Watkins Glen International will host NASCAR’s top two divisions this weekend along with the K&N Pro Series East.
Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen (MRN, 2 p.m. ET) is the 21st race of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. It is the second road course race of the year and will mark NASCAR’s top tier’s 37th visit to the historic circuit in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.
Chase Elliott is the defending race winner, scoring his first career Cup victory in last year’s edition of the 90-lap race around the 2.45-mile course.
“Any time you run good somewhere, whether you win it or not, it’s always nice to go back,” Elliott said. “It makes you feel a little more confident. It will be a special weekend going back. That was a big moment for us last year and hopefully we can do that well again.”
There are only five races remaining in the regular season and several drivers will be trying to find Victory Lane in order to advance to the post-season. Austin Dillon is one of those who needs to win to move on and is ready for the challenge on The Glen.
“I’ve had decent runs at Watkins Glen International, but we have never been able to string together a good finish,” Dillon said. “I’m working hard with my crew chief, Danny Stockman. He really loves road course racing. I’m just trying to get better.
“It’s one of those tracks that we know going into it that there’s a high likelihood that it won’t be the best part of our season, but the opportunity is there to stay out of trouble and have a good run. It’s not for lack of effort. We’re working really hard on our road course program.”
Watkins Glen: Race Winners | Driver Averages
Martin Truex Jr. won earlier this summer in the first road course event of the year at Sonoma Raceway. Truex has posted a stellar 3.8 average finish in the last five road course races, including last year’s inaugural event at the Charlotte Roval, dating back to his first win at The Glen in 2017.
“Watkins Glen has been a really good place to me, especially the past few years,” Truex Jr. said. “It’s a pretty short race, so strategy and track position are going to be very important. Getting a good starting spot to set you up for the right strategy is going to be huge. I’m confident Cole (Pearn, crew chief) and our guys will bring a strong car and put us in position like we have been the past few years to try get another win.”
On Saturday the Xfinity Series will be in action for the Zippo 200 (MRN, 2:30 p.m. ET). The race kicks off road racing season for NASCAR’s number two division with the series visiting three road circuits over the next four races.
Justin Allgaier, still winless in 2019, scored wins in two of the three races over the stretch a year ago. He carries a streak of five straight Watkins Glen top-10 finishes into Saturday’s race and wants to add a win at the track to his resume.
“Being successful on road courses is all about car management, making sure that you manage your tires, the brakes, and keeping your car on the course,” he explained. “If we can do that, then I think our Brandt Professional Agriculture team will be in great shape.
“The playoffs are right around the corner and bonus points are key. I feel like the road courses are where we really have an opportunity to gain some ground. We were strong on those tracks last season and I’m confident we can continue that momentum as we enter this stretch of road courses coming up, starting with Watkins Glen this weekend.”
The K&N Pro Series East Great Outdoors RV Superstore 100 will be held Friday at 4:45 p.m. ET.
