Thirty-eight cars are entered in Sunday’s Go Bowling at the Glen at Watkins Glen International, and everyone’s eyes will likely be on four cars in one powerhouse racing organization.
Hendrick Motorsports.
One of Rick Hendrick’s cars has visited Victory Lane in the NASCAR Cup Series’ past five visits to the winding, upstate New York track, an 11-turn layout that has drivers turning right and could be a giant obstacle as the second event in the 10-race NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
However, the Glen’s appearance in the sport’s postseason is a fleeting one.
When the 2025 schedule was unveiled, the 90-lap race slotted in on Aug. 10. That will put it two races before the regular season ends in Daytona with the playoffs beginning the following week at Darlington’s Southern 500.
With loads of success under their belts, the Hendrick drivers have had no problem making the necessary adjustments when the series visits the Finger Lakes region and the other serpentine configurations, too.
Alex Bowman and his No. 48 Chevrolet have had the least amount of good luck on NASCAR’s unique courses. The 31-year-old native of Tucson, Ariz., has just one win on them, but it was an important one on July 7 on the Chicago Street Course, which launched him into the playoffs.
In seven races at the Glen, Bowman has posted a personal best of three 14th-place finishes.
Yet, the remaining three Hendrick heavy hitters have combined for the past five wins at the historic track that has hosted multiple racing series.
Chase Elliott is the circuit’s top active road-course racer. Of his 19 career wins, the 2020 Cup Series champion has taken the checkers seven times on five different demanding layouts, including the Glen in 2018 and 2019.
Chasing down two of the best road racing drivers in NASCAR history, the 28-year-old son of 1988 Cup champ Bill Elliott is one win from tying Tony Stewart’s eight victories and two away from matching Jeff Gordon’s series-best nine.
Earning two of the past three wins at the Glen, Kyle Larson is a five-time winner on road courses. He could use a sixth as he sits only 15 points above the cut line for the Round of 12 after a wreck last Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway sent him home in 37th.
With another bad points day Sunday or at Bristol, Tenn., the following Saturday night, the 2021 champion could see a quick end to his quest for a second title.
“I think always that points are going to be on your mind a little bit, so I can’t deny that,” said Larson, “but I’m happy that we’re going to a style of track that we’re competitive at.
“But there’s still the unknown of the tire wear and the hype behind the fall-off, which I do believe there’s going to be a lot of fall-off.”
William Byron and his No. 24 Camaro won the last race in the Empire State, and the seventh-year driver said the first three unique events make the Round of 16 “probably the toughest.”
Tougher now with a heavy dose of the Glen’s clockwise curve and swerve thrown in for one playoff race.
–Field Level Media
