This Weekend in NASCAR – Watkins Glen Storylines

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series are at Watkins Glen International this weekend for some road racing. The XFINITY Series is on track Saturday afternoon and the Sprint Cup Series on Sunday. The Camping World Truck Series is off until August 15 at Michigan International Speedway.

Watkins Glen storylines follow…

Kenseth Tacks On The Bonus Points

It was appropriate that the Windows 10 400 at Pocono Raceway was decided by the fuel “window.”

Matt Kenseth passed three drivers who ran out of gas – Joey Logano with three laps left, Martin Truex Jr. who had two laps to go and Kyle Busch on the final go-around – to win his first race at Pocono in 32 attempts.

The victory was Kenseth’s second of the season and 33rd of his career, tying him with Busch and Fireball Roberts for 20th on NASCAR’s all-time list. With the triumph, Kenseth moved up to fourth on the Chase Grid and now has six bonus points for the Challenger 16 round of NASCAR’s playoffs.

Out Of Gas: Kyle Busch Runs Out Of Fuel In Bid For Fourth Straight Win
Kyle Busch was on his way to his fourth consecutive victory when he ran out of fuel while he was leading on the final lap in Sunday’s Windows 10 400 at Pocono Raceway. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver finished 21st..

With his performance, Busch gained 10 points on 30th-place (the position he needs to ascend to in order to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup) and is now only 13 points behind David Gilliland who currently mans the 30th position. Busch has five races left until the Chase to get into the top 30.

Despite being unable to close the deal at Pocono, Busch has won four of the last six races dating back to Sonoma. He gets the chance to sweep the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ road courses in Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 at The Glen (2 p.m. ET at NBCSN). Busch has won at Watkins Glen twice (2008, 2013) and in 2008 was the last NSCS driver to sweep the road courses.

All-In For Allmendinger At The Glen

Road course maven AJ Allmendinger provided arguably the most feel-good moment of the 2014 season when he won at Watkins Glen. The victory – the first for Allmendinger and JTG Daugherty Racing – secured the single-car team a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Sunday’s Cheez-It 335 at The Glen may be Allmendinger’s last legitimate shot to make NASCAR’s playoffs. Similar to last year, he needs a win to get in.

In six career starts at Watkins Glen, Allmendinger boasts one win, two top fives and four top 10s. He claims the second-best average finish (7.8333), third-best driver rating (100.5), third-best average running position (12.288) and fourth-fastest green flag speed (120.332 mph).

Gordon, Stewart Attempt To Get Back To Winning Watkins Glen Ways
For periods of time, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart dominated the competition at Watkins Glen International. Stewart owns a track-record five wins (2002, 2004-05, 2007, 2009), while Gordon comes in second with four (1997-99, 2001).

Both could use a return to their winning ways at the Central New York road course on Sunday. Stewart needs a visit to Victory Lane in the next five races to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. At 12th on the Chase Grid, a comfortable 83 points above the cutoff line, Gordon will likely make the postseason. Still, a win would give him momentum. Also, if/when Kyle Busch makes the top 30, Gordon’s cushion shrinks. A DNF could doom him.

While Gordon’s loop stats at The Glen are mediocre by his standards (10th-best driver rating, 85.4; 12th-best average running position, 17.075) Stewart’s are elite by any measure. The No. 14 Chevrolet driver boasts series-best totals in average running position (5.661), driver rating (120.4) and average green flag speed (120.785 mph).

Kahne In Trouble After Pocono Wreck

Kasey Kahne wrecked on Lap 4 at Pocono and could not get back out on the track, dooming him to a 43rd-place finish. Fifteenth on the Chase Grid prior to the race, 50 points above the cutoff line, Kahne is now 16th, 25 points above the cutoff line.

Although Kahne holds the 16th and final spot right now, he will get bumped if/when Kyle Busch enters the top 30 in points. As it stands now, Kahne would trail Clint Bowyer by 15 points for the final Chase spot.

