The NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers had a two-week break in action but now they are heading to upstate New York for the SUNOCO Go Rewards 200 at The Glen on Saturday, August 20 at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, NBC Sports App, MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR radio.
There have been 27 races at the seven-turn, 2.45-mile road course producing 16 different pole winners and 16 different race winners. Joey Logano holds the record for the youngest pole winner at 25 years, two months, 15 days in 2015. Last season, Ty Gibbs became the youngest race winner at 18 years, 10 months and three days old.
Only nine races have been won from the pole or first starting position, most recently by Joey Logano in 2018. He set the track’s qualifying record on August 6, 2016 with a speed of 124.552 mph. Logano also holds the record for most poles at the track with four and is tied with Terry Labonte for most top fives at seven.
Ty Gibbs is the only former winner entered in this weekend’s SUNOCO Go Rewards 200 at The Glen (2021). If Gibbs once again snags the win at the New York road course this weekend, he’ll become the fifth driver to post back-to-back victories at the track, joining Terry Labonte (1994, 1995, 1996), Ron Fellows (2000, 2001), Marcos Ambrose (2008, 2009, 2010) and Joey Logano (2015, 2016).
The Xfinity Series will kick off its weekend on Saturday, August 20 with practice at 10:05 a.m. ET followed by qualifying at 10:35 a.m. ET on Peacock and streamed on the NBC Sports App.
- Next Race: Sunoco Go Rewards 200 at The Glen
- The Place: Watkins Glen International
- The Date: Saturday, August 20
- The Time: 3 p.m. ET
- The Purse: $1,159,436
- TV: USA, 2:30 p.m. ET
- Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
- Distance: 200.9 miles (82 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 20),
- Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 40), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 82)
All eyes on Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger
Out of A.J. Allmendinger’s 13 NASCAR Xfinity Series wins, nine have been on a road course (69. 23%) so it was no surprise when fans saw the Xfinity Series all-time road course wins leader post a win at Indianapolis, leaving just one road course on the circuit left for him to conquer in the series, this weekend’s Watkins Glen International.
Allmendinger could very well add a Watkins Glen win to his resume this weekend, considering he’s had runner-up finishes in two out of his three starts at the track, but there are two drivers who might give him a run for his money – JR Motorsports teammates Justin Allgaier and Noah Gragson.
Allgaier has had a stellar 2022 season, already with three wins, 10 top fives and 15 top 10s. On top of that, he’s done well in three out of the four road courses this season and has an impressive history at Watkins Glen. In his 10 starts, he’s posted four top fives and seven top 10s.
Gragson only has two Watkins Glen starts under his belt with top-10 finishes in both races, but what makes him a threat is the success he’s had on all four road courses this season thus far. He’s posted one top five and four top 10s on road courses this season (COTA, Portland, Road America, Indianapolis).
Back in action with five to go
Time is winding down for drivers still vying for their spot in the Playoffs kicking off at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 24. With five races left in the regular season, things are sure to heat up as the NASCAR Xfinity Series prepares for Watkins Glen International, the fifth of six road course events on the 2022 schedule. Below is a look at the clinch scenarios heading into Watkins Glen:
Already Clinched
The following six drivers have clinched a spot in the 12-driver postseason field: AJ Allmendinger, Justin Allgaier, Ty Gibbs, Noah Gragson, Josh Berry and Austin Hill.
Can Clinch Via Previous Wins
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by a driver who has previous won:
- Brandon Jones: Would clinch regardless of finish
The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by a driver who is currently winless:
- Brandon Jones: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
- Brandon Jones
The following drivers could clinch with a win:
- Riley Herbst: Could only clinch with help
- Sam Mayer: Could only clinch with help
- Daniel Hemric: Could only clinch with help
- Landon Cassill: Could only clinch with help
- Ryan Sieg: Could only clinch with help
Stewart-Haas Racing’s Riley Herbst (583 points) and JR Motorsports’ Sam Mayer (578 points) are the highest ranked drivers without a win and have been neck-and-neck in the point standings for several weeks. They will both be pushing to post their first Xfinity Series career win when they head to Watkins Glen this weekend.
Herbst has given “The Glen” one go (2021) and posted a 13th-place finish. He didn’t have the performance he was hoping for on road courses in the first part of the season but has done quite well in the last two (Road America and Indianapolis) as he posted top-10 finishes at both tracks.
Like Herbst, Mayer has made one start at Watkins Glen, where he raced his way up to a top-10 finish (10th) after starting in the 23rd position. On this season’s road courses, he has posted one top-five and two top-10 finishes.
NASCAR Xfinity Series, Etc.
Cup Series drivers running double duty – Four Cup Series regulars will be getting some extra track time this weekend at Watkins Glen – Cole Custer, William Byron, Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain.
Custer will be making his fifth Xfinity Series start this season in the No. 07 SS-GLR Ford. In his four previous Xfinity starts this year, he’s posted one win (Auto Club), two top fives and three top 10s.
Byron will make his third Xfinity Series start of the season in the No. 17 Chevrolet with Hendrick Motorsports. He’s posted one top five and one top 10 this season. This will be his second Xfinity Series start at Watkins Glen. His first was in 2017 and he finished in 10th.
Larson will be making his second Xfinity Series start of the season this weekend in the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. His other start this season was also on a road course (Road America) and he finished runner-up.
Ross Chastain will be behind the wheel of the No. 92 DGM Racing Chevrolet for his third Xfinity Series start of the season. His two other starts were on road courses (COTA & Indianapolis) and he finished 17th and fourth, respectively. This will be his sixth Xfinity Series start at Watkins Glen where he has a best finish of 14th.
Austin Wayne Self to attempt Xfinity Series debut – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular Austin Wayne Self will be attempting to make his Xfinity Series debut this weekend at Watkins Glen International driving the No. 32 Chevrolet car for Jordan Anderson Racing.
“I am very thankful for this opportunity with Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport” said Self. “Anyone that knows me how much I enjoy road course racing and to have the opportunity to attempt to make my Xfinity Series debut driving for my wife’s brother’s team is incredibly special.”
Self will be running double duty this weekend as he will also compete in the No. 32 car for AM Racing in the ARCA Menards Series.
Connor Mosack to join Sam Hunt Racing for Watkins Glen – Connor Mosack, a full-time Trans-Am Series and part-time ARCA Menards Series driver, will be joining Sam Hunt Racing behind the wheel of the No. 26 Toyota at Watkins Glen International this weekend.
Mosack made his Xfinity Series debut earlier this season at Portland International Raceway with Joe Gibbs Racing. Although this will be his first start at The Glen in the Xfinity Series, he has made the trip to Victory Lane at the New York road course in the Trans-Am TA2 Series.
“I’m really excited for the opportunity to race with Sam Hunt Racing this year at Watkins Glen,” said Mosack. “Sam has a great group of guys and I’m looking forward to working with them. My goal going into the race is to come out with a top-10 finish. Sam has competitive cars and if we stay out of trouble in the race, I think we will be in a good spot at the end.”
Kris Wright to join Brandonbilt Motorsports – Kris Wright will be behind the wheel of the No.68 Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet for nine races this season, beginning with this weekend’s race at Watkins Glen International. The other races on his calendar include Darlington, Kansas, Bristol, Charlotte ROVAL, Las Vegas, Homestead, Martinsville and Phoenix.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be back in the NASCAR Xfinity Series garage and surrounded by a great team, Brandonbilt Motorsports,” Wright said. “The team has been super helpful in trying to acclimate me into the No. 68 Chevrolet Camaro for the majority of the remainder of the 2022 season. Looking forward to seeing the fans at Watkins Glen.”