Category: NASCAR Cup PR

JOSH BERRY
Watkins Glen Advance
No. 4 Bed Bath & Beyond Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Go Bowling at The Glen (Round 28 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Sept. 15
● Location: Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International
● Layout: 2.45-mile, seven-turn road course
● Laps/Miles: 90 laps / 220.5 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 20 laps / Stage 2: 20 laps / Final Stage: 50 laps
● TV/Radio: USA / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● The NASCAR Cup Series has two remaining road course races in the 2024 season, with the historic Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International next up on the schedule. The field will tackle the serpentine 2.45-mile layout during Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen. For Josh Berry, who is contending for 2024 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors, he will make his debut at the track in NASCAR’s premier series in Sunday’s event. The 33-year-old driver has two starts at Watkins Glen in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, his best finish of ninth earned in August 2022 for JR Motorsports after starting 17th and finishing the second stage in seventh. Berry’s second Xfinity Series appearance at Watkins Glen came in August 2023, when he started seventh and finished 20th.

● Sunday marks crew chief Rodney Childers’ 16th start at Watkins Glen in NASCAR’s premier series. The veteran shot caller’s drivers have accounted for one top-five finish and five top-10s at The Glen. Best of those came in August 2015 with former No. 4 driver Kevin Harvick driving to a third-place finish after starting fourth and leading 29 laps.

● The No. 4 team will employ multiple spotters Sunday led by the team’s primary set of eyes in the sky, Eddie D’Hondt, who will be working in front of his home state crowd. D’Hondt hails from Long Island, New York, five and a half hours from the road course that helped fuel his passion for motorsports. The No. 4 spotter joined Stewart-Haas Racing ahead of Berry’s rookie campaign after the two worked together when Berry filled in for an injured Chase Elliott in the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports entry last year. During his tenure at Hendrick, D’Hondt collaborated on 18 Cup Series victories and the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series championship with the No. 9 team after spotting for four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon.

● With nine races remaining in the 2024 Cup Series season, Berry and the No. 4 team are competing for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year title. Currently ranked 24th overall and second in the rookie standings, Berry looks to close a 23-point gap to fellow rookie Carson Hocevar in the remaining events. Since Berry is not in the playoffs, his best possible points finish this season is 17th, and he is currently 204 markers behind current 17th-ranked driver Ross Chastain.

● Bed Bath & Beyond adorns Berry’s No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at The Glen. The partnership celebrates Bed Bath & Beyond as the ultimate online destination for home essentials, featuring an unmatched assortment for every room of the house. Whether it’s your kitchen, bedroom, outdoor space or bathroom, Bed Bath & Beyond has what you need to create a space that feels uniquely yours. From cookware and bedding to bath accessories and beyond, Bed Bath & Beyond is your go-to source for functional and stylish home essentials.

Josh Berry, Driver of the No. 4 Bed Bath & Beyond Ford Mustang Dark Horse

When preparing for this weekend’s race at Watkins Glen, how much does it help to use Ford’s simulator to get laps under your belt before hitting the track this weekend?

“Having access to the Ford simulator ahead of a road course is really helpful, at least for me, in finding the rhythm and learning how the course flows together. It’s hard to get acclimated fast with how short our practice sessions are, so having access to that tool provides me a way to get semi-used to the way the track feels in terms of the rhythm. Obviously, we can try other setup options and try to find speed – those are the two biggest things in my opinion.”

How challenging is it to go to new tracks in the NextGen car and, when you have a new track to go to, how are you able to redefine success each week?

“It’s always going to be a challenge to go to a new track in the Cup Series. The level of competition is just so high and these guys, for the most part, have more experience on these tracks than I do, so it’s hard when I am behind the eight ball most weeks. But I have a really experienced team around me and teammates to lean on with what they feel in practice and how to navigate some of the obstacles I am facing in my rookie season, all of which shortens my learning curve. For our team this weekend, a clean, mistake-free race is a successful trip to Watkins Glen.”

Of the road courses the NASCAR circuit goes to, where do you feel Watkins Glen ranks in difficulty for you personally, and how do you carry lessons from one track to another?

“Watkins Glen is a really fast road course and one that most people have experience at in some level of competition, so it’s one where, for me, you feel more comfortable heading to. COTA is hard for me and that ranks, in my opinion, the hardest one we go to. But all of them are tough just coming from a short-track background and not making a ton of laps turning left and right. There is going to be an adjustment period for a while for me and I understand that.”

No. 4 Bed Bath & Beyond Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Josh Berry

Hometown: Hendersonville, Tennessee

Crew Chief: Rodney Childers

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Car Chief: Robert “Cheddar” Smith

Hometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin

Engineer: Dax Gerringer

Hometown: Gibsonville, North Carolina

Engineer: Billy Kuebler

Hometown: Saline, Michigan

Spotter: Eddie D’Hondt

Hometown: Levittown, New York

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Daniel Coffey

Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Daniel Smith

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Mason Flynt

Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Jack Man: Brandon Banks

Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Evan Marchal

Hometown: Westfield, Indiana

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Tyler Trosper

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Mechanic: Chris Capaldi

Hometown: Armada, Michigan

Tire Specialist: Zac Lupien

Hometown: Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Engine Tuner: Robert Brandt

Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

Transporter Co-Driver: Jake Zierhoffer

Hometown: Billerica, Massachusetts

Transporter Co-Driver: Stephen Mitchell

Hometown: Woodville, Ohio

Watkins Glen International Competition Notes

 MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 11, 2024) – The NASCAR Cup Series makes their annual trip to Watkins Glen, New York and Watkins Glen International this Sunday. This will not only be the 100th race for the “Next Gen” car, but Todd Gilliland’s 100th Cup Series start.

