The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ fall stop at Martinsville Speedway has always figured large in the season championship. But the significance of this year’s Goody’s® Headache Relief Shot® 500 cannot be understated.
“This is a race that I’ve been looking forward to all year. I love road racing and coming off the win at Sonoma we feel like this is a great opportunity for our team to go get some bonus points and have a little more fun before the Chase starts. It’s a huge weekend for our 99 team driving the Cheez-It Ford with Kellogg’s Cheez-It being the title sponsor of the race.
“We learned a lot last year at Watkins Glen, and for me the seat time at the road courses is so valuable. I felt like we had a decent run going on at Sonoma earlier this year, so hopefully that will help this weekend. Pit strategy and track position are key at Watkins Glen, so we will have a plan heading into Sunday and hopefully leave there with a top-10 finish.”
After searching for speed and coming up short the first couple events the Hawn Motorsports 2014 season, Tyler Hawn looks to have turned a corner for the better as he would post a sixth place feature finish at Peterborough Speedway on Saturday night.
Hanover Holiday Modifieds Heats and 25 lap Feature. Super late Models Heats and 50 lap Feature. Mini Stock Nationals round 2, with Heat races, B Main and 30 lap Feature. The Dirt Pro Late Models with Heats and 20 lap Feature event, Hurricane Midgets Heats and Features, 4 Funs 20 lap Feature event.
Carlos Contreras is back behind the wheel of the No. 44 38 Special/Ingersoll Rand/Voli Camry this weekend for the second NNS road course race of 2014. Contreras has two previous starts at the 11-turn road course circuit, and has an average starting position of 20.0 and an average finishing position of 32.0. Earlier this season, Contreras finish 15th at Road America in the No. 44 Camry and is ready to take on The Glen this weekend.
Eric McClure will be making his sixth Nationwide Series start at Watkins Glen International on Saturday afternoon. His best finish at the 2.45-mile, 11-turn road course dates back to 2012 when he crossed the finish line in the 26th spot. One year ago, McClure was on course to earning a track-best finish when a tie-rod broke on the No. 14 Camry with 21 laps remaining. Although the team made quick repairs, there wasn't enough time to make up the ground lost in the pits resulting in a 28th-place finish.
There is no week like it the rest of the season. A preliminary night, with heavily inverted and stacked heat races, that can make or break the rest of the week. Crucial event-points earned each time a driver takes the track. Over 100 cars entered for just 24 starting spots. It is a pressure-filled equation called the Knoxville Nationals at the famed Knoxville Raceway in Iowa.
McMurray at The Glen: McMurray has made 11 previous starts at Watkins Glen. He has one top-five, two top-ten finishes and has led 13 laps. McMurray has an average starting position of 15.5 and an average finish of 19.5. He has completed 895 of 994 (90%) laps of competition. His best qualifying result was a front row start from the second position in 2010 and a best finish of third in 2006.
After a 16th place finish last weekend in the "American Heartland", Mike Bliss and the No. 19 TriStar Motorsports Camry are ready to take on the meandering 11-turn road course in Watkins Glen, New York. With seven previous NNS starts at the 3.4-mile course, Bliss has an average starting position of 24.1 and an average finishing position of 23.0. After his 10th place finish at Road America in June, Bliss is ready to battle the left and right turns at Watkins Glen International.
