NASCAR Cup Series

Following a day of rain yesterday here at Watkins Glen International, the drivers of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series were given the opportunity to test their equipment early this morning in a 1.5 hour final practice session. With the sun still hidden behind the clouds and a cool breeze aiding the cause, the speeds were at a blistering pace around the 2.45-mile course this morning.

JAMIE MCMURRAY, NO. 1 MCDONALDS CHEVROLET – QUALIFIED 10th ON HIS LAP: “It was okay. I haven’t had the speed that I really need this weekend. Juan (Pablo Montoya) was really good right before practice was over. We actually put a lot of their stuff in. We tightened the car up a lot but it seemed freer or looser there. The bottom of the esses was really wild for me."

2nd, KYLE BUSCH 35th, LANDON CASSILL 8th, CLINT BOWYER 36th, JOE NEMECHEK 9th, MARTIN TRUEX JR. 40th, CHRIS COOK 14th, JOEY LOGANO 41st, JASON LEFFLER 23rd, DENNY HAMLIN 42nd, TRAVIS KVAPIL 26th, BOBBY LABONTE 43rd, PATRICK LONG 33rd, BRIAN VICKERS

Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger R/T) Qualified Fourth TALK ABOUT YOUR QUALIFYING LAP? “A really solid lap for the Miller Lite Dodge team. We haven’t qualified well this year but today was a great effort. Track position is key on road courses especially at a fast place like The Glen. I’m a little disappointed that we didn’t get the pole. I’m positive I could have squeezed another tenth out of it for sure. We’ll take it. We can see the front and will have a good pit selection. Our car is fast.”

MATT KENSETH – No. 17 Ford EcoBoost Ford Fusion – “It wasn’t very good. We’ve just been off from our teammates quite a bit and just kind of missed the balance there. We were really loose and couldn’t get any more speed out of it than that.”

Each race weekend, SRT Motorsports provides insight on the ‘Keys for Success’ for the upcoming race. This week’s focus is on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race – Finger Lakes 355 – at Watkins Glen International.

How did you become a spotter? "Well, I used to drive late models and modified’s in the NASCAR touring division. I first drove to Charlotte in 1996. I became a General Manager since I have a good business background and we needed a spotter one day for the Cup race with Bill Elliott when I was a general manager there so I just started doing it and I’ve been doing it ever since 12-13 years ago."

This week we travel back to the place that was the start of my NASCAR days. It's a track near and dear to my heart, and will no matter where life takes me, it will always have a special place in my heart as my 'Hometown Track'. Watkins Glen International may not be the most famous stock car track in the world, but it produces some of the best beating and banging NASCAR has to offer.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to New York state to take on the annual challenge that comes with road course racing at the massive Watkins Glen International Raceway. Sunday's Finger Lakes 355 is expected to be a daunting challenge as most road course racing often is. It won't take very long to determine which drivers has road course experience and which drivers needs some.

Marcos Ambrose, driver of the No. 9 Stanley/DeWalt Ford Fusion, is the defending winner of the Finger Lakes 355 at The Glen. He spoke to reporters earlier this afternoon.