GFT Facts & Stats Friday: NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International
13 September 2024
By Bob Francis, Managing Editor
Go Full Throttle Racing News
WATKINS GLEN, NY — After the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff opener at Atlanta Motor Speedway last week that has shuffled the standings considerably, the competitors now turn their attention to an updated Watkins Glen International for the Go Bowling at The Glen on Sunday, September 15, at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio — the first of two road courses in the 2024 postseason (Watkins Glen and Charlotte ROVAL).
Goodyear will be supplying a new tire that was tested recently, that should provide more fall-off than the previous tire. Because of the latest updates, NASCAR has announced an extended practice this weekend, with the NASCAR Cup Series taking to the track on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. The competitors will be broken up into two groups for this practice session and each group will get two 20-minute rounds to practice. Busch Light Pole Qualifying will immediately follow practice at 1 p.m. ET, both events will be broadcast on the NBC Sports App, USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen
The Place: Watkins Glen International
Sunday, September 15, 3 p.m. ET
The Purse: $7,572,831
TV: USA, 2:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 220.5 miles (90 Laps)
— Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 20)
— Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 40)
— Final Stage (Ends on Lap 90)
Watkins Glen International Stats & Tidbits
RACE/EVENT & TRACK DATA
Season Race #: 28 of 36 (09–15–24)
Playoff Race #: 2 of 10
Track Size: 2.45 Mile
Track Type: Asphalt Multi-Elevational Road Course
Number of Turns: 7
QUALIFYING & RACE RECORDS
Track Qualifying Record: Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 129.491 mph, (68.113 secs.), August 9, 2014 (Set in Round 1 of 3)
Track Race Record: William Byron, Chevrolet, 111.426 mph, (01:58:44), August 20, 2023
2023 Pole Winner: Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 125.298 mph, (70.392 secs.), August 19, 2023
2023 Race Winner: William Byron, Chevrolet, 111.426 mph, (01:58:44), August 20, 2023
GFT AI Driver Rankings after Atlanta
NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Fast Facts: Race #2 (Watkins Glen International)
· The 2024 season marks the first-time the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ second race has been hosted by Watkins Glen International and this is the first-time Watkins Glen has hosted a Playoff race.
· Watkins Glen International is the second road course to host a Playoff race in the NASCAR Cup Series, joining the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL (2018–2024).
· Watkins Glen International is the fifth different track in NASCAR Cup Series to host the second race of the Playoffs; joining Dover Motor Speedway (2004–2010), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2011–2017), Richmond Raceway (2018–2021) and Kansas Speedway (2022–2023).
· A total of 15 different drivers have won the second race of the Playoffs, led by Jimmie Johnson with three wins (2005, 2009, 2010); followed by Kyle Busch (2017, 2018), Matt Kenseth (2013, 2015) and Martin Truex Jr. (2019, 2021) with two victories each.
· 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick is the most recent winner of the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, taking the win last season at Kansas Speedway (9/10/23).
DRIVER RANKINGS for the 16 Playoff Drivers at Watkins Glen
WATKINS GLEN-PLAYOFF DRIVER SPECIFIC STATISTICS (2005-Present)
1 — Ryan Blaney (№12 Team Penske Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.5
2024 Rundown
· Two wins, eight top fives, 12 top 10s, one pole
· Led 463 laps
· Average Finish of 15.3
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· One top five, three top 10s
· Average Finish of 13.000, ninth-best
· Average Running Position of 14.668, 13th-best
· Driver Rating of 81.3, 13th-best
· 374 Laps in the Top 15 (59.4%), 13th-most
2 — Christopher Bell (№20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.1
2024 Rundown
· Three wins, 10 top fives, 16 top 10s, one pole
· Led 721 laps
· Average Finish of 14.6
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· One top five, three top 10s
· Average Finish of 6.000, series-best
· Average Running Position of 9.581, series-best
· Driver Rating of 101.0, fourth-best
· 222 Laps in the Top 15 (82.2%), second-most
3 — Tyler Reddick (№45 23XI Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.5
2024 Rundown
· Two wins, 11 top fives, 19 top 10s, two poles
· Led 473 laps
· Average Finish of 11
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· Three top 10s
· Average Finish of 8.333, second-best
· Average Running Position of 12.730, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 89.5, 12th-best
· 187 Laps in the Top 15 (69.3%), eighth-most
4 — William Byron (№24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.7
2024 Rundown
· Three wins, eight top fives, 14 top 10s, one pole
· Led 261 laps
· Average Finish of 14.4
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· One win, one top five, three top 10s
· Average Finish of 11.600, seventh-best
· Average Running Position of 12.109, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 93.4, eighth-best
· 313 Laps in the Top 15 (69.6%), seventh-most
5 — Joey Logano (№22 Team Penske Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 83.5
2024 Rundown
· Two wins, five top fives, nine top 10s, three poles
