Chase Elliott Crucial Race at Watkins Glen: Chase Elliott, who won the 2020 Cup Series, is expected to do well at Watkins Glen with his best chance to qualify for the NASCAR playoffs. Elliott has won two races on the 14-turn road course in upstate New York. He has seven NASCAR wins on tough and winding tracks, two more than any other racer.
Elliott will race with 35 others at Watkins Glen on Sunday. The 2.45-mile track contains many hills. This is the second-to-last race of the season. Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Martin Truex Jr., all title winners, are among the 13 drivers who qualified for the 16-driver field.
New Jersey native Truex may win the regular season if he scores 56 or more at the Glen. He leads Denny Hamlin by 60 points after last week’s Indianapolis race. “For us, it’s just like any other day at work, and all of these races really matter,” Truex added, showing concern.
Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski, both championship winners, own two of the three playoff berths. Bubba Wallace and Daniel Suárez must win or obtain help to stay in the game. Wallace leads Suàrez by 28 points. Suàrez’s strategy is simple: “We must continue. You must start accumulating points and finish strong to achieve well. There are still more races, and we think we can win.
Elliott must win to make the playoffs for the eighth year in a row. With two races left, either in New York or next week at Daytona International Speedway, where anything can happen, there is a lot of pressure. Elliott stated, “You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you absolutely have to win at Daytona, but that’s a chance…” I feel more confident going to Watkins Glen than Daytona because I have more control.
Because Elliott fractured his leg skiing, his season is ruined. He got in problems again for missing six races. Due to these losses, he sits 19th in points and 80 points behind playoff qualifying. However, this season, he finished in the top five in all three road events. His average finish in those races was his best, making him a formidable Glen competitor.
He gained confidence after winning his first Cup Series race on the Finger Lakes’ twisty course. “That will make it special forever,” Elliott said. That day was unforgettable since it was a career milestone and a team achievement. We suffered hard losses and almost failed together. Finally, overcoming that challenge was crucial.
Glen is the fifth of six road tracks in the 2023 Cup program. Up to now, Tyler Reddick won at Circuit of the Americas, Truex at Sonoma, Shane van Gisbergen at Chicago, and Michael McDowell at Indianapolis. Four races have been completed. Charlotte Motor Speedway will host the playoff second round in October.
NASCAR racing gets harder, and stakes rise as the season goes on. Many people are excited about Watkins Glen, but Chase Elliott will be watching to reclaim his top spot on the tricky circuits. The Glen race is a major event in a busy season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Who ran out of gas at Watkins Glen?
In a surprising turn of events, Chase Elliott’s car ran out of fuel with only 36 laps left in the Cup Series race at Watkins Glen. This unfortunate incident led to a disappointing 32nd-place finish for the driver. As a result, Elliott now finds himself in a must-win situation at Daytona if he hopes to qualify for the playoffs.
Why did f1 stop racing at Watkins Glen?
Unfortunately, financial difficulties plagued the track and the organizers were unable to provide the prize money for the 1980 race. As a result, Watkins Glen was removed from the calendar and has not made a comeback since.
When did NASCAR start racing at Watkins Glen?
Since 1986, Watkins Glen has been the annual host of the Cup Series, except for 2020 when the race was moved to Daytona International Speedway’s road course due to COVID. NASCAR’s top series also previously held races at Watkins Glen in 1957, 1964, and 1965.
Why did they sing the Canadian national anthem at NASCAR today?
As the race takes place in the USA, it’s only fitting that the US national anthem is played. However, in New York, it’s customary for sports events to also include the Canadian anthem. This is due to the large number of Canadian visitors who travel to New York for various events, including NASCAR and Ice Hockey. The Buffalo Sabers, in particular, have a significant Canadian fan base, which is a testament to the warm American hospitality.