The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series moves to Watkins Glen's 2.45 mile road course for the 22nd race of the 2008 season the Centurion Boats at the Glen. Race Preview looked at past performances and season trends to predict how the field should finish on Sunday.
When: Sunday, August 10, 2008; 2:17 p.m./et
Weather: Isolated thunderstorms with a high around 78; wind out of the W at 8 mph Chance of precipitation 30%.
The Track: Watkins Glen International
The Glen is a 2.45 mile road course. It has 11 turns including some of the only right-hand turns NASCAR drivers will make all season.
Key to Race: STEWART, ROBBY GORDON, AND BORIS
Tony Stewart has won four of the last six races at The Glen and Jeff Gordon has dominated the track with six career top five finishes in 10 career starts. Road course specialists like Boris Said, Robby Gordon and Ron Fellows are always a threat to win too.
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Qualifying Procedures:
46 cars will attempt to qualify for 43 spots. Cars not in the top 35 in the 2008 point standings will have to qualify based on speed. Starting positions 1-43 will be determined by a one lap qualifying run on Friday, August 8 at 3:10 pm/et.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet:
Top 5
No. 20 Tony Stewart: Stewart has won four of the last six races at The Glen. We like his chance to make it five out of the last seven.
No. 18 Kyle Busch: Rowdy won this year's Infineon race and has finished 11th or better in his last four road course races. We like his chances on Sunday.
No. 24 Jeff Gordon: Gordon has four career wins at Watkins Glen. He has struggled a little lately at the track, but the No. 24 is always a threat to win on the road courses.
No. 42 Juan Pablo Montoya: Montoya crashed during his first start at The Glen, but he is always a force on road courses. This is the weekend to use the No. 42 team.
No. 7 Robby Gordon: Road courses are where Gordon shines. He is a solid bet to make the top 10 on Sunday.
6 to 10
No. 99 Carl Edwards: Edwards has finished in the top 10 in his last three road course starts. He should make it four in a row on Sunday.
No. 60 Boris Said: Said a great option on Sunday. He is a strong bet to crack the top 10.
No. 01 Ron Fellows: Road course specialist Ron Fellows will drive the No. 01 in Sunday's race. The Canadian won the Nationwide Series road course race in Montreal last weekend and is a great sleeper pick this weekend.
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson: Johnson has cracked the top five in three of his six career starts at The Glen. He is a solid pick again on Sunday.
No. 11 Denny Hamlin: Hamlin has just three top 10 finishes in the past 10 races, but the No. 11 team finished second at The Glen last season. Due to his inconsistency this season we don't believe he is much more than a third fantasy driver on most teams.
11 to 20
No. 29 Kevin Harvick: Harvick has cracked the top 15 in five of his six career starts at The Glen, including a win in the 2006 race. He is a decent option this weekend.
No. 12 Ryan Newman: Newman has been successful at Watkins Glen in the past. We think he should make the top 15 on Sunday.
No. 19 Elliott Sadler: Sadler has cracked the top 20 in the last five races at The Glen. This is a good weekend to add him to your team.
No. 17 Matt Kenseth: Kenseth has finished in the top 10 in just three of his eight career starts at The Glen. He will be doing well to crack the top 15 this weekend.
No. 07 Clint Bowyer: Bowyer has finished 14th and 16th in his two career starts at The Glen. We expect he will finish right around there again on Sunday.
No. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Junior has worked hard to improve his driving skills on road courses, but we think he is too much of a risk to use this weekend.
No. 96 P.J. Jones: Road course guru, Jones takes the wheel of the No. 96 car on Sunday. He is a great sleeper pick.
No. 31 Jeff Burton: Burton has made the top 10 just three times in 14 career starts at The Glen. There are better options this weekend.
No. 9 Kasey Kahne: Kahne has never had much success at The Glen. In four career races he has never finished better than 14th. This is a good weekend to keep the No. 9 car on your bench.
