Marcos Ambrose is the name on everyone’s lips again this week because it’s road course racing on the NASCAR circuit.
Ambrose may have won Infineon in Sonoma, California earlier this year but turned his car off in an ill attempt to save fuel under caution.
In two starts at the track on the Sprint Cup side he has finishes of 3rd and 2nd. He’s also won the last two Nationwide Series events at the track.
No one has more wins at Watkins Glen then Tony Stewart with 5. Jeff Gordon is second with 4wins and oddly enough Mark Martin has 3 wins at the track. Of the three Stewart is likely the best bet as he’s got 7 top-5’s and 9 top-10’s in 11 starts. Martin has 10 top-5’s and 16 top-10’s while Gordon has 6 and 8 in 17 starts.
Kyle Busch is likely to be overlooked by many this weekend by the driver of the #18 Toyota Camry has one a race and finished in the top-10 four times in his 5 career starts.
Could it be back to back weeks for Ford? Carl Edwards has never won a road course event at the Sprint Cup level but did win the Nationwide event at Road America earlier this year. He’s finished 19, 5, 8, 9, and 3rd in his five starts at the Glen. He’s a prime candidate to steal one this week.
Is this the week Juan Pablo Montoya returns to victory lane? Montoya won’t silence anyone saying he can’t win on an oval should he win on Sunday but it is a win never the less. Montoya has been snake bitten in the previous two weeks at Indianapolis and Pocono. In three starts at Watkins Glen he’s finished 39, 4, 6 with a crash taking him out of the 2007 event. He’s led only two laps however.
If you are in fantasy leagues then you’ve probably heard about Boris Said and Robby Gordon. Said is driving the #83 Toyota in place of Reed Sorenson while Gordon skipped last weeks event at Pocono in order to practice at Road Atlanta in preparation for Watkins Glen. Gordon finished 2nd at Sonoma.
Of course Ron Fellows, Tony Ave and Andy Lally are also in this event but I didn’t bold any of their names for a reason.
Anyone like that Sam Hornish pick last week? Almost stole one with that. I suppose predicting Hornish to come home with a 11th place finish. Well don’t pick him this week. Despite being a former Indy car champion he’s never fared well on road courses. In two starts at the Glen he’s finished 32 and 36 with crashes and spins a plenty.
If you are looking for a hidden gem here is one in AJ Allmendinger.