Cheez-It 355 at the Glen
Week 22
By Richard Tix
Its a big week for NASCAR. No its not the Daytona 500. We already went to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The All Star Race is over. We have already got our Darlington Stripe. No, its a big week in NASCAR because we will be turning right again, and a surprise driver could punch his ticket to the Chase.
Will it happen? I predicted no to start the season (and will stand by it) but does that mean it wont happen? Guys like Ambrose, Truex, and Allmendinger are chomping at the bit to get here. Will they win the title if they get into the Chase? No, but its a New Era in NASCAR Chase world and anyone can make a name for themselves with just one win.
Win and you are in....
Will it happen? I predicted no to start the season (and will stand by it) but does that mean it wont happen? Guys like Ambrose, Truex, and Allmendinger are chomping at the bit to get here. Will they win the title if they get into the Chase? No, but its a New Era in NASCAR Chase world and anyone can make a name for themselves with just one win.
Win and you are in....
The Good, Middle, and Bad
(This is just a review of each drivers recent past performance, generally about 5-10 past races)
The Good
- Marcus Ambrose- This is known wide and far, Marcus Ambrose is good on road courses. In fact, he won at the Glen not only in 2011 but also in 2012. This year, things are different in NASCAR. Now, a win at a road course can me an easy bid into the Sprint Cup Chase. That is what Ambrose is shooting for.
- Brad Keselowski- Man, BK has provided (been a part of) some of the best finishes at the Glen in recent years. His battle's with Amrose and then his battle with Kyle Busch just last year have gave us fans some awesome road course racing. He has three straight runner up finishes here, will 2014 be the year he knocks down the wall to VL?
- Kyle Busch- Kyle is the most recent winner at the Glen and he won in dramatic fashion over BK last year. Rowdy also won at Watkins Glen in 2008 and holds a streak of 8 straight top 10's (4 of those top 5's).
- Tony Stewart- Yes, its four drivers this week in the "Good" category. Some extra love has to be given out to Smoke even though his last two finishes have been 19th and 27th. He still has 5 career wins here in 14 starts and that can not be over looked (last coming in 2009. Missed 2013 because of injury).
The Middle
- Martin Truex Jr- If anyone needs this race (other then maybe Ambrose) more let me know. This might be the only track he has a legitament shot at winning the rest of the way. Sure, he has had some decent runs at a few tracks left, but he is now with a smaller team. He has 5 top 10's (3 top 5's) in his 8 career races at Watkins Glen.
The Bad
- Dale Earnhardt Jr- Last time he posted a top ten at the Glen? 2005. But, we said something similar before NASCAR went to Sonoma and he had a pretty good run there (pin balling off everyone like Kyle Larson at Eldora, but non the less). So maybe this is truly the year of Jr. Still, three top 10's in 14 tries is nothing to write home about.
- Brian Vickers- In 9 career starts at Watkins Glen Vickers only has one top 10 (2005- 8th). A lot need to be said about how his car has held up (Transmission, Engine, and crashes) but he has finished 5 of the other 4 races (that he had no issues with) on the lead lap, but still only has one top 10.
- Paul Menard- 10 starts, 10 times finishing outside of the top 10. In fact he only has one top 15 and 5 top 20's in those 10 starts. Not too promising for a driver who may need a win to make the Chase.
Track Stats
- Three straight years the race was won from the Pole (1993-95) and all three years Mark Martin was the winner.
- Mark Martin has the most top 5's (12) and most top 10's (16) by any driver.
- Tony Stewart has the most career wins (5).
- Tim Richmond won the first race after NASCAR came back to the Glen (ran races in '57, '64, and '65) in 1986 beating out Darrell Waltrip. Part of his 7 win 1986 season.
- Qualifying Record was set by Marcos Ambrose in 2013- 68.777 seconds (128.241 mph).
- Steve Park won in 2000 after starting 18th, which is the farthest back a winner has started. Steve Parks only other Cup win was at Rockingham. Watkins Glen was his first.
- Geoffrey Bodine's last career win was at Watkins Glen in 1996 (18 career wins).
- Robby Gordon's final career win was also at the Glen in 2003. Where he first won Sonoma and then finished the Road Course sweep at Watkins Glen.
- The race has been won from the front row 11 times (Pole 9 times) in 31 NASCAR races.
- A race has been won only 10 times out of 31 races after starting outside of the top 5 and 8 times after starting outside the top 10.
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