Boozy Jerky will make their first NASCAR start this weekend, partnering with Gilliland and the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for the 90-lap event. Boozy Jerky is the original booze-infused brand of beef jerky. Every bite of Boozy Jerky is meticulously hand-crafted in the US to be tender, moist, and full of rich and defining flavors.

Each recipe starts with a high-quality brisket that is infused with the finest craft beers and spirits along with a combination of unique ingredients to deliver a gourmet snack that pairs perfectly with your favorite beverages. Pick up a bag of Boozy Jerky and enjoy a beef jerky experience that’s a bit more fun, a lot more flavorful, and certainly more memorable. You can find Boozy Jerky nationwide at Total Wine & More or by visiting boozyjerky.com. Find them socially @boozyjerk.

Track activity for the NASCAR Cup Series will start Saturday, September 14th with practice and qualifying at 11:30 am ET. Go Bowling at The Glen is scheduled for Sunday, September 15th at 3:00 pm ET. Fans can watch the action live on the USA Network or listen in via the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.

No. 38 Boozy Jerky Ford Mustang Dark Horse:

DRIVER TODD GILLILAND:

“I’m excited for The Glen—it’s such a fun track to race on. We don’t visit many road courses, so it’s a refreshing change of pace. This weekend is significant for me, FRM, and Boozy Jerky, as it’s my 100th Cup Series start and Boozy Jerky’s debut. There’s already a lot to celebrate, and I hope we can cap it off with a win.

“I’m excited to have Boozy Jerky on board this weekend. I’m looking forward to introducing them to the NASCAR world. We have our hauler stocked up already and the entire team is excited to try it. It’ll be a good weekend.”

CREW CHIEF RYAN BERGENTY:

“Watkins Glen has been a good track for us. We left there with a solid 11th-place finish last year, but I think we can do better than that. We’re building fast Ford Mustang Dark Horses; we just need to execute at the track. The plan is simple: qualify up front and stay there. That’s easier said than done. but I think we can do that this weekend.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

This Week in Motorsports: September 9 – 15, 2024

NCS/NXS/ARCA: Watkins Glen International – Sept. 13-15
NHRA: Maple Grove Raceway – Sept. 13-15

PLANO, Texas (Sept. 11, 2024) – NASCAR heads to The Empire State and Watkins Glen International where the Cup Series holds the second race of its 2024 Playoffs, while the Xfinity Series has the penultimate race of its regular season. The two series will be joined by the ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen as well. NHRA begins its Countdown to the Championship at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS

Four Camry XSEs above cutline … After a hectic Playoff opener in Atlanta, the Cup Series points shook tremendously as the series heads to Watkins Glen for the second of three races in the Round of 16. Christopher Bell, earning his third consecutive top-five finish and fifth top-10 in the last six races, and Tyler Reddick, getting his 19th top-10 of the season, are the lead Camry XSEs in the standings, 40 and 33 points above the cutline, respectively. Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs also sit above the line, just two points and one point to the good. Martin Truex Jr., is currently 19 points under heading into the weekend.

Montoya makes Camry XSE debut … Juan Pablo Montoya makes his long-awaited return to the NASCAR Cup Series this weekend in the No. 50 Mobil 1 Camry XSE for 23XI Racing. The Colombian makes his first start in the Cup Series since 2014 and will make his eighth start at Watkins Glen this weekend where he captured his second career Cup win in 2010. Montoya also history with Toyota, winning three races with the manufacturer during the 2000 IndyCar/CART season at Milwaukee, Michigan and Gateway.

Watkins Glen top-10s for Toyota drivers … Watkins Glen International has been a favorable circuit for some of the Toyota Racing team. Bell and Reddick have finished inside the top-10 in all three of their Cup starts at the 2.454-mile road course, with Bell finishing third last year. Truex has finished in the top-10 in nine of the last 12 Watkins Glen races, that includes his 2017 victory, while Gibbs earned a top-five finish in his second start at the track last year. Hamlin, who earned the NCS pole at the Glen last year, has posted a top-10 in five of the last seven Watkins Glen events, including his win in 2016.

Points tighten as Playoffs near … With just two races remaining in the Xfinity Series regular season, Chandler Smith and Sheldon Creed continue to sit in great spots in the series points standings. Smith held onto third in the standings with his fourth-place finish last weekend and Creed now sits in sixth heading to Watkins Glen this weekend.

Gibbs back in No. 19 GR Supra … Gibbs is back in the Xfinity Series and the No. 19 GR Supra this weekend at “The Glen.” This will be the 21-year-old’s sixth Xfinity Series start of the season and his first since Chicago where he was the runner-up. He makes his fourth Xfinity Series start at Watkins Glen, where he won in 2021 and sat on the pole last year.

Ed Jones returns to Sam Hunt Racing … Ed Jones is back in the Xfinity Series and the No. 26 GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing this weekend at Watkins Glen. Jones has made three starts this season in the No. 26, including a top-five finish at Portland in June. He’s also made one career start “The Glen” in IndyCar in 2017, finishing 13th.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series

Toyota Development Drivers take on Watkins Glen … After a week off, the ARCA Menards Series is back in action, this weekend at Watkins Glen. Toyota Development Drivers, William Sawalich and Gio Ruggiero, are two of the Toyota Camry drivers this weekend with Sawalich in his familiar No. 18 for Joe Gibbs Racing and Ruggiero in the No. 20 for Venturini Motorsports. Sawalich makes his second start in Watkins Glen, after finishing fourth last year, while Ruggiero makes his debut.