No. 1 Martin Truex Jr.: Truex Jr. has finished in the top 20 in three of his five career road course starts. He is a decent fifth driver on fantasy teams this weekend.
21 to 30
No. 16 Greg Biffle: Biffle's has cracked the top 30 just once in five career starts at Watkins Glen. He has the potential to run strong on Sunday, but he is too risky of a pick for our taste.
No. 2 Kurt Busch: Busch's average finish in five starts at Watkins Glen is 23rd. We don't recommend him this weekend.
No. 38 David Gilliland: Gilliland finished an impressive second at Infineon this year. We aren't sure if that was an aberration or if he has figured out road course driving. Either way he should bring the same car and is worth rolling the dice on as a fifth fantasy driver.
No. 21 Marcos Ambrose: Ambrose has experience driving on road courses and if the No. 21 car doesn't fall apart he could crack the top 15.
No. 77 Sam Hornish Jr.: Hornish Jr. proved he can turn left during his time in open wheel racing, but he disappointed at Infineon. He isn't worth taking a chance on this weekend.
No. 43 Bobby Labonte: Labonte has finished 14th or better in four of the last eight races at Watkins Glen. He is another driver that is worth using as a fifth driver this weekend.
No. 26 Jamie McMurray: McMurray has just two top 10 finishes in 16 career road course races. He isn't an option this weekend.
No. 5 Casey Mears: Mears has finished better than 25th just twice in five career starts at The Glen. He isn't a fantasy option
No. 15 Paul Menard: Menard has finished in the top 30 in all four of his career starts at The Glen. He should make it five in a row on Sunday.
No. 83 Brian Vickers: Vickers has averaged just a 23rd place finish during his career at The Glen. There are better weekends to use the No. 83 car.
31 to 40
No. 10 Patrick Carpentier: Carpentier looks great on road courses, but that hasn't translated to a strong finish. He could surprise this weekend.
No. 70 Max Papis: Open wheel star Max Papis takes the wheel of the No. 70 car on Sunday. He is someone that could surprise.
No. 41 Reed Sorenson: Sorenson has been okay in his two career starts at The Glen, but there are far better sleeper picks to use this weekend.
No. 55 Michael Waltrip: Waltrip sat out last year's race at The Glen so that Terry Labonte could drive the No. 55 car. He hasn't been terrible at the track during his career, but there are much stronger options this weekend.
No. 6 David Ragan: Ragan still has a lot to learn when driving on road courses. He isn't an option.
No. 28 Travis Kvapil: Kvapil has never cracked the top 20 in a road course race. Avoid him this weekend.
No. 45 Kyle Petty: Petty hasn't cracked the top 15 in his last eight races at The Glen. He will have to make the race during qualifying so he isn't a fantasy option.
No. 44 David Reutimann: Reutimann has never started a race at The Glen. He isn't worth using this weekend.
No. 84 AJ Allmendinger: Allmendinger is another driver with zero experience at Watkins Glen. Avoid him.
No. 34 Brian Simo: Simo is a road course specialist who has looked more like a demolition derby driver at The Glen. Don't use him.
Field Fillers
No. 66 Scott Riggs: Riggs isn't going to do enough this weekend to help your fantasy team.
No. 8 Aric Almirola: Almirola returns to the seat in the No. 8 car. He has a lot to learn about driving on road courses and isn't a fantasy option.
No. 22 Dave Blaney: Blaney has been a disaster at The Glen during his career. Don't use him.
No. 00 Michael McDowell: McDowell isn't guaranteed a spot in Sunday's race and this weekend should be a struggle for the rookie.
No. 78 Joe Nemechek: "Front Row Joe" will struggle to get the No. 78 car into Sunday's race.
No. 81 Regan Smith: We don't see the No. 81 car making Sunday's field.
Brownie's Picks
Top Four:
1. Tony Stewart
2. Kyle Busch
3. Jeff Gordon
4. Juan Pablo Montoya
Sleepers:
1. Boris Said
2. Ron Fellows
Busts:
1. Greg Biffle
2. Kasey Kahne
