Amongst the rolling hills of the Finger Lakes region of New York state is one of the most famous road courses in the world. Watkins Glen International is well-known road course amongst the racing ranks and has been raced at the Cup level consistently since 1986 with a few races before that as well. Before you go thinking that it’s a standard road course, hold that thought. Firstly, there is no such thing as a standard road course, each one is different as different can be. Secondly, this one is known as the superspeedway of road courses as the speeds are much higher here than either of the other two road course the Cup level races at, at the moment. It is a 2.45-mile lap with seven turns and some elevation change, but nothing at the technical difficulties of Sonoma or what the Roval offers later this year.

With it being a lengthy track the amount of laps will be reduced this week down to 90 for the scheduled distance of 355 Km or 220.8 miles. That also means that there are fewer laps led and fastest laps to be had in this race.

Starting Spots of Winners

Starting Pos.Races WonStarting Pos.Races Won
19111
22121
38134
41141
53161
63181
71  

There have been 36 Cup races and in those races, 19 winners have come from the top-three starting spots with nearly as many coming from the third spot as the pole. The last pole-sitter to win happened in 2008. No one has won a race here from further back than P18 in the starting grid.

Track Data

Drivers To Watch This Week:

Last Five Races at Watkins Glen

  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Martin Truex Jr59.69.29.6012344
Joey Logano510.616.614-3.412333
Denny Hamlin59.612.613.8-4.212233
Chase Elliott37.79.79-1.311133
Kurt Busch51811.46.811.202455
Kyle Busch5712.211.6-4.602444
Daniel Suarez21383.59.502222
Kevin Harvick511.613.413.8-2.201334
Clint Bowyer5201613.46.601234
Kyle Larson57.613.414.8-7.201233
Brad Keselowski511.411.815.4-401234
Erik Jones27.587.5001222
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Ryan Blaney315.314132.300123
William Byron116108800111
Jimmie Johnson59.617.627.4-17.800111
Michael McDowell519.420.821.8-2.400014
Paul Menard527.823.822.65.200012
Ryan Newman51620.223.2-7.200013
Chris Buescher423.526.524.5-100012
Alex Bowman332.32826.3600011
Aric Almirola523.626.420.82.800002
Ty Dillon2272421600001
Reed Sorenson13929231600000
Parker Kligerman1272524300000
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Bubba Wallace1292625400000
David Ragan525.422.825.6-0.200001
Ricky Stenhouse Jr525.224.825.6-0.400003
Austin Dillon52224.427.2-5.200001
Matt DiBenedetto431.82730.31.500000
Landon Cassill536.831.230.8600000
Ross Chastain1323032000000
Corey LaJoie1363033300000
Josh Bilicki1333036-300000
Daniel Hemric0000000000
Matt Tifft0000000000
Ryan Preece0000000000
Cody Ware0000000000

  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. DriverLaps
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRatingComp.
Martin Truex Jr5346.85110.276%106.1450
Joey Logano591.8163.262%81.6361
Denny Hamlin5122.440.872%89.4450
Chase Elliott36120.33411.373%110.6270
Kurt Busch530.671.479%94.8450
Kyle Busch55911.8801678%109.3429
Daniel Suarez214710.586%107.9180
Kevin Harvick5295.8132.667%92.4443
Clint Bowyer50061.254%80.4450
Kyle Larson50015366%86.1449
Brad Keselowski57515377.473%96.6445
Erik Jones20010.584%101.8180
  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. DriverLaps
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRatingComp.
Ryan Blaney320.720.764%81.9270
William Byron10000100%94.590
Jimmie Johnson571.440.854%73.9411
Michael McDowell5000028%63.8415
Paul Menard50010.226%60446
Ryan Newman5000026%65.5415
Chris Buescher4000015%53.1357
Alex Bowman3000018%49.4265
Aric Almirola500003%59450
Ty Dillon200001%52.6180
Reed Sorenson100000%45.490
Parker Kligerman100007%49.590
  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. DriverLaps
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRatingComp.
Bubba Wallace100009%44.589
David Ragan5000020%58.9442
Ricky Stenhouse Jr500005%56.6411
Austin Dillon5000016%52.9447
Matt DiBenedetto4000011%46.8338
Landon Cassill500003%36434
Ross Chastain100000%32.577
Corey LaJoie100001%32.289
Josh Bilicki100001%30.569
Daniel Hemric00000000
Matt Tifft00000000
Ryan Preece00000000
Cody Ware00000000