NHRA – Top Fuel | Funny Car

Toyota racers begin championship quest … As the Countdown to the Championship begins at Maple Grove Raceway this weekend, Toyota’s nine NHRA drivers begin their chance for a world championship. In Top Fuel, defending world champion, Doug Kalitta, begins the Countdown as the No. 1 seed, followed by Justin Ashley, Shawn Langdon, Steve Torrence and Antron Brown as Toyota holds positions one through five. Billy Torrence begins the postseason as the No. 10 seed. In Funny Car, J.R Todd is the No. 4 seed, while Ron Capps is fifth and Alexis DeJoria is 10th to start the Countdown.

Kalitta seeks Maple Grove repeat … On the way to his incredible world championship a season ago, Kalitta began his magical Countdown to the Championship run with a victory at Maple Grove Raceway. He seeks a repeat win this weekend and the 56th of his career, which would put him fourth all-time in Top Fuel history and just five back of Brown on the all-time wins list.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 12 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 13th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 29 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Watkins Glen Event Info:
Date: Sunday, Sept. 15
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Watkins Glen, New York
Format: 90 Laps, 220.5 Miles, Stages: 20-20-50
TV: USA
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 11:30 a.m. ET, Practice (USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 1 p.m. ET, Qualifying (USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 3 p.m. ET, Race (USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

• Race two of the NASCAR Playoffs rolls from New York this weekend as Watkins Glen International hosts a playoff race for the first time in its history.
• The 2.45-mile course stands as the middle race in the opening slate in the Round of 16, with Bristol Motor Speedway set to determine the Round of 12 next weekend.
• Despite recent struggles on road courses, Keselowski and the No. 6 team finished 13th in Sonoma back in June, and 18th in Chicago after qualifying 10th in that race.
• Chris Buescher has notably been one of the better drivers in the Cup Series on road courses as of late. His 9.6 average finish since the start of the 2021 season is second-best among all drivers as he has 12 top-10s in that 20-race stretch.
• Jack Roush has six wins all-time at The Glen, with three in the Cup Series.

6 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Partner: King’s Hawaiian Pretzel Bites

17 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: BuildSubmarines.com

Keselowski at Watkins Glen
Starts: 13
Wins: —
Top-10s: 6
Poles: 1 (2021)

• Watkins Glen stands as Keselowski’s best road course statistically with a 13.9 average finish in 13 starts.
• He has six top-10 finishes, including four inside the top five, with three career runner-up results – all of which came in consecutive races from 2011-13. Most recently, he finished 15th a season ago after starting 24th.
• Keselowski has an average starting position of 12.5 at The Glen with six starts inside the top-10, and one pole in 2021.
• He also made 10 Xfinity Series starts at WGI with one win (2013) and nine top-10s.

Buescher at Watkins Glen
Starts: 8
Wins: —
Top-10s: 2
Poles: —

• Buescher lines up for his ninth Cup start at The Glen this weekend, where he carries an average finish of 18th.
• He’s coming off back-to-back top-10s at the road course after a P7 result last year.
• His best qualifying effort also came two summers ago (P7), as he has a 19.3 average starting position overall.
• Buescher also made a pair of Xfinity starts at WGI in 2014-15, earning a third-place finish in 2015.

RFK Historically at Watkins Glen
Cup Wins: 3 (Mark Martin, 1993, 1994, 1995)

• There’s Nothing You Can’t Do, Now, You’re in New York: In 111 NCS starts at WGI, RFK has three wins, 23 top-five and 43 top-10 finishes along with four poles. All three of RFK’s victories came with former driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin (1993, 1994, 1995).
• Top of the List, King of the Hill: Martin secured three-straight wins for RFK at the famed New York road course from 1993-95. He started on the pole for each of the three races and led a combined 183 laps during the three-year streak.
• Tale of the Tape – Road Courses: In 264 road course starts all-time in the NCS, Jack Roush’s Fords have won five races and tallied 43 top-five and 93 top-10 finishes, along with six poles. In those 264 starts, an RFK Ford has led 625 laps for an average finish of 17.3.

RFK Watkins Glen Wins

1993 Martin Cup

1994 Martin Cup

1995 Martin Cup

1998 Ruttman Truck

2000 Biffle Truck

2012 Edwards NXS

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Atlanta: Keselowski finished 19th in one of the more uneventful Superspeedway races to date Sunday afternoon, as Buescher was caught up in an incident in stage three to DNF.

Points Standings (6: 13th, 17: 18th): Through just one race in the playoffs, Keselowski is currently P13 and on the bubble, just one point out of 12th, and two points behind 11th.

Watkins Glen International Competition Notes

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 10, 2024) – The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Finger Lakes of Upstate New York and Watkins Glen International for road course racing this weekend.

Michael McDowell returns to his road racing roots, looking for another solid finish. So far this season, the No. 34 has had two Top-5s on road courses, a 2nd place at Sonoma and a 5th place at the Chicago Street Race.

This weekend Benebone will return to the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Benebone is a leading brand of USA-made durable chew toys for dogs. The company’s simple mission is to make lives better for dogs and the people who love them. Benebone’s core values center around awesome products, building and serving communities, and a good dose of fun.

Track activity for the NASCAR Cup Series will start Saturday, September 14th with practice and qualifying at 11:30 am ET. Go Bowling at The Glen will be Sunday, September 15th at 3:00 pm ET. Fans can watch the action live on the USA Network or listen via the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.

