Kyle Busch took a chance at making history and suffering a chance at not making the Chase when he went for his fourth straight win and ran out of gas on the last lap. However, it doesn’t look like that strategy hurt his chances of making the Chase as he is now just thirteen points out of the top thirty with five more races to go. If he finishes the next five races on the track, he should make the Chase easily.
CHEEZ-IT 355 AT THE GLEN
Five races left until the start of the Chase and this week the series heads to Watkins Glen International, which will be the second and final road-course race of the season. This race could potentially find a new winner that wouldn’t make the Chase without finishing with the checkered flag. That also means that someone could win this race and take away another spot from those trying to get in on points.
Kyle Busch: The win streak might have been snapped at Pocono but, I believe it restarts right away this week at Watkins Glen. Kyle won the race at Sonoma earlier this season and has won twice at ‘The Glen’ during his career. Besides that he has finished in the top ten in eight of his ten starts at this track. It would be foolish not to have him on your team this week.
Tony Stewart: Tony leads all active drivers with five wins on this track and he know he needs a win to make the Chase. This team has run very well the past two races and Tony has the mentality to know how to win races here and he also knows he needs to win one of the next five races to make the Chase.
Jeff Gordon: Jeff trails Tony in wins by one. He has won four races at this track and even after his third place finish at Pocono last week he knows a win will give him a guaranteed spot in the Chase. He also knows he had a little good luck thrown his way when some of the drivers ahead of him ran out of gas and gave him the spot he got last weekend at Pocono. I guarantee you he will do whatever he can to get a win this week without knocking himself out of contention for the Chase.
Kevin Harvick: Kevin has won a race at this track and has seven top ten finishes in fourteen starts here. This team has nothing to learn here for the Chase and will do everything they can to win this race and improve their spot in the Chase. They see how well Kyle is running now and they know they will have to step up their game to repeat as champions.
Carl Edwards: Carl is still looking for his first career win at this track but, he has finished in the top five in half of his ten starts here. Joe Gibbs racing hasn run extremely well over the past two months with Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth winning races during that stretch and showing a lot of speed. Carl is already qualified for the Chase and I think this team will do nothing but go for the win this weekend.
Brad Keselowski: Brad has only run five races at this track and he has finished second three times. He is always a threat in these types of races and he has nothing to lose as he is already qualified for the Chase. I look for Brad and Kyle Busch to fight it out for the win once again this week if neither of them get into to trouble early in the race.
Jimmie Johnson: Jimmie is solidly in the Chase and I think this team has been doing a lot of experimenting over the past couple of months. I also think they learned not to wait too long to get back to doing what they do best like they did last season and I think they will come out looking to just win another race this weekend. The thing to remember is that teams that are already qualified for the Chase will take gambles on fuel mileage etc. to win another race right now.
Martin Truex Jr.: Martin is the last of the consistent drivers on this course. In nine career starts here, he has finished in the top ten five times. This team is already in the Chase but, they know they will need every point and advantage they can get to win a championship without another team in their stable. Martin will do what he can to pick up another win this weekend.
Kurt Busch: Kurt is another driver without a win but the mentality and equipment to make it to victory lane. Kurt has six top ten finishes in fourteen starts at this track and could have won multiple races here if not for mechanical issues or bad luck and timing on their pit stops. One of these times everything will fall into place for Kurt and that could be this weekend.
YAHOO! FANTASY NASCAR PICKS FOR WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL
Yahoo Driver Group A
- Kyle Busch
- Brad Keselowski
Yahoo Driver Group B
- Tony Stewart
- AJ Allmendinger
- Carl Edwards
- Kurt Busch
Yahoo Driver Group C
- Landon Cassill
- Boris Said
MY TOP-5 OVERALL AT WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL
- Kyle Busch
- Brad Keselowski
- Tony Stewart
- Jeff Gordon
- Kurt Busch
Dark Horse: AJ Allmendinger
Stay Away From: Dale Earnhardt Jr.