If the season ended today, the following winless drivers 11th-16th on the Chase Grid would make NASCAR’s playoffs: 11. Jamie McMurray (+97) 12. Jeff Gordon (+83) 13. Paul Menard (+57) 14. Ryan Newman (+50) 15. Bowyer (+40) 16. Kahne (+25). McMurray and Menard would make the Chase for the first time in their careers.

Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing Try To Break Owner Wins Tie At Watkins Glen International

Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing have been dominant at Watkins Glen International, with each team earning a record six wins at the track – twice as many as any other owner.

The two organizations will try to snap the tie in Sunday’s Cheez-It 355 at The Glen. HMS has won at the 2.45-mile road course with Tim Richmond (1986), Ricky Rudd (1990) and Jeff Gordon (1997-99, 2001). JGR has placed two drivers in Victory Lane: Tony Stewart (2002, 2004-5, 2007) and Kyle Busch (2008, 2013).

Toyota On Torrid Run

Since Erik Jones’ NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win at Iowa Speedway on June 19, Toyota has won 12 of the last 16 NASCAR national series races (5/6 Sprint Cup, 3/6 XFINITY and 4/4 Camping World Truck). Included in Toyota’s run is a stretch that includes wins in eight of the last nine NASCAR national series races. Kyle Busch (6 wins), Erik Jones (2), Matt Crafton, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Christopher Bell have all contributed to the 12-in-16 run.

Chevrolet On The Verge Of Its 750th Win

With one more visit to Victory Lane, Chevrolet would notch its 750th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win.

Here are some numbers detailing Chevrolet’s NSCS history:

76 different drivers have piloted a Chevrolet to Victory Lane
30 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships
38 Manufacturers’ championships – including the last 12
70 different tracks where Chevrolet drivers have won a race
23 Daytona 500 wins

Jeff Gordon boasts the most wins in a Chevrolet (92), followed by Jimmie Johnson (74), Dale Earnhardt (73), Darrell Waltrip (60) and Cale Yarborough (48).

Chevrolet winners have logged more than 260,918 miles, enough to circle the Earth at the equator 10 times.

Chevrolet’s 17 victories at Watkins Glen are the most by any manufacturer.

Five To Go: The Math Becomes Clear

OK, there are a lot of numbers, but it’s not as confusing as it may look.

There are 11 different winners. There are five races left in the regular season. And there will be 16 drivers in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

In other words, after this weekend, the playoff picture will come closer into focus.

Here’s where we stand now:

With the exception of Kyle Busch, all drivers with multiple wins have clinched a spot in the Chase, assuming all start the remainder of the regular season races. That includes Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch. (Kyle Busch has not clinched a spot yet because he needs to first lock up a top 30 spot.)

None of the single-win drivers have fully clinched a Chase spot yet. Here’s the reason: There’s still the potential of a zero-win points leader – and the regular season points leader is guaranteed a Chase spot, regardless of win total.

Which leads us to the math above…

Because there aren’t enough races left to fill out the Chase Grid with more than 16 unique winners, if there is a repeat winner at Watkins Glen this weekend, all single-win drivers will clinch a spot as long as they have also clinched a top-30 spot. All except Carl Edwards have already done this, and Edwards will likely accomplish the feat this weekend.

If there’s a new winner this weekend, a number of different scenarios can play out.

This weekend, Kevin Harvick can mathematically guarantee that the points leader at regular season’s end has a win. If he leaves Watkins Glen with a 176-point lead over the highest non-winning driver, it would guarantee the points leader after race No. 26 would have at least one win – and all one-win drivers would then clinch a spot as long as they also have clinched a top 30 spot.

If Harvick doesn’t accomplish the above, and there’s a new winner, single-win drivers could lock up a Chase spot, but would need help (a clinching single-win driver would need to ensure that the lowest ranked winner could not pass him/her in the points – and that includes drivers who could potentially win).

Chase Elliott Eating Into Points Deficit

Over the last four races, second in the standings Chase Elliott has knocked 16 points off NASCAR XFINITY Series standings leader Chris Buescher’s lead. Now, just 20 points separate the two championship contenders as the series heads to Watkins Glen International for the Zippo 200 on Saturday, August 8 (3 p.m. ET on NBCSN).