No. 34 Benebone Ford Mustang Dark Horse:

DRIVER MICHAEL MCDOWELL:

“Watkins Glen is a great track for us. I always know what I need out of the car. WGI is a different style of road course where we carry a lot of speed. I’ve always felt that no matter the road course that I can be up front. Now we have cars that are allowing us to do that. It’s been a lot of fun this season. It’s now time to finish the job and get a win.”

CREW CHIEF TRAVIS PETERSON:

“We are very confident in our road course setups, and we only have one job now, to be a playoff spoiler. The new tire and track changes at The Glen should make for an exciting practice. We will adapt to those changes and plan to be at the front with a chance to win!”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

WATKINS GLEN

Saturday, September 14 — NASCAR Xfinity Series, 3 p.m. ET (USA)
Sunday, September 15 — NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. ET (USA)

The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs got off on a good note for Ford as Joey Logano won last week’s opener at Atlanta Motor Speedway to clinch a spot in the Round of 12. The circuit now heads to Watkins Glen International for the first Cup postseason race at that facility on Sunday. Prior to that, the NASCAR Xfinity Series will conduct its penultimate event of the regular season on Saturday.

FORD DRIVERS IN THE CUP PLAYOFFS

Joey Logano – Atlanta Winner (Clinched Round of 12)
Ryan Blaney – 2nd (+45 above the cut line)
Austin Cindric – 7th (+27)
Brad Keselowski – 13th (-1 below the cut line)
Harrison Burton – 14th (-16)
Chase Briscoe – 16th (-21)

FORD’S SECOND HALF HOT STREAK

Ever since Joey Logano won the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race in May, Ford has been on a roll. The Blue Oval has won eight times in the last 15 races, including the current three-race streak that has seen Harrison Burton (Daytona), Chase Briscoe (Darlington) and Logano (Atlanta) all find Victory Lane. The last time Ford won at least four in a row was in 2018 when Kevin Harvick (Michigan), Kurt Busch (Bristol) and Brad Keselowski (Darlington, Indianapolis and Las Vegas) combined to win five straight.

CLIMBING THE ALL-TIME FORD WIN LIST

Logano’s victory was the 34th of his NASCAR Cup Series career and 32nd with Ford, which is fourth on the all-time Blue Oval win list. The only three drivers ahead of him are Ned Jarrett (43), Bill Elliott (40) and Mark Martin (35).

CLOSING IN ON 100

In addition to being fourth on Ford’s all-time win list, Logano has also won more races for Team Penske with Ford than any other driver. His win on Sunday marked the organization’s 98th with the manufacturer. Rusty Wallace scored the first win when he won at North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, NC, in 1994. Team Penske won 27 races from 1994-2002 and then returned to Ford in 2013 with Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano. Since then, they’ve added a third car with Ryan Blaney and have won 71 times. Seven different drivers have won at least one race with Team Penske and Ford with Logano leading the way (32).

TEAM PENSKE ALL-TIME FORD WINNERS

32 – Joey Logano
26 – Brad Keselowski
23 – Rusty Wallace
11 – Ryan Blaney
3 – Jeremy Mayfield
2 – Austin Cindric
1 – Ryan Newman

LOGANO AT THE GLEN

Joey Logano comes into this weekend with consecutive top-10 finishes at Watkins Glen International and is the only current Ford driver with a Cup victory at the famed road course. He also has three NASCAR Xfinity victories and became the first driver to sweep a Cup/Xfinity weekend when he did it in 2015. That also marked Roger Penske’s first Cup victory at the historic track.

KESELOWSKI AND CINDRIC AT WGI

Playoff drivers Brad Keselowski and Austin Cindric have also been to Victory Lane at Watkins Glen International, both getting there in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Keselowski, who has three second-place finishes and one third on the Cup side, posted his victory in 2013 while Cindric passed AJ Allmendinger with two laps to go and took the checkered flag in 2019.

BUESCHER ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Chris Buescher may not be in the Playoffs, but he is definitely a driver to watch this weekend at Watkins Glen International. That’s because the Texas native has finished 10th or better in 12 of the last 14 road/street races, including a streak of eight straight at one point.

YEAR/RACE – FINISH

2024 Chicago – P20

2024 Sonoma – P3

2024 COTA – P8

2023 Roval – P7

2023 Watkins Glen – P7

2023 Indy – P11

2023 Chicago – P10

2023 Sonoma – P4

2023 COTA – P8

2022 Roval – P6

2022 Watkins Glen – P9

2022 Indy – P10

2022 Road America – P6

2022 Sonoma – P2

JOEY LOGANO: “Watkins Glen isn’t the typical Watkins Glen that we’ve seen in the past. They’ve changed some things to the track. They’ve added rumble strips off of turn one that prevents us from dropping way outside of the curb. They’ve changed the curbing to the bus stop itself to where you won’t be launching them into the corner as much, and then they also added rumble strips on the exit of the carousel to keep us from dropping way out there, so the track will race differently. The cars will want something different from a setup perspective and they’re also changing the tire, too. It sounds like there will be a lot more tire wear, so there are a lot of unknowns for sure.”