Top-20 Drivers Over Last 10 Races at Watkins Glen

  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Kyle Busch106.18.88.1-215999
Martin Truex Jr1011.79.810.80.914688
Joey Logano1014.218.216.3-2.113556
Denny Hamlin101516.120.5-5.512345
Chase Elliott37.79.79-1.311133
Brad Keselowski912.61211.41.204568
Kurt Busch1016.414.512.14.303788
Clint Bowyer1020.114.712.97.202578
Daniel Suarez21383.59.502222
Kevin Harvick1016.716.114.91.801478
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTop
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520
Jimmie Johnson108.314.919.8-11.501455
Kyle Larson57.613.414.8-7.201233
Erik Jones27.587.5001222
Ryan Blaney315.314132.300123
William Byron116108800111
Ryan Newman1013.119.419-5.900047
Paul Menard1023.720.620.92.800026
Chris Buescher423.526.524.5-100012
Alex Bowman332.32826.3600011
Michael McDowell919.927.929.7-9.800014

  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. Driver
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRating
Kyle Busch1019519.512712.785%116.6
Martin Truex Jr10343.4545.476%100.8
Joey Logano1090.9161.650%78.9
Denny Hamlin10121.270.756%82.5
Chase Elliott36120.333411.3373%110.6
Brad Keselowski911412.67667.3371%99.4
Kurt Busch10262.6262.666%91.4
Clint Bowyer1010.170.763%85.6
Daniel Suarez214710.586%107.9
Kevin Harvick10373.7181.855%86.4
  LapsLaps LedFastestFast LapsTop-15Avg. Driver
Driver#Led/RaceLaps/RaceRateRating
Jimmie Johnson10121.2222.262%84.8
Kyle Larson50015366%86.1
Erik Jones20010.584%101.8
Ryan Blaney320.6720.6764%81.9
William Byron10000100%94.5
Ryan Newman1010.10034%70.1
Paul Menard100010.133%67.6
Chris Buescher4000015%53.1
Alex Bowman3000018%49.4
Michael McDowell90030.3320%55

Team Averages at Watkins Glen (since Feb. 2017)

 Avg.  TopTop
DriverFinishRacesWins510
Joe Gibbs Racing5.138067
Chip Ganassi Racing12.54002
Stewart-Haas Racing12.758014
JTG Daugherty Racing13.754001
Leavine Family Racing16.52000
Wood Brothers Racing182001
Hendrick Motorsports18.58112

Momentum

Drivers

Driver Momentum
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopLapsFastestLapsAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520LedLapComp.Rating
Denny Hamlin5138.69.83.213344160851125103.8
Kurt Busch55.21113.8-8.6112344954112692.4
Kevin Harvick55.28.214.4-9.2112332471091123106.2
Alex Bowman517.614.214.63111248843112583.5
Justin Haley13431133111111112763.5
Erik Jones513.411.67.65.8034441641112593.3
Kyle Larson516.81212.8403334748108991
William Byron517.612.88.88.802345930112686.7
Jimmie Johnson514.614.216.4-1.8022331325111183.6
Ryan Newman522.816.810.412.401345169112773
Kyle Busch57.29.411-3.8013442491681126108.9
Joey Logano58.29.211.4-3.20134460481125101
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopLapsFastestLapsAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520LedLapComp.Rating
Ryan Blaney51413.613.80.201344238111886.8
Martin Truex Jr591111.8-2.801334025112590.7
Brad Keselowski561316.4-10.4013341538108490.6
Matt DiBenedetto518.818.614.64.20122406112469.6
Ty Dillon522.426220.40111207109354.6
Aric Almirola5812.612-4001451236112785.3
Chris Buescher526.418.215.211.20012512112667.9
Clint Bowyer511.616.821.6-10001234316102276.5
Daniel Hemric513.820.621-7.20011301693364.3
Matt Tifft530.227.222.47.80011103111946
Corey LaJoie530.628.222.680011104111745.6
Daniel Suarez512.81823-10.2001125322108073.5
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopLapsFastestLapsAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520LedLapComp.Rating
Austin Dillon517.21825.8-8.6001125514105474.7
Paul Menard518.216.615.82.40002416112668.1
Ricky Stenhouse Jr51716.221-400022251195974.2
Chase Elliott51418.825.6-11.600022311102775.5
JJ Yeley137311225000110312749.2
Michael McDowell522.220.8202.20001314112457
Bubba Wallace52622.621.44.600011016112154.7
Landon Cassill530.829.825.65.20001103110739.5
Brendan Gaughan139331920000010112641
Joey Gase140362713000000012534
Ryan Preece52523.827.8-2.80000015106551.4
Andy Seuss13532287000000029131
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopLapsFastestLapsAvg. Driver
Driver#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520LedLapComp.Rating
Ross Chastain53431.228.45.60000002110837.2
Parker Kligerman13622315000000312153.4
Reed Sorenson33633.7315000000070130.5
David Ragan521.824.232-10.20000004100149.4
Bayley Currey231.53332.5-1000000252031
BJ McLeod432.535.833.3-0.8000000163028.1
Josh Bilicki23133.534-3000000140330.1
Quin Houff53335.434.2-1.2000000591327.4
Austin Theriault232.53534.5-2000000134225.9

