NASCAR Cup Series

Money, it makes the world go round. So I’m told, anyway. While you and I might remain in perpetual financial darkness, the stock markets would seem to indicate that those on top of the heap are reeling it in.

Michael McDowell and Leavine Family Racing (LFR) are returning to Watkins Glen International, (WGI) a place McDowell will shoot for success at, fresh off their best finish at Pocono Raceway.

100 Wins for Toyota: When Kyle Busch scored his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) win of the season Sunday at Pocono Raceway it marked the 100th Cup Series victory for Toyota since joining the series in 2007. Busch was also the driver to give Toyota its first MENCS victory in March 2008 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and has registered 35 Cup wins behind the wheel of a Camry. Eleven total drivers have scored victories for Toyota, including Busch (35 wins), Denny Hamlin (27), Matt Kenseth (14), Martin Truex Jr. (eight), Carl Edwards (five), Clint Bowyer (three), Joey Logano (two), David Reutimann (two), Brian Vickers (two), Kasey Kahne (one) and Tony Stewart (one).  

Roush Fenway Racing returns to the asphalt jungle where dreams are made of, as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) prepares for the second road course race of the 2017 season at Watkins Glen International, just off the corner of 53rd and 3rd. A Roush Fenway Ford has visited victory lane six times at the historic road course.

If there’s anywhere experience is beneficial on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series circuit, it’s the road courses of Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen International, the latter being the next test for Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team.

Richard Childress Racing at "The Glen" ... In 68 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Watkins Glen International, RCR boasts two wins (Robby Gordon 2003 and Kevin Harvick 2006), eight top-five and 21 top-10 finishes. Dale Earnhardt won three poles (1990, '92, '96) at the high-speed, seven-turn, upstate New York facility.

There are five races remaining until the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs begin, making this weekend’s annual stop at Watkins Glen International even more important for those drivers needing a win to qualify.

“For whatever reason it took me a little while to figure out the braking and turning at Watkins Glen. It didn’t come to me as quickly as Sonoma did. Over the last couple of years I’ve improved at Watkins Glen, but I still have a little bit of work to do to get us to run up front.” Kasey Kahne on racing at Watkins Glen

Bayne makes his third career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENC) start at Watkins Glen International on Sunday afternoon. Bayne earned a best finish of ninth in this event in 2016.

Truex finished third at Pocono as Kyle Busch won from the pole. Truex leads the Monster Energy Cup points standings by 48 over Kyle Larson.