RYAN BLANEY: “I don’t know what to expect. We have some idea from the tire test that went on there and what the fall off is gonna be. I think there’s gonna be a lot of fall off, which is good. You’ll see some comers and goers unlike that place last year when we really struggled with tire fall off, so I think that’s gonna be good. The changes to the track are not crazy. The bus stop entry curb is gone, so that’s gonna be different. Some of the rumbles they’ve got on the exit of the carousel in turn one will change a little bit, which I think is positive for the racing. You won’t be able to just blow turn one and bail out to the apron and still have speed, so it will take a little more precision. I try not to overthink before I go into the weekends because you can never predict these things, especially when it’s something new. Even if it’s the same tire and same everything it’s like, ‘Well, the track could be different. Your setup is gonna be a little different.’ So, I try not to spin myself out on that side of it. I just see what it’s like in practice and then see where we need to get better and how I as a driver need to be better through practice and into qualifying and the race. It’ll be an exciting one that’s for sure, but I’m happy they made changes to the tire. I think that’s gonna help the racing.”

HARRISON BURTON: “It’s probably the road course I have the most laps on. As you come up through the ranks you get a lot of laps at a lot of different tracks and similar racetracks, but you go to all these road courses and even in my Cup career my first race at Sonoma was in a Cup car. It’s really kind of nice to go somewhere I have a lot of laps at. I’ve run a lot of different race cars there and now they’re gonna change some of the configuration with the curbing. The tires are gonna be a lot softer, so they’re gonna fall off more. It’s a little bit more to manage and a little bit more complicated than just go drive as fast as you can for as many laps as you can, which is fun for me. As a driver, I enjoy those kinds of races, so trying to handle all of the curveballs that get thrown at you there is gonna be tough, but fun.”

CLASSIC FINISH

One of the all-time classic finishes at Watkins Glen International came when Marcos Ambrose went slip sliding away on the final lap, but still resulted in him winning the NASCAR Cup Series race for the second straight time on August 12, 2012. Ambrose was able to avoid a massive streak of oil that had been laid down on the track, allowing him to pass Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski for Ford’s third win of the season. Busch appeared to be headed toward victory, but as he came into turn one on the final lap, he slipped in some oil and got loose. Keselowski came up from behind and hit Busch, sending him spinning off the track. A battle between Ambrose and Keselowski, which inluded both driving through the grass at one point before Ambrose was able to get by in the treacherous carousel.

THREE STRAIGHT

Mark Martin became the first driver to win three straight NASCAR Cup Series races at Watkins Glen International, and he capped that streak on Aug. 13, 1995 after passing Wally Dallenbach, Jr. on lap 84 of the 90-lap event. Martin, who led a race-high 61 circuits overall, held off the road racing specialist to win by one second. That victory completed a three-year run that saw him not only sit on the pole every time but lead 183-of-270 laps (68%).

TWO RACES REMAINING IN REGULAR SEASON

While the NASCAR Cup and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series have begun their respective Playoffs, the NASCAR Xfinity Series still has two races remaining in its regular season. Defending champion Cole Custer has already clinched a spot in the field of 12 after his win in Pocono while Riley Herbst also owns a berth because of his victory in Indianapolis. Ryan Sieg goes into this weekend’s race at Watkins Glen International on the outside looking in as he sits 44 points behind the final transfer position.

FORD’S NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS

AT WATKINS GLEN

1965 – Marvin Panch

1993 – Mark Martin

1994 – Mark Martin

1995 – Mark Martin

1995 – Mark Martin

1996 – Geoffrey Bodine

2011 – Marcos Ambrose

2012 – Marcos Ambrose

2015 – Joey Logano

FORD’S NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS

AT WATKINS GLEN

1993 – Bill Elliott

2008 – Marcos Ambrose

2012 – Carl Edwards

2013 – Brad Keselowski

2014 – Marcos Ambrose

2015 – Joey Logano

2016 – Joey Logano

2018 – Joey Logano

2019 – Austin Cindric

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 10, 2024) – Mattress Warehouse, in collaboration with MOLECULE bedding, will serve as the primary sponsor of Spire Motorsports’ Nos. 7 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s at Watkins Glen International and Bristol Motor Speedway during the first round of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Playoffs.

Mattress Warehouse is the No. 1 independently-owned American mattress retailer with stores throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

NCS Rookie of the Year contender Carson Hocevar will showcase the Mattress Warehouse livery aboard his No. 77 Chevy in Sunday’s Go Bowling at the Glen while Corey LaJoie will carry the same colors on his No. 7 Camaro next weekend for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Spire Motorsports, in collaboration with MOLECULE bedding,” said Tracy Jones, Chief Marketing Officer of Mattress Warehouse. “This partnership goes beyond just increasing our visibility – it’s about connecting with the passionate NASCAR fan base who value quality and performance both on and off the track. We’re eager to bring our commitment to better sleep to this community, understanding that being at your best every day starts with a good night’s rest.”

Hocevar, 21, currently ranks 22nd in the NASCAR Cup Series championship point standings and leads the division’s rookie of the year contest. Over the course of the season’s first 27 races, Hocevar has notched four top-10 and nine top-15 finishes.

Meanwhile, LaJoie kicked off the 2024 campaign with a fourth-place finish in the season-opening Daytona 500 and has turned in two top-10, six top-15 and 10 top-20 finishes over the same stretch.

Mattress Warehouse will ramp up its presence by featuring LaJoie and Hocevar in its latest commercial spots, focusing on a commitment to quality sleep through its collaboration with MOLECULE, a mattress brand trusted by athletes and scientifically designed for peak performance.

LaJoie’s spot captures him reminiscing about the childhood dream of owning a race car bed—a memory that filled him with excitement. With a smile and a nudge from the Mattress Warehouse sales associate, the third-generation racer admits it’s time for an upgrade and ultimately chooses a MOLECULE mattress.

Hocevar makes his commercial debut with Mattress Warehouse by proudly reflecting on what it means to drive the No. 77 Chevy Camaro and, to be the best version of himself, he knows that a good night’s sleep is key.

