Small Preview: This is race #22 of the 36 race season for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. We go to the second road course of the season, Watkins Glen International Speedway.
This race with its tricky right and left turns, racing here will bring us a great show.
Qualifying: With no practice so far, its hard to pick one driver that'll get the pole. One driver I have in mind that can get the pole will be Kurt Busch. His Nationwide qualifying run will help him find the perfect line for the Cup Series qualifying run. But like the Nationwide Series qualifying can bring us, don't surprised if we get a surprise Pole winner. Qualifying for this race is on Saturday at 11:30 am EST on SPEED.
Race: Two drivers will be listed as the dark horse, Juan Pablo Montoya (who won the 2010 race here) and Marcos Ambrose. Juan Pablo Montoya can get around road courses very well, so if he races cleanly and stays out of trouble, he will be a key factor in the closing laps. The other driver to watch is Marcos Ambrose. This track is his best track to run at. First race here, started 43rd (qualifying was rained out), and came out with a 3rd place finish. The next year, he started 4th, ended up finishing 2nd (led 9 laps). And last year, he started 11th, ended up finishing 3rd (he led 8 laps in this race). If you want to see off-sequence pit stops, Ambrose will be one of few drivers doing that, and it could all pay off at the end. Robby Gordon is another one that could play a key factor, and he plans to run the entire race with one of his best cars, but like Indy (his last race where he planned to run the entire race), his car can give up at anytime.
Unlike the Nationwide race, the road-course ringers is a bit small in the entry list. Most of which will probably might not play a key factor in the race. Other than Montoya and Ambrose (which fans call road course ringers because of their history at road courses in other racing series), the only two driver that might be the ringers to beat is Boris Said (driving the #51 Phoenix Construction / Thank a Teacher Today Chevy) and Ron Fellows (driving the #36 Golden Corral Chevy (Dave Blaney will be in the #35 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevy)). Unless it becomes a fuel mileage race or a GWC, I don't see these being a factor for the win, a Top-10 or 15 run will be best for these two drivers.
The driver to beat, a tie between Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart. Both know how to get around this road course really well, both will be key factors from start to finish of this race.
There is rain in the forecast on Sunday, and unlike the Nationwide Series, the Cup Series will not race on rain-tires.
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