Same verse, same as the first? That’s never the case when talking about NASCAR driving through the road courses of their summer schedule. After the first stop for the Sprint Cup Series on the schedule at Sonoma Raceway in California, both the Cup boys and Xfinity guys will head for the majesty and history of Watkins Glen this weekend.
Here are your four to follow from the winding roads of NASCAR at Watkins Glen:
Chasing the Wild Card
The history of road course racing in the Sprint Cup Series has always led to surprise and first-time winners. Drivers like Juan Pablo Montoya, Marcos Ambrose, and A.J. Allmendinger come to mind, and could mean another first-time winner could be in the books this weekend. Those who’ve come close could finally close the deal this weekend, including drivers like Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Danica Patrick.
Unpredictable is an Understatement
When NASCAR rolls into Watkins Glen, the use of the word unpredictable always comes as an understatement. It is a road course unlike any other. Fuel mileage racing, tight passing, big wrecks, and even racing in the rain could all be in the cards this weekend, meaning the drivers who hit the track will have more than just themselves to contend with.
The Death of the Road Course Ringer
Back in the day when road courses were a new novelty for NASCAR fans, it was common for drivers with the special skills for road course racing to take a swing at weekends like these. And yet today, the idea of the road course ringer is nearly dead at the Sprint Cup level, with only two drivers who fit that category entered at The Glen.
Big Name Winners
As we close in on the start of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, there remain a number of big names that have yet to win this season. Names like Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Greg Biffle have not graced victory lane, but could change that at Watkins Glen. And of course do not count out Kyle Busch, who is arguably the hottest driver in NASCAR right now, and only thirteen points from cracking the Top 30 and landing a Chase berth.
Be sure to tune in for all the left and right turns this weekend at Watkins Glen. You can see all the coverage of the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on NBCSN.
