Pressures to make the Playoffs are mounting as the NASCAR Cup Series prepares for the penultimate race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series regular season, the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International, this Sunday, August 20 at 3 p.m. ET on the USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
Watkins Glen International is the fifth of six road courses on the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series schedule; joining Circuit of The Americas (Winner: Tyler Reddick), Sonoma Raceway (Martin Truex Jr.), Chicago Street Race (Shane van Gisbergen) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course (Michael McDowell). After this weekend, the only road course left on the 2023 schedule will be the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL on Oct. 8, 2023.
This weekend will mark the 40th running of a NASCAR Cup Series race on the historic 2.45-mile multi-elevational Watkins Glen International road course located near Watkins Glen, New York in the Finger Lakes region of the state. Racing in the Watkins Glen area began on the streets of the city, but after several events were held, a permanent facility was opened in 1956. The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International was on August 4, 1957 and won by owner/driver Buck Baker with an average speed of 83.064 mph driving a 1957 Chevrolet. Over the years, the Cup Series has changed the race length at Watkins Glen three times. The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen was scheduled for 101.2 miles in 1957, the second race was 161.7 miles (1964), and the third race was 151.8 miles (1965). Every race since has been scheduled for 220.5-miles (90 laps).
The previous 39 NASCAR Cup Series races at Watkins Glen International have produced 22 different poles winners and 24 different race winners. NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt (1990, ’92, ‘96), Mark Martin (1993, ’94, ‘95) and Jeff Gordon (1998, ’03, ‘14) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Watkins Glen International with three poles each. Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch (2011 and 2017) and Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott (2019 and 2022) lead all active drivers in poles at Watkins Glen with two each. This weekend, four of the 22 NASCAR Cup Series pole winners at Watkins Glen International are entered in the Go Bowling at The Glen.
| Active WGI Pole Winners (4) | Poles | Seasons |
| Chase Elliott | 2 | 2022, 2019 |
| Kyle Busch | 2 | 2017, 2011 |
| Denny Hamlin | 1 | 2018 |
| AJ Allmendinger | 1 | 2015 |
NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart leads the NASCAR Cup Series in victories at Watkins Glen International with five wins (2002, ’04, ’05, ’07 and ’09); one win shy of tying the series record for most road course wins at a single track at six held by NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison at Riverside Raceway (1971, ’73, ’75, ’79, ’81 sweep).
Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott (2018, 2019) and Kyle Larson (2021, 2022) and Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch (2008, 2013) lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in wins at Watkins Glen International with two victories each. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson is the most recent winner at the 2.45-mile track, winning last season’s event by a scant .882-second over second-place AJ Allmendinger. Eight of the 24 NASCAR Cup Series winners at Watkins Glen International are active this weekend, and three of the eight are looking for their first win of the 2023 season – Chase Elliott, AJ Allmendinger and Kevin Harvick.
| Active WGI Race Winners (8) | Wins | Seasons |
| Kyle Larson | 2 | 2022, 2021 |
| Chase Elliott | 2 | 2019, 2018 |
| Kyle Busch | 2 | 2013, 2008 |
| Martin Truex Jr | 1 | 2017 |
| Denny Hamlin | 1 | 2016 |
| Joey Logano | 1 | 2015 |
| AJ Allmendinger | 1 | 2014 |
| Kevin Harvick | 1 | 2006 |
All the NASCAR Cup Series on-track activity begins with practice and Busch Light Pole Qualifying at 12:30 p.m. ET on the USA Network.
Truex can clinch Regular Season Championship at WGI
Joe Gibbs Racing driver and current NASCAR Cup Series point standings leader, Martin Truex Jr., can clinch the 2023 Regular Season Championship presented by Coca-Cola this weekend at Watkins Glen International in the Go Bowling at The Glen on Sunday, August 20 at 3 p.m. ET (on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) by being ahead of the driver in second in the standings by 61 points at the conclusion of the race. He also has a possibility of clinching at 60 points ahead of second, but it would depend on the tiebreaker. If Truex scores 56 points this weekend at Watkins Glen International, he will automatically clinch the Regular Season Championship. The New Jersey native has grown his points cushion over second place Denny Hamlin to 60 points following the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
“Every single race is important,” said Martin Truex Jr. “I don’t know how anyone can say they don’t matter. We are looking at locking up 15 bonus points by trying to get the Regular Season Championship. It’s an opportunity to lock up a lot of bonus points and that’s what matters in the Playoffs. Every race is equally important. All 26 matter and all 26 can earn you points and do things that will help you in the Playoffs. For us, it’s business as usual and these races are all important.”