In a second spot, Carson and his crew chief Luke Lambert dive into the precision required in racing, sharing how every detail of a driver’s training regimen must be perfectly tuned.

“Spire Motorsports is thrilled to have Mattress Warehouse and MOLECULE bedding come on board for the next two races and to showcase those brands during the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs,” said Todd Mackin, President of Spire Holdings, Spire Motorsports’ parent company. “It’s an exciting time for Spire Motorsports. We’re proud to introduce both brands to our race team and the NASCAR audience. Both Carson and Corey had a great time shooting the commercial spots and Carson’s crew chief Luke Lambert even got in on the action. The lead up has been a lot of fun and the cars look awesome. The icing on the cake will be seeing the cars on track at Watkins Glen and Bristol Motor Speedway.”

The Go Bowling at the Glen from Watkins Glen International will be televised live on USA Network Sunday, Sept. 15, beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 28th of 36 races on the 2024 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Countdown to Green on USA will take the green flag at 2:30 p.m. EDT.

About Mattress Warehouse …
Serving customers for 35 years, the Mattress Warehouse mission is clear: Improving lives through quality sleep. This is achieved by combining cutting edge technology with the expertise of highly trained sleep professionals, ensuring that every guest finds the perfect fit for their needs. With a commitment to offering the widest assortment of quality brands at unbeatable prices, Mattress Warehouse guests can rest assured that they’ve made a wise investment in their health and well-being.

About MOLECULE …
MOLECULE engineers cutting-edge sleep solutions that support active lifestyles with deep sleep recovery. Team MOLECULE includes renowned sleep doctors and neurologists, who possess decades of research and experience to help guide development of mattresses, toppers and pillows. Elite athletes like Michael Phelps trust MOLECULE to help them achieve peak performance.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2024, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Corey LaJoie, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively. The team also fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. An all-star driver lineup will rotate throughout the 2024 season in the No. 7 Chevy. Rajah Caruth drives the No. 71 entry and Chase Purdy rounds out the team’s fleet of Silverados in the No. 77.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.

NOAH GRAGSON
Watkins Glen Advance
No. 10 Bed Bath & Beyond Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Go Bowling at The Glen (Round 28 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Sept. 15
● Location: Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International
● Layout: 2.45-mile, seven-turn road course
● Laps/Miles: 90 laps / 220.5 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 20 laps / Stage 2: 20 laps / Final Stage: 50 laps
● TV/Radio: USA / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● The Go Bowling at The Glen Sunday at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International is the fourth of five road-course races on the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 10 Bed Bath & Beyond Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing, finished 34th in the series’ first road-course race of the year March 24 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. He then placed 26th in the series’ second road-course stop June 9 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. In his most recent road-course start on the streets of downtown Chicago for the July 7 Grant Park 165, Gragson finished 14th. After Watkins Glen, the final road-course race of the year takes place Oct. 12 at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval.

● The Go Bowling at The Glen will be Gragson’s first NASCAR Cup Series start at the 2.45-mile, seven-turn road course in Upstate New York, but that doesn’t mean the 26-year-old racer from Las Vegas isn’t familiar with its undulating layout. Gragson has three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Watkins Glen and finished among the top-10 each time, with his best result coming in his most recent drive at the track – a fourth-place finish in 2022.

● Gragson also has three NASCAR K&N Pro Series East starts at Watkins Glen, with his best effort coming in his debut at the track – eighth in the 2015 Bully Hill Vineyards 125.

● Across the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series, Gragson has made a total of 41 road-course starts – six in Cup, 21 in Xfinity, two in Trucks, two in ARCA and 10 in K&N – amassing four wins, 16 top-fives and 27 top-10s with 167 laps led.

● Gragson’s four road-course wins all came in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, and three were earned in a one-week stretch in September 2016. Gragson swept a pair of K&N Series West races at the Utah Motorsports Campus in Tooele, beating Todd Gilliland on Sept. 10 and then besting him again on Sept. 11 when Gragson took the lead from Gilliland on the last lap. Six days and 2,219 miles later at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, Gragson scored his third straight road-course win, this time in the K&N Series East where he beat Justin Haley. Gragson’s fourth and most recent road-course win was earned in the 2019 K&N Series West race at Sonoma.

● Compared to the other road courses on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, Watkins Glen is a power track – less finesse, more get-on-the-gas-and-go. Here’s a turn-by-turn explanation of the 2.45-mile, seven-turn road course that is Watkins Glen.

●  Turn 1: Once drivers take the green flag, they are immediately faced with a downhill trek into the first corner. Carrying a ton of speed down the straightaway, this is a heavy braking zone in order to get the car slowed down enough to make the right-hand turn. This is one of the best opportunities to make a pass, and this turn can get chaotic very quickly, especially on restarts.



​●  Turn 2: After making it through the first turn, the drivers hop on a short straight which leads them gradually uphill and into the second right-hand corner. This turn begins the ascent through the “esses” portion of the track.



​●  Turn 3: Continuing the uphill climb through the esses, this sweeping left-hander can be treacherous as drivers begin to carry more speed up the slope.



​●  Turn 4: This corner is the final portion of the esses. Drivers complete the uphill climb and the corner starts to level off, building up more speed as they enter the backstretch of the circuit.



​●  Inner Loop, aka the “Bus Stop”: The backstretch allows the drivers to gain a ton of momentum, which leads them into another heavy braking zone and into the inner loop, better known as the “bus stop” section of the course. Hot on the brakes upon entry, this is a great place to overtake someone before making a quick series of right- and left-hand turns. Lots of slipping, sliding and spinning happens here.



