Kaulig Racing faced multiple challenges but secured a top-10 finish in the Mission 200 race at Watkins Glen International. The Kaulig Racing Mission 200 race recap highlights battles with practice incidents, tire failures, and late-race strategy, with Christian Eckes, Daniel Dye, and Michael McDowell each experiencing dramatic events on the track.
Christian Eckes Fights from the Back for Eighth Place
Christian Eckes, driving the No. 16 Celsius Chevrolet, started from 36th place after an incident during practice prevented him from setting a qualifying lap. Moving up a dozen places early, Eckes reported issues with the right front tire and pitted on lap 17 for fresh tires and fuel. He finished Stage 1 in 35th, but as other competitors pitted, Eckes advanced to 13th for the start of Stage 2. Minor fender damage did not deter him, and tire conservation allowed him to close Stage 2 in 15th position.
For the final segment, Eckes remained on track at the stage break, lining up tenth for the restart. Early into this stage, a failing left-front tire forced an unscheduled stop. Fortunately, a caution on lap 51 put him back on terms with the field, and crew chief Alex Yontz called for the final set of tires. Restarting 24th, Eckes worked his way up as the cautions and chaos unfolded in the closing laps. He was running sixth with eight laps to go but was pushed off course during a tense three-wide battle on the restart. Recovering from the contact, Eckes crossed the line in eighth place, marking his tenth top-10 of the season.
“Very long day, but proud of the effort from our No. 16 team. Unfortunately our Celsius Chevrolet was never the same after getting wrecked in practice, and we had to fight hard to maintain pace. Between that and having a left front tire go down early in stage 3, I’ll take an eighth-place finish to end the day.”
—Christian Eckes, No. 16 Driver
Daniel Dye Navigates Tire Troubles to Secure 17th
Daniel Dye, aboard the No. 10 Race to Stop Suicide Chevrolet, rolled off 21st and kept his place early, pitting on lap 17. He completed Stage 1 in 34th while other drivers made strategy stops. For Stage 2, Dye lined up 11th but suffered a right-front tire issue that eventually led to a flat. Needing a pit stop after pit road had closed cost Dye a lap and eliminated his chance for the free pass.
Entering Stage 3 from 32nd, one lap down, Dye soon found himself eligible for the free pass when a caution flew on lap 51, allowing for a strategic fuel-only stop by crew chief Kevin Walter. Restarting 29th, Dye benefited from a caution to finally bolt on his last new tires. He then endured another right-front flat in the closing laps, but skillfully avoided accidents and worked his way up to 17th at the finish.
“It was a long day for this No. 10 team. After two flat right fronts, we ultimately ended up 17th, thanks to some carnage. We’ll use this next weekend off to get ready to go back to my home track.”
—Daniel Dye, No. 10 Driver
Strong Mid-Race Effort Ends in Disappointment for Michael McDowell
Michael McDowell suited up in the No. 11 Different Night Same Rodeo Chevrolet and began 11th on the grid. Early feedback from McDowell indicated a loose condition on right turns. The team under crew chief Eddie Pardue opted for an early pit strategy, taking four tires and fuel, resulting in a 28th-place finish for Stage 1. The strategy paid off briefly as McDowell cycled into eighth for the second stage and ran solidly within the top 10, wrapping up Stage 2 in sixth.
Continuing that momentum, the No. 11 remained on track at the stage break, taking the green from fifth place for the final portion. Although McDowell remained in the top five, he headed to pit road with 29 laps left, just before a caution flag came out. Quick work put him back in fourth on new tires and fuel, setting him up on the front row for a restart with 11 laps to go. He jumped to the lead in turn one, then lost the spot but settled into second. However, a late multi-car crash involved the No. 11, dropping McDowell to 25th by the finish.
“I felt like I had two good restarts and was able to take the lead without roughing up the No. 21 there, but it felt like he just kept trying to move me in the carousel. I hate it for everyone at Kaulig Racing; we were trying to get a trophy and had a couple shots at it. Bailey Zimmerman was at the track hanging out, so we wanted to get him to victory lane. It’s unfortunate, but that’s racing. I’m thankful for everyone at Kaulig Racing for letting me do this. It took me a little while, but then I got into a rhythm. I felt like I was executing on my end, but it just didn’t work out.”
—Michael McDowell, No. 11 Driver
Late-Race Chaos Shapes Final Results at Watkins Glen
The Mission 200 featured plenty of dramatic moments, particularly in the final laps where cautions and strategy calls determined the outcome. Multiple flat tires and unscheduled pit stops influenced team approaches, and drivers like Eckes and Dye took advantage of timely cautions to regain lost ground. Meanwhile, McDowell’s strong showing ended abruptly in the aftermath of a late-race crash, underlining the unpredictable nature of road course racing at Watkins Glen International.
Looking Ahead for Kaulig Racing
While Kaulig Racing endured a testing day with setbacks for each entry, the team demonstrated determination and strategic thinking, achieving a top-10 finish with Christian Eckes and resilient recoveries from both Daniel Dye and Michael McDowell. The events at Watkins Glen will shape the team’s preparation going into the next event, as they look to translate hard lessons and persistence into future results at the track and beyond.