· Led 273 laps
· Average Finish of 17.7
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
· Average Finish of 15.786, 17th-best
· Average Running Position of 17.240, 18th-best
· Driver Rating of 79.7, 17th-best
· 681 Laps in the Top 15 (54.0%), 15th-most
6 — Alex Bowman (№48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 78.3
2024 Rundown
· One win, seven top fives, 13 top 10s
· Led 19 laps
· Average Finish of 15.0
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· Three top 15s
· Average Finish of 21.429, 22nd-best
· Average Running Position of 21.905, 23rd-best
· Driver Rating of 58.7, 27th-best
· 176 Laps in the Top 15 (27.9%), 25th-most
7 — Austin Cindric (№2 Team Penske Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 66.3
2024 Rundown
· One win, two top fives, four top 10s
· Led 227 laps
· Average Finish of 20.2
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· One top 15
· Average Finish of 14.500, 14th-best
· Average Running Position of 17.800, 19th-best
· Driver Rating of 68.6, 20th-best
· 70 Laps in the Top 15 (38.9%), 19th-most
8 — Chase Elliott (№9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.1
2024 Rundown
· One win, seven top fives, 13 top 10s
· Led 213 laps
· Average Finish of 11.5
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· Two wins, four top fives, four top 10s, two poles
· Average Finish of 9.429, fourth-best
· Average Running Position of 9.862, second-best
· Driver Rating of 112.0, series-best
· 469 Laps in the Top 15 (74.4%), fourth-most
9 — Daniel Suárez (№99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 65.2
2024 Rundown
· One win, three top fives, seven top 10s
· Led 152 laps
· Average Finish of 17.7
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· Three top fives, three top 10s
· Average finish of 13.667, 11th-best
· Average Running Position of 16.595, 17th-best
· Driver Rating of 80.3, 15th-best
· 241 Laps in the Top 15 (44.6%), 18th-most
10 — Kyle Larson (№5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.9
2024 Rundown
· Four wins, 10 top fives, 13 top 10s, five poles
· Led 1089 laps
· Average Finish of 14.5
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· Two wins, three top fives, five top 10s,
· Average Finish of 12.222, eighth-best
· Average Running Position of 11.330, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 95.8, seventh-best
· 579 Laps in the Top 15 (71.5%), sixth-most
11 — Denny Hamlin (№11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.0
2024 Rundown
· Three wins, nine top fives, 12 top 10s, four poles
· Led 917 laps
· Average Finish of 15.3
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· One win, six top fives, nine top 10s, two poles
· Average Finish of 15.000, 15th-best
· Average Running Position of 13.429, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 90.8, ninth-best
· 1,001 Laps in the Top 15 (65.3%), 11th-most
12 — Ty Gibbs (№54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.5
2024 Rundown
· Seven top fives, 11 top 10s, two poles
· Led 389 laps
· Average Finish of 14.8
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· One top five, one top 10
· Average Finish of 15.500, 16th-best
· Average Running Position of 16.256, 16th-best
· Driver Rating of 81.2, 14th-best
· 90 Laps in the Top 15 (50.0%), 16th-most
13 — Brad Keselowski (№6 RFK Racing Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 81.9
2024 Rundown
· One win, eight top fives, 12 top 10s
· Led 134 laps
· Average Finish of 14.3
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· Four top fives, six top 10s
· Average Finish of 13.923, 12th-best
· Average Running Position of 13.862, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 90.1, 10th-best
· 744 Laps in the Top 15 (63.5%), 12th-most
14 — Harrison Burton (№21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 47.4
2024 Rundown
· One win, one top five, two top 10s
· Led 13 laps
· Average Finish of 25.9
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· Best Finish of 28th
· Average Finish of 30.500, 35th-best
· Average Running Position of 31.922, 39th-best
· Driver Rating of 31.7, 39th-best
· 0 Laps in the Top 15 (0.0%), 39th-most
15 — Martin Truex Jr. (№19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.3
2024 Rundown
· Four top fives, nine top 10s
· Led 489 laps
· Average Finish of 17.7
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· One win, seven top fives, 11 top 10s
· Average Finish of 10.647, fifth-best
· Average Running Position of 10.838, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 98.7, fifth-best
· 1,106 Laps in the Top 15 (72.2%), fifth-most
16 — Chase Briscoe (№14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 69.7
2024 Rundown
· One win, three top fives, seven top 10s
· Led 43 laps
· Average Finish of 18.2
Watkins Glen International Outlook:
· One top 10
· Average Finish of 23.000, 24th-best
· Average Running Position of 21.330, 21st-best
· Driver Rating of 61.1, 24th-best
· 105 Laps in the Top 15 (38.9%), 20th-most
Playoffs Clinch Scenarios: Watkins Glen International
Below is a breakdown of the drivers that can clinch their spot in the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs this weekend at Watkins Glen International:
Already Clinched
The following driver has clinched a spot in the 12-driver field of the next round: Joey Logano.
Can Clinch Via Points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 11th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, William Byron, Alex Bowman, Austin Cindric, Chase Elliott, Daniel Suarez, Kyle Larson or Denny Hamlin.
