Cheez-It 355 at the Glen
Watkins Glen International
By Richard Tix
NASCAR heads into a race weekend for the first time in what feel's like forever coming off a non Kyle Busch win. Not that Kyle didn't try after winning the Pocono Pole, but down the stretch it wasn't in the cards while running out of fuel.
So, this time we head into the weekend with a different Joe Gibbs Racing driver victory from the previous race, Matt Kenseth. Kenseth won his second race of 2015 last Sunday in the Windows 10 400 at Pocono. It moved Kenseth up the 2015 Chase Standings and it was also another show of confidence that JGR is on the right track again after a slow start to the season.
One week after NASCAR worked a track with only three turns, they now head to Watkins Glen to turn right for only the second time in 2015. The road course has provided some great entertainment the past few seasons so it is one you won't want to miss (check out the TV Schedule at the bottom of the article). Last year it was AJ Allmendinger's first career Cup win in dramatic fashion providing the fireworks. That very same win locked him into the brand new 2014 Chase where a win means everything.
Could the same thing happen in 2015? Will an underdog like AJ get a win and get into the Chase? Or will we once again see Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski duke it out on the closing laps? One thing is for sure, it is must watch TV.
So, this time we head into the weekend with a different Joe Gibbs Racing driver victory from the previous race, Matt Kenseth. Kenseth won his second race of 2015 last Sunday in the Windows 10 400 at Pocono. It moved Kenseth up the 2015 Chase Standings and it was also another show of confidence that JGR is on the right track again after a slow start to the season.
One week after NASCAR worked a track with only three turns, they now head to Watkins Glen to turn right for only the second time in 2015. The road course has provided some great entertainment the past few seasons so it is one you won't want to miss (check out the TV Schedule at the bottom of the article). Last year it was AJ Allmendinger's first career Cup win in dramatic fashion providing the fireworks. That very same win locked him into the brand new 2014 Chase where a win means everything.
Could the same thing happen in 2015? Will an underdog like AJ get a win and get into the Chase? Or will we once again see Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski duke it out on the closing laps? One thing is for sure, it is must watch TV.
The Good
- AJ Allmendinger- The 2014 winner at WGI, AJ also owns a career average finish of 7.8 here. Last year this race locked him into the 2014 Chase and he will look to do the same this year. He has 4 top 10's in his 6 career WGI starts, plus 2 top 5's, and last years win.
- Brad Keselowksi- Last year BK got slowed down by some bad luck, but the three previous years he was involved in classic NASCAR finishes where each time he came up just short in 2nd place. He has yet to win here at WGI, but has shown he knows how to wheel it around the track with the best (Marcus Ambrose and Kyle Busch).
- Kyle Busch- Speaking of Rowdy, he is another guy who know's how to get it done at WGI. He has 8 top 10's in 10 career starts here and was also a victim of back luck last year. If all three of these guys stay out of trouble we could have one heck of a finish.
The Middle
- Matt Kenseth- The Glen just isn't Kenseths track (only 5 top 10's in 10 starts). But, even though he doesn't notch a lot of top 10's, he also limits the damage by pulling off top 15's (10 in 15 starts) so he fits the "middle" description perfect.
The Bad
- Aric Almirola- Only four career starts at the Glen, but so far he has flip flopped 30+ finishes and 18th place finishes. If trends continue he is looking at a 30+ finish on Sunday (35, 18, 37, and 18th).
- David Ragan- In 8 starts Ragan only has one top 20 (2014- 19th). He has been running between 20-25th most of the time, but it just isn't going to continue to cut it if he want's back into a major ride.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr- I'll give Jr this, he is trying, but even he admits WGI isn't his track. In 15 starts he has two top 5's and 3 top 10's, but the last one came in 2005. However, he did just finish 11th in 2014 so thing's might be looking up?
- Extra Credit- Paul Menard
About the Track: Watkins Glen International
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.
- 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 in 2003 at Watkins Glen.
- The race has been won from the front row 11 times (Pole 9 times) in 32 NASCAR races.
- A race has been won only 11 times out of 32 races after starting outside of the top 5 (Most recently 2014-AJ Allmendinger 6th) and 8 times after starting outside the top 10.
Track Info
- Surface
- Asphalt and concrete
- Length: 3.40 miles
- Turns 11
Watkins
Glen International
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Race
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Date
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Cars
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Winner(s)
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St
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Make / Model
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1957-35
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8/4/1957
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20
|
Buck Baker
|
1
|
'57 Chevrolet
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1964-40
|
7/19/1964
|
26
|
Billy Wade
|
1
|
'64 Mercury
|
1965-33
|
7/18/1965
|
19
|
Marvin Panch
|
3
|
'65 Ford
|
1986-18
|
8/10/1986
|
36
|
Tim Richmond
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1987-18
|
8/10/1987
|
40
|
Rusty Wallace
|
2
|
Pontiac
|
1988-18
|
8/14/1988
|
40
|
Ricky Rudd
|
6
|
Buick
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1989-18
|
8/13/1989
|
40
|
Rusty Wallace
|
13
|
Pontiac
|
1990-18
|
8/12/1990
|
40
|
Ricky Rudd
|
12
|
Chevrolet
|
1991-18
|
8/11/1991
|
40
|
Ernie Irvan
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1992-18
|
8/9/1992
|
39
|
Kyle Petty
|
2
|
Pontiac
|
1993-19
|
8/8/1993
|
38
|
Mark Martin
|
1
|
Ford
|
1994-20
|
8/14/1994
|
40
|
Mark Martin
|
1
|
Ford
|
1995-20
|
8/13/1995
|
40
|
Mark Martin
|
1
|
Ford
|
1996-20
|
8/11/1996
|
39
|
Geoffrey Bodine
|
13
|
Ford
|
1997-20
|
8/10/1997
|
42
|
Jeff Gordon
|
11
|
Chevrolet
|
1998-20
|
8/9/1998
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1999-21
|
8/15/1999
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
2000-21
|
8/13/2000
|
43
|
Steve Park
|
18
|
Chevrolet
|
2001-22
|
8/12/2001
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
13
|
Chevrolet
|
2002-22
|
8/11/2002
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
3
|
Pontiac
|
2003-22
|
8/10/2003
|
43
|
Robby Gordon
|
14
|
Chevrolet
|
2004-22
|
8/15/2004
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
2005-22
|
8/14/2005
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2006-22
|
8/13/2006
|
43
|
Kevin Harvick
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7
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-22
|
8/12/2007
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
2008-22
|
8/10/2008
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
1
|
Toyota
|
2009-22
|
8/10/2009
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
13
|
Chevrolet
|
2010-22
|
8/8/2010
|
43
|
Juan Pablo Montoya
|
3
|
Chevrolet
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2011-22
|
8/15/2011
|
43
|
Marcos Ambrose
|
3
|
Ford
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2012-22
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8/12/2012
|
43
|
Marcos Ambrose
|
5
|
Ford
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2013-22
|
8/11/2013
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
5
|
Toyota
|
2014-22
|
8/10/2014
|
43
|
A.J. Allmendinger
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
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