Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Dutch Boy Ford Mustang are set to start Sunday’s 34th annual Go Bowling at the Glen from 22nd place.
Menard toured the track during time trials at 125.165 miles per hour, his best lap of the day. Starting spots are provisional, with the final line-up not official until after inspection on Sunday morning.
Saturday’s schedule at Watkins Glen featured both practice and qualifying on Saturday. In the opening practice, Menard was 18th fastest with a best lap at 123.762 mph, which he turned on the fourth of his 20 laps run.
His best lap in the final “Happy Hour” practice was essentially the same speed, 123.663 mph, which was 22nd best and came on the 10th of 19 laps run in that session.
Eddie Wood said the format for Sunday’s relatively short 200.5-mile race will put pit strategy into play almost from the start of the race.
With the opening Stages just 20 laps each, followed by a 50-lap final segment, teams likely will be forced to choose between earning stage points or positioning themselves for the best finish possible.
Wood said that in today’s environment, there often are surprises dealt the team despite their best efforts.
“After all those cars made it to the end at Pocono last week you kind of wonder if the cars even need gas,” Wood joked. “But seriously, I can see some making it on two pit stops on Sunday.”
Sunday’s Go Bowling at the Glen is set to start just after 3 p.m. Eastern Time with TV coverage on NBCSN.
WBR PR