Team

Team Momentum
  Avg.RunAvg.Pos. TopTopTopTopLapsFastest
Team#StartPos.FinishDiff.W5101520LedLap
Chip Ganassi Racing61111.513.3-2.31456856102
Front Row Motorsports924.724.124.8-0.100124111
Hendrick Motorsports12161516.4-0.41561114113109
Joe Gibbs Racing1210.710.210.10.618131516425319
JTG Daugherty Racing625.72121.54.20012527
Richard Childress Racing615.519.323.4-7.9002255530
Roush Fenway Racing619.916.515.74.2013674120
Stewart-Haas Racing129.413.917.8-8.41151013355183
Team Penske99.411.913.9-4.5039111277124

DraftKings Scoring Averages at Watkins Glen

Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgDK Seas. Avg.
Kyle Busch61.2547.2545.555.75-1654.2538.7564.41
Martin Truex Jr54.56444.752.754359.2541.8049.96
Kevin Harvick39.530.5-554.2534.535.0030.7547.76
Brad Keselowski2729.565.550.25-1228.2532.0545.12
Chase Elliott7427.7534.5  50.8845.4238.28
Kurt Busch62.55039.75494556.2549.2540.77
Clint Bowyer404836.55014.544.0037.8028.98
Denny Hamlin19.54755.531333.2527.6041.69
Joey Logano-2412.55163.7543-5.7529.2548.95
Erik Jones43.530   36.7536.7534.29
Ryan Blaney3145.525  38.2533.8336.58
Jimmie Johnson-2.75-4-22.534-7-3.38-0.4531.2
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgDK Seas. Avg.
Kyle Larson373-112959.520.0023.5035.44
Daniel Suarez5747   52.0052.0032.15
Aric Almirola73124333519.0026.0034.35
Chris Buescher243992 31.5018.5031.03
Alex Bowman38  25838.0023.6737.12
Ryan Newman25172034-2821.0013.6036.79
William Byron44    44.0044.0031.65
Daniel Hemric       19.76
Paul Menard252933460.527.0026.7028.47
Michael McDowell20342135-1127.0019.8017.3
Austin Dillon14190-184316.5011.6020.92
Matt DiBenedetto6251119 15.5015.2526.59
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgDK Seas. Avg.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr3526-262530.5018.0023.92
Matt Tifft       21.71
Ryan Preece       21.82
Parker Kligerman23    23.0023.0024.61
Bubba Wallace23    23.0023.0020.32
Ty Dillon2830   29.0029.0026.62
David Ragan17214173219.0018.2015.25
Ross Chastain12    12.0012.0021.86
Reed Sorenson    37 37.0017.04
Corey LaJoie 14   14.0014.0024.26
Landon Cassill17438102710.5019.2017.53
Josh Bilicki5    5.005.008.83
Cody Ware       11.42