​●  Turn 5, aka the “Carousel”: This is a long, sweeping right-hander. Banked at 10 degrees, it is the steepest turn of the course, and it allows drivers to build up speed as they make their way onto the straightaway leading into turn six.



​●  Turn 6: After gaining speed while traveling down the 2,040-foot chute, drivers are approached with another heavy braking zone at the entrance of this left-hand corner. Competitors use this turn to either make a quick pass or to set themselves up for a pass heading into the final corner.



​●  Turn 7: Once they are through turn six, a short chute gives the drivers just enough time to adjust to make a good angle through the final corner. This is another chance to make a quality pass as the right-hand bend trickles drivers onto the frontstretch and down to the start-finish line.

● Bed Bath & Beyond adorns Gragson’s No. 10 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at The Glen. The partnership celebrates Bed Bath & Beyond as the ultimate online destination for home essentials, featuring an unmatched assortment for every room of the house. Whether it’s your kitchen, bedroom, outdoor space or bathroom, Bed Bath & Beyond has what you need to create a space that feels uniquely yours. From cookware and bedding to bath accessories and beyond, Bed Bath & Beyond is your go-to source for functional and stylish home essentials.

Noah Gragson, Driver of the No. 10 Bed Bath & Beyond Ford Mustang Dark Horse

How would you rate yourself as a road-course driver?

“I would probably rate myself, on a scale of 1-10, as a seven on road courses. Not terrible, but always trying to improve. I felt like I picked up road-course racing pretty well and had a lot of success in the Legend Car ranks and Bandoleros, and then moving on up into the K&N Series, I ran really well. I had opportunities to win some Truck races, ran in the top-five a lot and led laps in the Xfinity Series, but never got a win in either Trucks or Xfinity, but was always a contender. But then in the Cup Series, man, it’s challenging, everybody’s good. You used to have the road-course ringers, but now, not so much. I used to take a lot more pride in my road-course efforts coming up through the ranks, but now everybody’s so super good that I’m probably an average guy. I don’t think I’m terrible at it, but I’m not elite at it, either.”

Some guys like road courses, others don’t. Where do you stand when it comes to competing on road courses?

“We used to just have two or three, or maybe only one on the Truck schedule, and my thinking was, ‘Oh man, this’ll be cool, I’ll get to do something different.’ Now there are five road courses – at one point, there were seven on the schedule – so it’s a big chunk of our season. You have to be good at it, but I’d also say it’s just another race where you have to carry the same amount of intensity. It felt a little more unique and special when there was just a limited number of road courses.”

Six Cup Series starts on road courses and 21 road-course starts in Xfinity, where you finished among the top-five nearly 50 percent of the time, and top-10 all but three times. You’ve had success on road courses, but what makes success on road courses at the Cup level so much harder?

“Cup cars are definitely a lot different to drive than Trucks, Xfinity cars and K&N cars. They’re more like a sports car with the independent rear suspension, so just trying to figure that out – my first-ever road-course race in a Cup car came at the Roval in 2022 and the shifting, everything, is just a little bit different than what you’re used to. The brakes are massive, you can really push the braking zones, and you’re just hustling the car all the way around the racetrack. You can’t hit curbs as much because of the shock limiters where you used to just motor over curbs. They’re a lot more aggressive with the front steering, so you can maneuver very well with these cars, and they respond very well. It’s kind of a mix between an F1 car and one of the old stock cars like the Gen 6 stock car with how you get around these tracks. But with that being said, it’s been a little bit of a change of pace, but it’s been a lot of fun.”

What do you work on to become a better road-course racer?

“I think just constant reps in the sim has been the best for me. I’ve also worked with Carter Fartuch, who’s been a road-course instructor at the Skip Barber Racing School at COTA. Been there for two years now, got a lot of help from him, he’s been a big part of our road-course program the last two years, so that was really good and I appreciate his knowledge. On top of that, just a lot of laps in the simulator seeing where you can try different things and improve your times.”

The current Cup cars seem exceptionally suited to road-course racing to where they’re forgiving and drivers aren’t penalized for mistakes. Because of that, it seems like there’s more rooting and gouging out on the racetrack than ever before. What’s your take?

“I don’t know if it’s harder to pass, but everyone’s really, really close on their lap times, so the final restarts are just chaos. You’ve got to screw the other guy before he screws you on a restart. If you spin him out, so be it, or else you’re going to be the one being spun out. It makes it exciting for the fans, I can say that.”

With track position at such a premium on road courses, can you afford to be nice, or do you need to have a selfish and unforgiving attitude?

“I definitely think it ramps up late in the race. You let guys go in certain areas, like if it’s the middle of the race and there’s no point in abusing your stuff, especially if you’re not the leader or going for the lead, there’s no point. I always felt like there’s time lost to the leader when you’re battling a guy, you’re just slowing each other down. You’re not going to get lapped, but you’re still slowing each other down. If he runs you down, just point him by and let him go because you’re only losing time to the leader.”

How important is qualifying at road courses? Has it become a bit like Formula One where track position is so precious that in order to finish up front, you really need to start up front?

“Absolutely. It’s really hard to pass. Everybody is so close on speed, especially in the Cup Series. With this NextGen car on these road courses, it definitely is somewhat like Formula One, where the winner’s probably going to come from the top-five unless there’s somebody absolutely elite and they messed up their qualifying lap and start deeper in the field. But everyone’s so close that it’s really hard to find that advantage, so between strategy and starting up front, that’s where these races are won.”

