For Ryan Preece, a native of Berlin, Conn., racing close to home represents something special.

“I did feel like going into the short tracks and New Hampshire it kind of gives me a little bit of optimism and I’m certainly excited about coming here to my home track — New England,” Preece told Holly Cain of NASCAR Wire Service. “Every time I come back home, it feels good. It feels different.”

Preece drives the No. 60 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford. He is just on the outside looking in, 17th in the standings, trailing Shane Van Gisbergen by 50 points for the final playoff spot.

Preece’s best finish in New Hampshire came in 2024, when he placed 11th. He will also be driving in Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race, which he won at the same track in 2021.

Joey Logano won last week in the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Speedway in Virginia. Logano, who also calls New England home as a Middletown, Conn., native, is in ninth place.

Logano, a three-time Cup Series champion, has won twice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Logano’s first career win came in Loudon in 2009, which is the last time a driver posted his first win there.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway is nicknamed “The Magic Mile” for its 1.058-mile oval track. The track’s only overtime finish in the last 14 races came in 2024.

Christopher Bell relishes racing there. His track record in the Granite State is unmatched, winning seven times in 12 starts across NASCAR’s top three series. Bell has yet to win this season, but holds seven second-place finishes and has secured his place in the “The Chase”.

Bell, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and defending champion Ryan Blaney are the only drivers racing Sunday to win in New Hampshire. Hamlin has lifted the trophy three times in Loudon and would tie 2027 NASCAR Hall of Famer inductees Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick as the track’s winningest drivers with a victory Sunday. Hamlin leads the Cup Series with 969 points, courtesy of four wins and 14 top-five finishes.

Keselowski, who has won twice in New Hampshire, sits 19th in the standings. He will require a strong performance to vault into better position.

Blaney won the Mobil 1 301 last September, a playoff race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He outlasted Josh Berry for his third victory of the year. This season, he’s Blaney has two wins and five top-five finishes, placing him second behind Hamlin with 854 points.

Rusty Wallace won the first race at the track in 1993. No racer has won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway from pole position since Kyle Busch in 2017.

Tickets for this weekend’s festivities can be purchased at NHMS.com.

Here’s a look at this weekend’s Dollar Tree 301, the second-to-last race before the series begins “The Chase” postseason to determine the season champion:

Site: Loudon, N.H.

Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Race distance: 301 laps, 318.46 miles.

Schedule: Saturday, practice, 10:35 a.m., qualifying, 11:40 a.m.; Sunday, race, 2 p.m. (USA).

Last year: While this year’s event falls during the regular season, Ryan Blaney won last year’s playoff race for his third victory of the season and a spot in the Round of 8.

Last race: Joey Logano earned the victory at Richmond, using fresher tires to pass Christopher Bell with 24 laps left before holding off Chase Briscoe late.

Next race: Aug. 29, Daytona Beach, Fla.

Cam Kerry can be reached at cam.kerry@globe.com.