Overton’s 301: Full video highlights from New Hampshire

New Hampshire Motor Speedway isn’t always host to the most interesting race on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, but let’s see if the Overton’s 301 offers more intrigue this year.

With the two top drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starting on the front row for the Overton’s 301 in Loudon, there was a feeling heading into Sunday that it could be business as usual for Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson.

Then again, there were arguably more storylines than usual heading into a New Hampshire race. Could Joe Gibbs Racing finally get the monkey off its back at a track where its cars usually rule? Would Kyle Larson be able to race from the back of the field to the front after suffering another inspection setback?

Most of all, though, was the thought that if it wasn’t one of this year’s usual suspects taking the checkered flag, who might be the latest driver to shake up the playoff picture with the end of the regular season steadily approaching. That was enough to perk things up even at a track not always known for the most thrilling competition.

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To see how all of the Overton’s 301 action played out, please bookmark this page and refresh often as we add video highlights from throughout the race.

Johnson may have started on the outside of Row 1, but his day took an immediate turn for the worse.

Given how important restarts have been throughout the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series season, it was strange to see anyone make a gaffe right when the green flag dropped — and even more unusual for the error to come from the seven-time series champion.

Our dark horse pick for a win today went up in smoke before the end of Stage 1. Erik Jones hit the wall to bring out the second caution of the race.

A clearly dejected Jones told the NBC Sports crew after he was released from the infield care center that he knew it would be hard to make the playoffs now. Still, his 77 team has a few more weeks to try to grab a victory that would do the trick.

Jones’ teammate had no such problems, cruising to his 14th stage win of the season.

Can anything slow Truex down? Well, maybe this …

It was a relatively short red flag as these things go, and the race resumed with Kyle Busch pacing the field for the first time.

Busch was able to remain in front and take the Stage 2 victory. However, he didn’t emerge in front after the ensuing round of pit stops.

An intense all-Toyota battle erupted for the lead at the beginning of the final stage. Denny Hamlin found himself in first position but with teammate Busch close behind and Truex finding a way to use different lines to get toward the front again.

Ford drivers by and large weren’t having as good a day during the Overton’s 301, and that included one who couldn’t afford an early exit.

Logano’s encumbered win is shaping up to be one of the bigger stories of the 2017 season. He was in great shape to make the playoffs at the time of his penalty, even without his victory counting toward postseason eligibility. Now, though, it’s looking more and more like he might need a win that counts to race for the championship this fall.

A flat tire wasn’t what Truex wanted to see with less than half the final stage to go, but even then, things seemed to work out okay for him thanks to misfortune for his pursuers.

Matt Kenseth worked his way to the lead, but a caution allowed the likes of Truex, Larson and others to take four tires compared to his two. Kyle Busch got nailed for his second pit road speeding penalty during that caution, likely ending any chances of an elusive 2017 win for the 18 for another week.

The final segment of the race turned into a two-car battle. Hamlin was out front and Larson was coming on strong. In the end, the lead plus lapped traffic was just a little too much to overcome. If it was the Overton’s 311, Larson probably would have won, but JGR fans will be happy that Hamlin has broken the team’s long winless streak and put the 11 in the playoffs.

Just in case you didn’t feel that big weight being lifted off the shoulders of the whole Gibbs camp, this burnout for the ages let you know exactly how Hamlin and company feel.

Will JGR be able to carry some momentum into the Brickyard? We’ll find out next week.