DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races the GoBowling at The Glen (Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at the historic Watkins Glen International in picturesque upstate New York this weekend – the second road course offering of the 2018 schedule. And it requires a decidedly different skill set and presents lots of opportunity in a season where three drivers have visited the vast majority of Victory Lanes.
The fact is, the road course races on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule – at Sonoma, Calif. and Watkins Glen – have traditionally been dominated in the last couple decades by the likes of Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, who have combined for 12 wins in the last 25 races at Watkins Glen and won another nine at Sonoma during that time.
But all three of the those road course greats have retired now from Cup competition and the door is wide open for others to step up on one of NASCAR’s most exciting and unpredictable venues.
There have been eight different winners in the last eight Watkins Glen races. And there are only six active former winners in this weekend’s field – defending winner Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, A.J. Allmendinger, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin.
Clearly, however, Truex has been the most recent road course ace and is seeking his third consecutive victory this week. He’s the defending winner at The Glen and won at Sonoma earlier this year. He has also led the most laps in the last three road course events – including a rare dominating performance (62 laps) for his Sonoma victory earlier this summer. He has finished every single lap in 12 starts at Watkins Glen.
“I raced go karts on road courses and always had fun learning the challenges of road racing,” Truex said. “I can remember the first time I raced at Watkins Glen. It was in a Busch North Series car. It took a while to figure out the track – it was crazy. I kept asking myself ‘How are these guys going so fast around here?’
“I have a lot of years of experience racing at The Glen. And right now I am with a great team which gives me all the pieces to be able to win races at different tracks. Hopefully, we can go to The Glen this weekend and do it again. We know that a good qualifying spot is key. Starting up front sets the tone for the race.”
Only twice in the last 14 races has the winner started from farther back than seventh position. Kyle Busch is the last to win the race from the pole position (2008).
Truex’s No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota team may feel a little championship “tag-you’re-it” as the other two members of the dominant “Big 3” group – Harvick and Busch – have won the preceding two races coming to Watkins Glen. The mighty threesome has won nine of the last 10 races and all three have hoisted a victory at The Glen before.
Source: Holly Cain | NASCAR Wire Service