FanDuel Scoring Averages at Watkins Glen

Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgFD Seas. Avg.
Kyle Busch49.642.143.952.3-2.645.8537.0664.30
Martin Truex Jr50.455.446.6144352.9041.8859.08
Kevin Harvick42.534.58.850.441.538.5035.5455.72
Brad Keselowski3333.554.347.71.533.2534.0056.11
Chase Elliott58.233.438.5  45.8043.3752.36
Kurt Busch54.55042.349.54852.2548.8658.00
Clint Bowyer42.548.5375021.545.5039.9048.21
Denny Hamlin31.249.555.51622.540.3534.9457.03
Joey Logano-11.420.552.359.646.54.5533.5060.99
Erik Jones4738   42.5042.5051.17
Ryan Blaney37.546.231  41.8538.2351.90
Jimmie Johnson11.511.5-7.339.510.111.5013.0651.94
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgFD Seas. Avg.
Kyle Larson43.516.57.43555.530.0031.5849.36
Daniel Suarez54.549.4   51.9551.9550.70
Aric Almirola20.53326.536.536.526.7530.6051.65
Chris Buescher304217.410.3 36.0024.9351.23
Alex Bowman40  2613.540.0026.5053.50
Ryan Newman31243037.5-927.5022.7055.81
William Byron46    46.0046.0051.42
Daniel Hemric       42.12
Paul Menard26.433.533.544.511.729.9529.9250.13
Michael McDowell29393035.5034.0026.7038.65
Austin Dillon21.424.512.40.941.522.9520.1443.07
Matt DiBenedetto1326.515.824.5 19.7519.9546.40
Driver20182017201620152014Last 2 AvgLast 5 AvgFD Seas. Avg.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr37.5314.213.930.534.2523.4246.26
Matt Tifft       41.60
Ryan Preece       43.23
Parker Kligerman27.5    27.5027.5040.09
Bubba Wallace26.9    26.9026.9041.64
Ty Dillon30.533.5   32.0032.0047.79
David Ragan23.42512.82534.524.2024.1439.13
Ross Chastain16.7    16.7016.70 
Reed Sorenson    35 35.0035.89
Corey LaJoie 18.4   18.4018.4043.44
Landon Cassill20.810.835.515.426.915.8021.8836.76
Josh Bilicki10.4    10.4010.40 
Cody Ware        

Weekly Rankings (1=Best, 40=Worst)

There is no Track Type History this week since Watkins Glen isn’t comparable to any other road course

DriverDK$FD $Race HistoryDK Avg L2FD Avg L2DK Avg L5FD Avg L5WGI History
Kyle Busch$11,600$15,000735694
Martin Truex Jr$11,300$14,500611566
Kevin Harvick$10,900$14,000101112121012
Brad Keselowski$10,500$12,00014161611137
Chase Elliott$10,300$11,500556345
Kurt Busch$10,000$11,000222228
Clint Bowyer$9,700$9,000967779
Denny Hamlin$9,400$13,000101210151216
Joey Logano$9,100$12,500123532131413
Erik Jones$8,900$10,0003108952
Ryan Blaney$8,700$10,30088910810
Jimmie Johnson$8,500$8,500283430363215
DriverDK$FD $Race HistoryDK Avg L2FD Avg L2DK Avg L5FD Avg L5WGI History
Kyle Larson$8,300$10,700132218191611
Daniel Suarez$8,100$9,400143111
Aric Almirola$7,900$7,800152323171719
Chris Buescher$7,700$7,300221313242322
Alex Bowman$7,600$9,80026911182225
Ryan Newman$7,400$8,000202120292614
William Byron$7,200$9,200464433
Daniel Hemric$7,000$6,300403133333440
Paul Menard$6,900$6,500181719161817
Michael McDowell$6,800$5,500171715222129
Austin Dillon$6,600$7,000272525312827
Matt DiBenedetto$6,500$6,000292626272930
DriverDK$FD $Race HistoryDK Avg L2FD Avg L2DK Avg L5FD Avg L5WGI History
Ricky Stenhouse Jr$6,400$6,700241414262521
Matt Tifft$6,200$3,000403133333440
Ryan Preece$6,100$4,500403133333440
Parker Kligerman$5,900$4,000211920201920
Bubba Wallace$5,800$4,500231922202024
Ty Dillon$5,700$5,000161517141518
David Ragan$5,600$4,000242324252423
Ross Chastain$5,400#N/A312828303131
Reed Sorenson$5,300$2,50019313381126
Corey LaJoie$5,200$3,500322727283032
Landon Cassill$5,000$2,500302929232728
Josh Bilicki$4,900#N/A333031323333
Cody Ware$4,800#N/A403133333440