Craig Lutz: The Big Track Specialist Ready to Strike Again at New Hampshire
Hitting the asphalt at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this Saturday will carry extra weight for one particular driver. Craig Lutz isn’t just showing up to compete. He’s hunting for his third marquee victory of the 2025 season. Honestly, watching him work his magic on the big tracks has been nothing short of spectacular.
Lutz’s Remarkable Big Track Dominance This Season
When the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour rolls into venues shared with Cup Series competition, something special happens with the Goodie Racing No. 46. Lutz has turned these high-profile weekends into his personal showcase, capturing victories at both North Wilkesboro Speedway and Richmond Raceway earlier this year.
“If you asked me at the beginning of the year what two tracks I was going to win at, I don’t think I would have picked those two,” Lutz admitted with that genuine humility that makes him such a respected competitor. The honesty in his voice tells the whole story – sometimes racing just clicks in ways you never expect.
The numbers don’t lie about what Lutz has accomplished. Through 12 years of Modified Tour competition, he’s making his 150th career start this weekend at New Hampshire. That milestone carries serious weight, representing over a decade of dedication to one of NASCAR’s most demanding divisions.
The Goodie Racing Partnership That Changed Everything
Last year marked a crucial turning point when Lutz rejoined Russell Goodale’s operation. The reunion brought immediate speed – they grabbed the pole at New Smyrna Speedway to start 2024. But speed at the wrong time became their biggest frustration.Lutz led a career-high 378 laps in 2024 without a single victory to show for it.
That’s the kind of statistic that keeps drivers awake at night, wondering what could have been different. The team was fast, incredibly fast, but they couldn’t close the deal when the checkered flag waved.”Anytime you have an opportunity to do something again, like rejoining a team to have another shot, you always think of what you could do different after the first time,” Lutz explained. The maturity in that statement shows why he’s found success – learning from setbacks rather than being defeated by them.
The Championship Battle Heats Up
Currently tied for fourth with Matt Hirschman in the standings, Lutz sits just 29 points behind leader Doug Coby. With only four races remaining, every position matters desperately. The tight championship race means Saturday’s Mohegan Sun 100 could make or break championship dreams for multiple drivers. That pressure would crush some competitors, but Lutz seems energized by the challenge. His two victories this season have proven he can deliver when the lights shine brightest and the stakes climb highest.
New Hampshire’s Unique Challenge for Lutz
Here’s where the story gets interesting. New Hampshire Motor Speedway hasn’t been kind to Lutz historically. One top-five finish in 13 career starts tells a harsh tale. Three DNFs in his last four visits make the track feel almost cursed for the talented wheelman. But that’s precisely what makes this weekend so compelling. Lutz has transformed his approach to big races, focusing on being the fastest when it counts the most, instead of leading early and fading late. The mental shift has paid dividends at North Wilkesboro and Richmond, but could New Hampshire be next?
The Prestige of the Mohegan Sun 100
Saturday’s event carries special significance beyond championship points. The Mohegan Sun 100 represents the most prestigious race on the Modified Tour calendar. Racing at NASCAR’s largest track on the tour, with Cup Series weekend attention, elevates everything about the competition.”This is the time to turn that around,” Lutz said about his New Hampshire struggles. “I’m really looking forward to going to Loudon and having a shot to get our third win at a big track this year.”
The confidence in his voice suggests something has changed. Maybe it’s the partnership with Goodale clicking perfectly, or perhaps it’s the momentum from those two big victories building unstoppable belief. Whatever happens Saturday morning when the green flag drops, Craig Lutz has already proven something meaningful this season. He’s become NASCAR’s big game hunter, rising to meet the challenge when racing’s brightest spotlight shines down on him.