Elliott continues to capitalize in the points, primarily due to his series leading 15 top-10 finishes through the first 19 races. Though the 2014 series champion is still looking for his first win this season, he has finished in the top-five seven times and has an average finish of 9.5 (third-best among series contenders).

Elliott rolls into Watkins Glen with intentions of building on last year’s WGI performance, when he started 15th and finished sixth.

Standings Could Shake Up With Dynamic Five Track Stretch Ahead

In the next five race tracks on the NASCAR XFINITY Series schedule – Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio, Bristol, Darlington and Road America – the series will face three road courses, a short track and 1.37-mile egg-shaped historic speedway. The diversity in the tracks over the next five races could shake up the standings.

Roush Fenway Racing’s Chris Buescher continues to clutch the NASCAR XFINITY Series standings lead for the 10th race in a row – dating back to May 17 (Iowa-1). Buescher has seen his points lead over second-place grow to as big as 36 points (following Daytona), and then dwindled back down to 20 points following this past weekend.

Unfortunately for Buescher, on the next five tracks his closest competitor in the points, Chase Elliott, has a better average finish than Buescher (6.4 vs. 15.6). Though Buescher won at Mid-Ohio, he struggled at Watkins Glen (29th-place finish) and Darlington (34th-place finish). Elliott’s worst finish during the same five track stretch was 18th at Road America.

Despite his recent backslide in his points lead, Buescher remains optimistic.

“I am excited to get back to Watkins Glen. It is a very fast course and we had a really good car last year. I think we have some great notes to build on from last season. It will be a good weekend for us to get a top five and gain some more points.”

The Glen Brings Out Some Of The Best

Four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers thought a couple extra laps around the seven turns of Watkins Glen this weekend couldn’t hurt, so Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson and Paul Menard will all be competing in the Zippo 200 on Saturday, August 8 (on NBCSN at 3 p.m. ET).

Joey Logano will be in the No. 12 Team Penske Ford with his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief Todd Gordon this weekend. Logano has made seven series starts at WGI posting three top fives, four top 10s and an average finish of 13.0 (his series career worst average finish among active tracks).

Brad Keselowski will return to last week’s winning No. 22 Team Penske Ford with crew chief Greg Erwin. The No. 22 team has accounted for five wins in the first 19 races this season (26.3% winning percentage). Keselowski has made six series starts at The Glen, posting one win (2013), four top fives, six top 10s and an average finish of 4.3.

Kyle Larson will be back in the No. 42 HScott Motorsports with Chip Ganassi Chevrolet this weekend accompanying crew chief Mike Shiplett. In two series starts at WGI he has posted and average finish of 22.5.

Paul Menard returns to the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet with crew chief Danny Stockman Jr. Menard has made eight series starts at Watkins Glen posting one top five, five top 10s and an average finish of 12.4.

Road Course Specialists: Said and Habul Ready To Bring One Home For JGR

Joe Gibbs Racing is pulling out all the stops this weekend; road course enthusiast Boris Said and Kenny Habul have been brought in to showcase their expertise at turning both left and right in Saturday’s Zippo 200 at The Glen.

For the first time in Said’s career, the Carlsbad, Calif., native will be jumping into the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota at Watkins Glen International with crew chief Chris Gayle. Said’s lone series win came on a road course back in 2010 (Montreal) and the veteran wheelman has made eight series starts at WGI posting one top five and two top 10s.

Said’s JGR teammate this week will be driver Kenny Habul in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota with crew chief Michael Wheeler. Over the past three seasons, Habul, from Sydney, Australia, has only run the road course events on the NASCAR XFINITY Series schedule, posting his best NXS career finish at Road America (14th-place) last season in the JGR No. 20 Toyota. Habul has made three series starts at The Glen posting a best finish of 20th in 2012.