- Ryan Blaney: Could only clinch with help
- Christopher Bell: Could only clinch with help
- Tyler Reddick: Could only clinch with help
- William Byron: Could only clinch with help
- Alex Bowman: Could only clinch with help
- Austin Cindric: Could only clinch with help
- Chase Elliott: Could only clinch with help
- Daniel Suarez: Could only clinch with help
- Kyle Larson: Could only clinch with help
- Denny Hamlin: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Ty Gibbs or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being 56 points above the 10th winless driver in the standings.
- Ryan Blaney: Could only clinch with help
- Christopher Bell: Could only clinch with help
- Tyler Reddick: Could only clinch with help
- William Byron: Could only clinch with help
- Alex Bowman: Could only clinch with help
- Austin Cindric: Could only clinch with help
- Chase Elliott: Could only clinch with help
- Daniel Suarez: Could only clinch with help
- Kyle Larson: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
- Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, William Byron, Alex Bowman, Austin Cindric, Chase Elliott, Daniel Suarez, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, Brad Keselowski, Harrison Burton, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Briscoe
Team Penske’s Joey Logano first to move on to the Round of 12
The entire Team Penske organization showed up to Atlanta ready for business, and the results are proof of the effort — all three Team Penske drivers led laps and finished in the top-10, including Joey Logano taking the first win of the Playoffs and earning himself a spot in the Round of 12.
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, Joey Logano, is now the first and only driver to earn a spot in the Round of 12 following the Playoff opener at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Surprisingly, this is the first-time in his 11 postseason appearances he has won the first race of the Playoffs. Also, interestingly, Logano was eliminated in the Round of 16 in 2023, becoming the first defending Cup Series Champion to be eliminated in the first round of the Playoffs.
Maybe it’s the year that matters. It seems even year seasons are the one’s Logano’s tends to perform at a higher-level in the postseason, since the introduction of the ‘elimination style’ Playoffs in 2014 (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022) Logano has earned a spot in the Championship 4 Round.
Looking to Watkins Glen on Sunday, Logano has made 14 series starts putting up one win (2015), four top fives and seven top 10s. He finished 10th at Watkins Glen last season.
Comers & Goers: Playoff standings shuffle after Week 1 of the postseason
The NASCAR Cup Series driver standings have been shaken-up following the Playoff opener at Atlanta Motor Speedway with some competitors making positive moves and some looking to rebound after Week 1.
Positive Standings Movers:
Five postseason competitors moved up three spots or more in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff outlook following Atlanta — Race winner Joey Logano (+8 positions, 1st), Ryan Blaney (+3 positions, 2nd), Alex Bowman (+6 positions, 6th), Austin Cindric (+3 positions, 7th) and Ty Gibbs (+3 positions, 12th).
Ryan Blaney is currently ranked second in the Playoff outlook, up 45 points on Round of 12 cutoff. The biggest point leads over the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 cutline after the first race of the Playoffs to miss advancing was 26 points by Kurt Busch in 2021, and the second-most was 23 points by Tyler Reddick in 2022. Blaney has advanced to the Round of 12 in six of his previous seven Playoff appearances, the lone exception was 2020 when he was eliminated in the Round of 16.
Also, it was a good points day at Atlanta for four drivers who gained 20 or more points on the Round of 12 cutline — Ryan Blaney (+32), Alex Bowman (+27), Austin Cindric (+25) and Daniel Suarez (+21).
Looking To Rebound In The Standings
With several drivers moving up the Playoff outlook, in return some have to move down four drivers lost three or more spots in the Playoff outlook following Atlanta — №1 seed entering the Playoffs Kyle Larson (-9 positions, 10th), Denny Hamlin (-5 positions, 11th), Brad Keselowski (-5 positions, 13th) and Chase Briscoe (-3 positions, 16th).
Two driver lost more than 20 points on the Round of 12 cutline after Atlanta — Kyle Larson (-20 points) and Chase Briscoe (-21 points). Both drivers were caught in an early incident at Atlanta and finished 37th and 38th, respectively.
GFT NASCAR BOX SCORES
After 27 Races …
Manufactures Box Score:
Chevrolet = 11
Toyota = 8
Ford = 8
Team Box Score:
Hendrick Motorsports = 9
Driver Box Score:
Kyle Larson = 4 wins
GFT AI NASCAR Fantasy LIVE — back in the top 15%
Our AI models scored 190 points at Atlanta, with the GFT AI models performing well, now beating 87% of all players in the TMD NASCAR League —improving in the top 15% of all players (13.6%).
Initial GFT NASCAR Fantasy Live Picks for Watkins Glen
**NOTE** Be sure to follow us on X (aka Twitter) to see the updated GFT NASCAR Fantasy Live picks AFTER our AI models ingest the Practice and Qualifying data. For a Sunday race, this usually happens overnight Saturday and is published Sunday morning at least 2 hours before the green flag.
