Race 22 - Watkins Glen International - *** @ the GLEN
http://www.nascar.com/races/tracks/wgi/
It's always been 'right'
Despite being known for oval racing, NASCAR has always had road-courses.
From the Beach and Road Course in Daytona to Wine Country in California to an airport in New York, road courses have played an integral part in the 61-year history of the sport.
Of the road courses to host a Cup race, which one is your favorite?
* Daytona Beach
* Infineon / Sonoma
* Riverside
* Watkins Glen
![](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/nascar/2009/images/08/05/cup.wat.fedex.preview.145x93.jpg)
Preview Show: Final time on the 'road'
Marc Fein and Mike Bell on what it will take to win Sunday at Watkins Glen.
Around the Track
![](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/nascar/2009/images/08/05/community.145.jpg)
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Track facts for Watkins Glen International:
http://racing-reference.info/factshe...ts_2009-22.htm
Number of previous races: 26.
First Cup race: August 4, 1957, won by
Buck Baker.
Last Cup race: August 10, 2008, won by
Kyle Busch.
Won from pole: 9, last time by
Kyle Busch in 2008 (qualifying was rained out).
Worst starting spot for race winner: 18th, by Steve Park in 2000.
Most laps led: 83, by
Tony Stewart in 2005.
Fewest laps led by a race winner: 4, by Ricky Rudd in 1988.
Track records:
- Fastest race: 103.030 mph by
Mark Martin in 1995.
- Fastest qualifying speed: 124.580 mph by
Jeff Gordon in 2003.
- Most lead changes: 14 in 1991 and 2006.
- Closest finish: Jeff Gordon's .172 second margin over Jeff Burton in 2001.
- Most caution flags: 10 in 2006.
- There have been two caution-free races at this track (1957 and 1965).
* From 2001-2008 a typical Watkins Glen race had:
10.8 lead changes, 6.5 cautions for 15.1 laps, and an average green-flag run of 10.0 laps.
* Sprint Cup qualifying has been rained out at Watkins Glen in 4 of the past 5 years.
Manufacturers / Owners:
Victories by manufacturer:
Chevrolet 14, Ford 5, Pontiac 4, Buick 1, Mercury 1, Toyota 1.
Victories by owner:
Rick Hendrick 6, Joe Gibbs 5, Jack Roush 3, Raymond Beadle 2, Richard Childress 2, all others 8.
Best average finish among active drivers at Watkins Glen (3+ starts):
#14 Tony Stewart (5.7)
#11 Denny Hamlin (6.7)
#5 Mark Martin (6.9)
#99 Carl Edwards (10.2)
#7 Robby Gordon (10.6)
#29 Kevin Harvick (11.2)
#18 Kyle Busch (12.5)
#1 Martin Truex, Jr. (13.0)
Worst average finish among active drivers at Watkins Glen (3+ starts):
#16 Greg Biffle (28.7)
#43 Reed Sorenson (23.7)
#83 Brian Vickers (22.6)
Chase drivers at Watkins Glen:
http://racing-reference.info/factshe...ts_2009-22.htm
Trends:
Sleepers:
Other drivers who have performed better lately, but who aren't currently in a position to make the Chase include:
#20 Joey Logano (12th in points over the last 6 races) and
#47 Marcos Ambrose (14th).