Sunoco Rookie Update: Suarez Opens Up Rookie Points Lead to 22

Daniel Suarez took the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings lead following the race at New Hampshire, and in the last two weeks has opened up the rookie points lead to 22 markers over second-place Darrell Wallace Jr.

“We couldn’t be in a better position as a team and the goal now is to try and keep this going and keep working hard every day,” said Suarez.

Suarez’s season has come alive in the last six races; during that time he has posted two Coors Light poles, three top fives and five top 10s. His average finish in the last six NXS events has been a stellar 6.7; which is 8.8 positions better on average than second-place in the rookie points Darrell Wallace Jr. (15.5) during that same six race stretch.

Wallace is not giving up just yet though.

“We’re switching things up a little bit this weekend, heading to the first road course of the season,” said Wallace. “I’ve spent a lot of time on the simulator this week, just learning this track and trying to get a good idea of braking points.”

Both Suarez and Wallace will be making their series track debuts this weekend at Watkins Glen.

New York Natives Smith and Bodine Coming Home To WGI

Watkins Glen International will host two competitors from the great state of New York: Regan Smith and Todd Bodine.

JR Motorsports driver Regan Smith, who calls Cato, New York home, will be in the No. 7 Chevrolet this weekend working with crew chief Jason Burdett. Smith is currently fourth in the series standings 39 points back from standings leader Chris Buescher and 18 points back from third-place Ty Dillon. Smith has seen mediocre success at WGI in his career; in four starts he has posted one top five and an average finish of 15.8.

Chemung, New York native Todd Bodine, is returning to his home track this weekend. Bodine will drive the No. 90 King Autosport Chevrolet in Saturday’s Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen. The two-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion has made seven starts in the NASCAR XFINITY Series at WGI, posting six top fives and seven top 10s. His average finish at The Glen is a stout 4.1.

Road Course Revelry

If you like road course racing, then the NASCAR XFINITY Series in August is your one-stop shop. Three distinctly different courses are on tap in the coming month.

Just outside the downtown of Watkins Glen, New York sits Watkins Glen International, the first of the three road courses the series will compete on this season. The Glen is a seven turn course that is 2.45 miles in length. The Zippo 200 will be 90 laps, totaling 220.5 miles. The defending winner of the NXS WGI event is Marcos Ambrose.

Next up will be Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio a thirteen turn road course that spans 2.258 miles. Mid-Ohio is the site of the current points leader Chris Buescher’s first series career win (last season). This season’s event, the Nationwide’s Children Hospital 200 will be 90 laps totaling 203.22 miles.

The final facility that will showcase the driver’s ability to turn right as well as left will be Road America, a road course nestled in the Elkhart Lake area of Wisconsin. Road America is a behemoth of a road course in comparison to the previous two, stretching out 4 miles in length. The 12-turn course has been the home to many different winners including Brendan Gaughan, who became the fifth different NXS winner in the series’ five races at the track.

NASCAR XFINITY Series Etc.:
Hamlin to Sport Throw Back Schemes at Darlington: Sport Clips Haircuts unveiled this week the No. 11 Sport Clips Toyota and the No. 20 Sport Clips Toyota Denny Hamlin will pilot for the September 5 and 6 NASCAR Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series races at Darlington Raceway. As part of Darlington’s throwback weekend, the No. 11 Sport Clips Camry in the Sprint Cup Series will run a retro scheme inspired by Cale Yarborough and the No. 20 Sport Clips Camry in the XFINITY Series will run a special scheme during the Sport Clips sponsored race.

Milestones: Joey Logano will attempt to post his 25th NASCAR XFINITY Series career win this weekend at WGI. Logano is tied with Tommy Houston for ninth on the all-time NXS wins list with 24 wins each. Logano can also post his 75th NASCAR XFINITY Series top-five finish this weekend at The Glen. Logano is currently tied with Joe Nemechek for 16th on the all-time NXS top fives list. … Brad Keselowski can break his tie with Tommy Houston for sixth on the NASCAR XFINITY Series top-five finishes list at 108 top fives each; four top fives behind fifth-place Mark Martin.