2005 Sylvania 300

New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where the race was held

New Hampshire Motor Speedway is one of ten intermediate tracks that hold NASCAR races.[3] The standard track at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a four-turn oval track, 1.6 miles (2.6 km) long.[4] Its banking in the turns varies from two to seven degrees, while the front stretch, the finish line, and the back stretch are all banked at one degree.[4]

Before the race, Tony Stewart led the Drivers' Championship with 5,050 points, followed by Greg Biffle with 5,045. Jimmie Johnson was fourth with 5,035 points and Kurt Busch in fifth had 5,030 points. Mark Martin was sixth with 5,025 points with Jeremy Mayfield seventh on 5,020 points. Matt Kenseth was tied with Carl Edwards on 5,015 points and Ryan Newman on 5,005 points rounded out the top ten.[5] In the Manufacturers' Championship,

Busch was the race's defending champion.[6]

Two practice sessions were held on Friday before the Sunday race—both of which lasted 60 minutes.[7] During the first practice session, Gordon was fastest, placing ahead of Stewart in second and Robby Gordon in third. Newman was scored fourth, and Bobby Labonte placed fifth. Jamie McMurray, Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Green and Casey Mears rounded out the top ten fastest drivers in the session.[8] Later that day, Rusty Wallace set the second session's fastest time, ahead of Kyle Busch, brother Kurt Busch and Kasey Kahne in second, third and fourth respectively. Stewart was fifth, while the rest of the top ten consisted of Travis Kvapil, J.J. Yeley, Newman, Martin and Jeff Burton.[9]

Although forty-nine cars attempted to qualify; according to NASCAR's qualifying procedure, only forty-three could race.