survived his first major scare, and the championship battle is already showing signs of becoming a long, brutal fight.