2024 NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at the Glen Preview
Photo: Jeffery T. Barnes/AP
The second race of the Playoffs for the NASCAR Cup Series heads to the finger lakes at Watkins Glen International. Coverage for the ‘Go Bowling at the Glen’ begins at 3PM EST on USA.
Last year’s race was won by William Byron in dominating fashion, leading 66 of the 90 laps at the Glen. It was also the last Cup race ran without throwing cautions at the end of the stages.
Best Bets for Cup
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Best Bets for Cup |
Kyle Larson +500 | Top 5 -120 | Top 10 -400
Kyle Larson enters this weekend as the favorite to win alongside Shane van Gisbergen. While SVG has struggled to finish better than 20th this year in Cup competition, Larson hasn’t had that issue. He’s won twice at Watkins Glen in 2021 and 2022 and has qualified 6th or better in every Cup race since 2015. After crashing out in Atlanta last weekend, Larson will look to have a better weekend at the Glen.
Tyler Reddick +750 | Top 5 +100 | Top 10 -340
Tyler Reddick has two wins to his name in 2024 and none of them have come on a road course. Reddick is known as a front runner for the road course races, having led the most laps in the most recent road course race for the Cup Series at Sonoma with 35 laps. Reddick has finished all three of his cup starts inside the Top 10 at the Glen, with his best finish coming in 7th. He enters +33 to the cut off line, so as long as he’s up front, he’ll be locked into the next round.
William Byron +800 | Top 5 +105 | Top 10 -300
William Byron went to victory lane in last year’s race, dominating with 66 laps led. Byron, along with his Hendrick Motorsports teammates, will look to defend Watkins Glen as their racetrack, as they’ve won every Cup race at the road course since 2018. Byron also has a road course win earlier in the year at COTA, and he enters +33 to the cutoff line, so expect the #24 to have a fast car to lock himself in the Round of 12.
Christopher Bell +1200 | Top 5 +155 | Top 10 -200
Christopher Bell enters this weekend +40 to the cut line, at a race track where he’s been consistent at since his move to the Cup Series. Bell has finished 8th or better in all three of his Cup starts since 2021, his best coming last year in 3rd. Bell should have a Top 5 car for the weekend, as he looks to secure a win and add to his bonus points for the next round of the Playoffs.
AJ Allmendinger +1400 | Top 5 +180 | Top 10 -175
AJ Allmendinger makes another appearance in the Cup Series for Kaulig Racing this weekend. He’s looking to play spoiler at Watkins Glen like he did in 2014 for his first Cup Series win of his career. He’s finished inside the Top 5 in his last two Cup races at the Glen since returning to Cup Series competition in 2022. He’ll have a solid chance this weekend, where he’ll have more practice with the Xfinity Series race on Saturday.
Juan Pablo Montoya +3000 | Top 5 +380 | Top 10 +110
Juan Pablo Montoya will be making his first NASCAR start this Sunday since 2014 at Indianapolis. He’ll be driving the #50 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing. Montoya has been to victory lane at Watkins Glen before in 2010, but that was a different generation of cars, drivers, and even the track itself. Nonetheless, it will be refreshing to see Juan Pablo Montoya back in NASCAR competition this Sunday.
Todd Gilliland +10000 | Top 5 +1200 | Top 10 +360
Todd Gilliland is one of the more underrated drivers in the field, especially when it comes to road courses. He finished 11th at Watkins Glen last year, drastically better than the 38th place finish he had in 2022. Gilliland also has some Top 10 finishes earlier this year at Sonoma and Chicago. He’ll lean on his Front Row Motorsports teammate, Michael McDowell, for some extra pointers, but for the most part he’ll be one of the drivers to keep an eye on for a Top 10 run.