Though mathematically possible to not achieve the clinch this weekend, Truex’s likelihood of becoming the second driver to win multiple Regular Season Championships on Sunday is a decent possibility. If he accomplishes the feat, only Truex (2017 and 2023) and Kyle Busch (2018 and 2019) would have more than one. In total, only five drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Championship – Truex (2017), Busch (2018, 2019), Kevin Harvick (2020), Kyle Larson (2021) and Chase Elliott (2022).
Playoffs Clinch Scenarios: Watkins Glen International
With Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell’s big win last weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, 13 drivers have clinched a spot in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. That leaves three spots still up for grabs with only two races left in the regular season, which means at least one or more spots will be earned on points. Below is a breakdown of the drivers that can clinch their spot in the postseason this weekend:
Already Clinched
The following 13 drivers have clinched a spot in the 16-driver postseason field: Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Michael McDowell and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Can Clinch Via Points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the Playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 3rd winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Kevin Harvick or Brad Keselowski.
- Kevin Harvick: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Brad Keselowski: Would clinch regardless of finish
If there is a new winner from Bubba Wallace or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the Playoffs, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 2nd winless driver in the standings.
- Kevin Harvick: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone: Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Bubba Wallace, Daniel Suárez, Ty Gibbs, Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, AJ Allmendinger, Austin Cindric, Justin Haley, Aric Almirola, Ryan Preece, Corey LaJoie, Todd Gilliland, Erik Jones, Austin Dillon, Harrison Burton, Chase Briscoe, Ty Dillon
Wallace vs. Suárez: The battle for the final Playoff spot
Following another new 2023 winner at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course (Michael McDowell) last weekend, 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace, now in the 16th and final NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs transfer spot on points, finds himself with a 28-point cushion on Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suárez in 17th, the first spot outside the Playoffs. With just two races to go in the 2023 regular season, tensions are running high as both drivers will be vying for the final postseason position this weekend at Watkins Glen International.
23XI Racing’s driver Bubba Wallace is looking to earn a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs for the first time in his career. In 24 starts this season, he has put up four top fives and six top 10s. His average finish on the year in 17.2. But Wallace will have his work cut out for him this weekend, as Watkins Glen is one of his more challenging tracks on the schedule. In four starts at the 2.45-mile road course, he has put up a best finish of 23rd, and an average finish of 27.8. He finished 35th in this event last season due to a suspension issue. If Wallace can hold-on to his position through this weekend at Watkins Glen, his chances of earning his first appearance in the postseason would increase as the regular season finale is at one of his best tracks – Daytona International Speedway.
Sitting directly in Wallace’s review mirror is Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suárez in the 17th position in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings outlook, 28 points behind Wallace in 16th. Suárez is hoping to catch Wallace in these next two races and secure his spot in the postseason. Suárez earned his first Playoff berth of his career last season and will want nothing more than to go back to the Playoffs.
“We just need to keep doing what we are doing,” said Daniel Suárez. “That’s qualify well and earn stage points and get a good finish. There is still a lot of racing left and we know we can do this. If we have as good a car at Watkins Glen as we had at Indianapolis, we know we can win there. That’s true about Daytona as well.”
In contrast to Wallace, Suárez has excelled at Watkins Glen International making five career starts at 2.45-mile course posting three top-five finishes and an average finish of 12.0 – ninth best among active drivers. He finished fifth in last season’s Watkins Glen Cup race.
Former Cup champion Chase Elliott’s Playoff streak in jeopardy
The five-time NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver (2018-2022) and 2020 series champion, Chase Elliott, heads into the final two races of the regular season ranked 19th in the Playoff standings outlook, 80 points back from Bubba Wallace in the 16th and final transfer spot on points. Though it is mathematically possible for him to earn his way into the Playoff on points, Elliott would need a considerable amount of help to do it, and most likely the Georgia native will need a win to get in. Elliott’s streak of making the Playoffs the last seven consecutive seasons, dating back to his rookie year, is in jeopardy.