No. 10 Bed Bath & Beyond Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Noah Gragson

Hometown: Las Vegas

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: James Kimbrough

Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Andy Houston

Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder

Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard

Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotten

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener

Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Beau Whitley

Hometown: Carmel, Indiana

Tire Specialist: Jacob Cooksey

Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Steve Casper

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Martin Truex Jr.
Watkins Glen Advance
No. 19 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Go Bowling at the Glen (Round 27 of 36)
● Time/Date: 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Sept. 15
● Location: Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International
● Layout: 2.45-mile, 7-turn road course
● Laps/Miles: 90 laps / 220.5 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 20 laps / Stage 2: 20 laps / Final Stage: 50 laps
● TV/Radio: USA Network / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Playoffs Underway: After being involved in an accident in last Sunday’s playoff opener at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the New Jersey native sits 15th out of 16 drivers in the playoff grid, 19 points below the top-12 cutline with two races remaining in the Round of 16.

● Road-Course Ace: Truex has a total of five wins, 13 top-five finishes, and 19 top-10s at the three permanent road-course venues on the Cup Series schedule – Sonoma, Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, and Watkins Glen. Four of those wins came at Sonoma and one at Watkins Glen.

● Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen marks the fourth of five road-course races on the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. Truex finished 10th in the first road-course race of the year March 24 at COTA before finishing 27th on June 9 win at Sonoma where he was running 2nd when he ran out of fuel on the last lap. Next, he finished 33rd in the series’ second visit to downtown Chicago street course on July 7. The final road-course race of the season is Oct. 13 on the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval.

● Reser’s returns to Watkins Glen this weekend after being featured on Truex’s No. 19 Camry at both Iowa Speedway in Newton and New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon back in June. Family owned and operated, Reser’s has been a proud sponsor of good times at racetracks, picnics, and barbecues since 1950 with a family of brands that includes Reser’s American Classics, Main St. Bistro, and more. Reser’s operates 14 facilities in the U.S. and Canada and actively supports the communities it serves. Visit resers.com to learn more.

● Looking for 35: Truex’s win at New Hampshire last July was his most recent Cup Series win, the 34th of his career, tying him with 2004 champion Kurt Busch for 25th on the all-time Cup Series win list.

● Ahead at this Stage: Truex has accumulated 63 stage wins since the beginning of the stage era in 2017. He is the only driver with 10 or more stage sweeps, with his latest sweep coming at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn last August. Truex scored his second stage win of the season at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway in April, leading the field across the line at the end of Stage 1.

Martin Truex Jr., Driver of the No. 19 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota Camry XSE

If tire degradation is as serious as we think for Watkins Glen, how much does that affect strategy?

“It seems that way (flipping the stage) and can be a good thing for me, personally. And it’d be a good thing for passing. Watkins Glen is so fast, and we’ve gone there the last few years with no tire fall off, so you can’t get close enough to a guy to make a pass. It’s simple as physics, right? You go up through the esses and lose five-to-six car lengths, it’s over. So, it’s going to help us be able to make passes if our car is good and that’s what we need at those kinds of places with our Reser’s Fine Foods Camry this weekend.”

What is your perspective on the overall first round of the Playoffs?

“I mean, as crazy as it can be certain places and has been in the past, whatever you do, just race one at a time. Take one at a time and hopefully, you have a good race and go home and say you made it through one and let’s focus on the next one. That’s all you can really do. We obviously weren’t able to do that at Atlanta, but you have to now look forward to Watkins Glen and get the most out of what we can there this weekend and then focus on Bristol after that. You just can’t look back or forward too far.”

Hendrick Motorsports has won the last five races at Watkins Glen. How do you stop them?

“We’ve been fast (there, Watkins Glen) for sure. Not as much in the Next Gen car. But it’s going to be a lot different this time around, so open minded and we’ll prepare as hard as we can and see what shakes out.”

How much do you lean on being a past champion?

“Yeah, quite a lot, I guess. It’s easier to deal with the emotions when you’ve been through it before and you’re not scared to death thinking your career is going to be over you’re not going to win a championship, as you already have. It helps keeping you calm and focused and hopefully it’ll help us.”

How important is getting the corner right in turn one heading up into the esses to set up the rest of your lap at Watkins Glen?

“It’s a tough corner. It’s downhill and bumpy and heaving-braking, it sets up the whole run through the esses. The esses are really fast and you have to come out of (turn) one up to speed. If you bleed time off of turn one, your whole lap is over, so it’s very critical. It’s a high-speed track and a momentum track so they are all critical spots, but that’s what starts the lap, so it’s the first most important part there. And, if you make it through there, you have to navigate the bus stop and that’s probably the biggest challenge at the track.”

No. 19 Reser’s Fine Foods Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Martin Truex Jr.

Hometown: Mayetta, New Jersey

Crew Chief: James Small

Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

Car Chief: Chris Jones

Hometown: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Race Engineer: Jaik Halpainy

Hometown: Blockville, New York

Spotter: Drew Herring

Hometown: Benson, North Carolina

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Ryan Martin

Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Virgina

Mechanic: Todd Carmichael

Hometown: Redding, California

Interior/Tire Specialist: Tommy DiBlasi

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Engine Tuner: Beau Morton

Hometown: Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Transporter Driver: Kyle Bazzell

Hometown: Fairbury, Illinois

Transporter Driver: Eddie DeGroot

Hometown: Baldwinsville, New York

Over-The-Wall Crew Members

Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jackman: Caleb Dirks

Hometown: Riverside, California

Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey

Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

Front Tire Changer: Thomas Hatcher

Hometown: Middleburg, Florida

Rear Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham

Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois