TC Daily Pit Stop: Hendrick Carrying Dominance into Watkins Glen; Bell Looking for Another Road Course Win; Potential Playoff Spoilers

TC Daily Pit Stop: Thursday, September 12, 2024

Sep 12, 2024

The NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series are fueling up for a trip to Watkins Glen International, the second-to-last trip to a road course on both schedules in 2024. This weekend features the anticipated debut of Connor Zilisch, as well as the second race of the Round of 16.

Hendrick Motorsports Carrying Dominant Streak into Watkins Glen

Hendrick Motorsports, a juggernaut in the NASCAR Cup Series, has won each of the last time fives that the series has visited Watkins Glen International, dating back to 2018 (the series didn’t visit the track in 2020 because of the pandemic).

Chase Elliott scored a pair of wins in 2018 and 2019, while Kyle Larson went back-to-back in 2021 and 2022. So, is it destiny that William Byron will win this season, after winning the 2023 edition of the race.

Those drivers have a teammate in Alex Bowman that has scored the most points on road courses in the NASCAR Cup Series this season, could he score the victory and advance into the Round of 16?

Here’s some reasons to believe each Hendrick driver could win, but also some other contenders.

Christopher Bell Poised to Contend for Win at Watkins Glen

Who would have thought a kid, who cut his teeth racing on dirt in Oklahoma, would become one of the best road racers in the NASCAR Cup Series? As Christopher Bell heads into Sunday's Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International, there's no denying that the Joe Gibbs Racing driver has shown a penchant for getting it done on tracks where it's a requirement to turn right as well as left.

Bell surprised just about everyone in 2021 as he scored his first-career NASCAR Cup Series win on the Daytona International Speedway road course layout, just one of two NASCAR Cup Series races contested on the iconic road course, which hosts the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona each year.

A year later, Bell used a late-race restart to steal a clutch win at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL to advance to the Round of 8 of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. After another win a few weeks later at Martinsville Speedway, Bell found himself inside the Championship 4 for the first time in 2022.

Can he do it again? You better believe it.

MORE NASCAR HEADLINES:

Spoiler Alert: Five Non-Playoff Drivers Who Could Steal the Show at Watkins Glen: We’re back road course racing, taking on Watkins Glen International. Even though there’s some capable road racers in the Round of 16 for the NASCAR Playoffs, there are even more outside that will compete in Sunday’s event. Can one of them play spoiler to the post-season?
Todd Gilliland, Front Row to Run Boozy ‘Booze-Infused’ Jerky Car at The Glen: If you’ve ever needed a drink while scarfing down some beef jerky, then Todd Gilliland and Front Row Motorsports have the perfect snack for you, with booze-infused Beef Jerky courtesy of Boozy Jerky, which will sponsor the No. 38 Ford Mustang at Watkins Glen.
Remember When: Watkins Glen Had One of the Craziest NASCAR Finishes: It’s one of the wildest finishes of all time, with Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Marcos Ambrose all hunting each other for the race-lead, and coming together in an incredible way on the final lap of the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series event at Watkins Glen International. Relive one of the best finishes in NASCAR’s road racing history.

NASCAR TRIVIA:

NEED SOME HINTS?

This driver has only scored nine points in three road course events.
This driver inherited a ride from another driver who struggled on road courses in the NextGen car.
This driver has already confirmed his 2025 plans.
Win No. 101 won’t come on a road course, that’s for sure.

Did you get yesterday’s question correct? Let’s check! Question: Which driver has scored the most points on drafting tracks during the 2024 NASCAR Cup season.

CORRECT, AND TOP ANSWER: 40% of readers got this question right! Austin Cindric, who finished 10th in Sunday’s Quaker State 400, has earned an incredible 181 points in five drafting track races in 2024, 12 points ahead of teammate and defending champion Ryan Blaney.

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