NASCAR: Full qualifying order revealed for Watkins Glen race

As a die-hard NASCAR fan with decades of races under my belt, I can confidently say that this Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen is shaping up to be a thrilling playoff race! With the addition of multiple road course races on the playoff schedule, the competition has never been tougher.

1957 marked the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International. Over the years, it has played host to 40 such races in total. However, unlike any of those previous 40 events, the one taking place this Sunday afternoon is unique: it’s a playoff race.

The second event in the initial round of a four-round, ten-race playoff series is the Go Bowling at The Glen. This competition takes place over 90 laps on the well-known 8-turn, 2.454-mile (3.949-kilometer) hilly road course located in Watkins Glen, New York.

2024 marks the first time that more than one road race will be included in the playoff schedule. The Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, as expected, will remain in its typical position during the second round of the upcoming month.

Since this coming Sunday’s race is a road course event, it will employ the group qualifying method. The two groups have been divided based on the qualifying metric, a four-factor formula that I’ve gone into further detail about here.

In the playoff season, every group will have eight playoff participants since they’re not included in the selection process until all non-playoff drivers have been placed first.

The quickest five drivers from both groups will move on to a final race for determining the starting position, known as the “second round shootout”. Unlike previous rounds where group placement mattered, in this final round, only speed decides the order of the top 10 cars.

NASCAR at Watkins Glen: Full qualifying order

Group A

Juan Pablo Montoya (#50), 23XI Racing Toyota

Group B

AJ Allmendinger (#13 Kaulig Racing), John Hunter Nemechek (#42 Legacy Motor Club), Josh Berry (#4 Stewart-Haas Racing), Erik Jones (#43 Legacy Motor Club), Zane Smith (#71 Spire Motorsports), Ryan Preece (#41 Stewart-Haas Racing), Todd Gilliland (#38 Front Row Motorsports), Austin Dillon (#3 Richard Childress Racing), Daniel Hemric (#31 Kaulig Racing), Carson Hocevar (#77 Spire Motorsports), Kyle Busch (#8 Richard Childress Racing), Martin Truex Jr. (#19 Joe Gibbs Racing), Harrison Burton (#21 Wood Brothers Racing), Ty Gibbs (#54 Joe Gibbs Racing), Austin Cindric (#2 Team Penske), William Byron (#24 Hendrick Motorsports), Alex Bowman (#48 Hendrick Motorsports), Daniel Suarez (#99 Trackhouse Racing Team)

Tune in to USA Network at 3:00 p.m. ET this Sunday, September 15 for the live broadcast of the Go Bowling at The Glen from Watkins Glen International. Begin a free trial of FuboTV now and don’t miss it!

2024-09-13 16:02

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