Elliott’s had a season unlike any in his career. This year he has missed races due to injury and suspension, but through it all has still managed to give himself a shot at the postseason with two races to go. He came close to winning last weekend when he finished runner-up to Michael McDowell at Indianapolis.
“Just needed just a little bit more and came up a bit short,” said Elliott. “But congrats to Michael (McDowell), man. He did a good job. Ran a great race and stayed mistake free, and that’s what you’ve got to do to win.”
This season Elliott has made 17 starts putting up six top fives and nine top 10s. Watch for Elliott to challenge for the win again this weekend at Watkins Glen International. Elliott has taken to the New York road course quite nicely, having made six starts at 2.45-mile course posting two poles, two wins (2018, 2019) and four top fives. Plus, he leads all active drivers in average finish at Watkins Glen with a 5.667.
Road Course Aces: NASCAR’s best at road racing
The NASCAR Cup Series drivers will be challenged by the twists and turns of multi-elevational road course at Watkins Glen this weekend in the Go Bowling at The Glen race on Sunday, August 20 at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Several drivers are still looking for their first win this season, including Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott who leads all active drivers in road course wins with seven victories. Elliott is already considered one of the early favorites for this weekend but keep an eye on the two most recent winners on road courses in the series, Martin Truex Jr. (Sonoma) and Michael McDowell (Indianapolis), as both will most certainly be in the mix as well.
This weekend there are 14 former series road course winners entered in this Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International.
| Active Road Course Winners (14) | Total Wins | Sonoma | WGI | Charlotte | Daytona | Indy | COTA | Road America |
| Chase Elliott | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Martin Truex Jr | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kyle Busch | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kyle Larson | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyler Reddick | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kevin Harvick | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AJ Allmendinger | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Christopher Bell | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joey Logano | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ryan Blaney | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Denny Hamlin | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daniel Suárez | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ross Chastain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Michael McDowell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The NASCAR Cup Series has competed on four road courses this season so far, with 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick winning at Austin (COTA), Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. winning at Sonoma, New Zealand native and Trackhouse Racing driver Shane van Gisbergen winning at Chicago (street race), and Michael McDowell winning last weekend at the Indianapolis Road Course.
If Chase Elliott were to win this weekend, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart (eight road course wins) for second on the NASCAR Cup Series all-time road course wins list, behind only NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon with a record nine road course victories in the series.
JGR rookie Ty Gibbs is looking for a win and a Playoff berth at Watkins Glen
Joe Gibbs Racing’s rookie Ty Gibbs has been having a strong first year and with two races remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion still has a chance at earning a spot in the 2023 Cup Series Playoffs.
This season, Gibbs is still looking for his first NASCAR Cup Series career victory but has managed to put up one top five and six top 10s in his 24 starts. Heading into this weekend at Watkins Glen, Gibbs is ranked 18th in the Playoff standings outlook, 49 points back from Bubba Wallace in the 16th and final transfer spot on points. If Gibbs were to make the postseason this year, he would be just the sixth rookie in series history to accomplish the feat; joining Denny Hamlin (2006), Chase Elliott (2016), Chris Buescher (2016), Cole Custer (2020) and Austin Cindric (2022).
Four NASCAR Cup Series drivers all-time have posted their first series career win at Watkins Glen International, and this weekend, Gibbs a skilled road racer in his own right, is looking to become the fifth.
| First-Time Winners at WGI | Starting Pos. | Crew Chief | Date |
| Steve Park | 18 | Paul Andrews | Sunday, August 13, 2000 |
| Marcos Ambrose | 3 | Todd Parrott | Monday, August 15, 2011 |
| AJ Allmendinger | 6 | Brian Burns | Sunday, August 10, 2014 |
| Chase Elliott | 3 | Alan Gustafson | Sunday, August 5, 2018 |
A total of eight drivers that visited Victory Lane in the NASCAR Cup Series last season are still looking for their first win of 2023 – Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon, Bubba Wallace, Chase Briscoe and Erik Jones. Elliott led the series in total wins last season with five.
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