The first race in the month of August is coming right up at Watkins Glen International. With only four races left before the playoffs, which driver is going to come away with a victory this weekend? Check out our preview of two favorites, a pair of sleepers, and a long shot for the 2021 Go Bowling at the Glen.
Larson has seemingly cooled off as of late, but he’s still a heavyweight this season. He finished 16th in the 2021 Jockey Made in America 250 and 18th a week after at the 2021 Quaker State 400 presented by Kwik Trip. The upcoming race at Watkins Glen should give Larson a chance to get another win, especially since he’s been solid there in his career. While he’s yet to win a race at Watkins Glen, his career average finish there is 13.67 across six starts., He finished sixth in the 2018 GoBowling at The Glen and eighth in the 2019 edition of the GoBowling at The Glen.
Truex should definitely be a driver to watch out for this coming weekend. It’s not only because he’s got three wins on the season to go with seven top 5s and 11 top 10s, but also since he’s been among the strongest drivers at Watkins Glen. He has finished inside the top 10 in each of his last four appearances at Watkins Glen, a stretch that includes his win in the 2017 I LOVE NEW YORK 355 at The Glen.
After his debacle in the Pocono 350, Elliot has come out strong in the next two races. He won the 2021 Jockey Made in America 250 then finished seventh in the 2021 Quaker State 400 presented by Kwik Trip last Sunday. That’s a great setup for him heading to Watkins Glen, where he’s been among the best — if not the best in the current group of active drivers. After all, he’s won the last two times he raced there and out of the cour career starts he has had at Watkins Glen, he’s never finished outside of the top 13.
In 20 starts this season, Jones has only managed a pair of top 10s and a total of seven laps led. You can choose to focus on that. Or you can feel encouraged for him over the fact that he’s got a career average finish of 6.33 in three starts at Watkins Glens International.
Wallace is showing some stability lately. He has cracked the top 15 in three of his last four starts overall, including a season-best fifth place in the 2021 Explore the Pocono Mountains 350 at Pocono Raceway back in June. He hasn’t finished better than 25th in either of his two career stars at Watkins Glen International, but it’s fair to expect Wallace will have a better showing this time around there.
Houff is coming off a 35th-place performance in the 2021 Quaker State 400 presented by Kwik Trip, which extended his streak of sub-30 finishes to five starts. Outside of his 15th-place performance in the All-Star Open Race, the best showing he’s had thus far this season was a 24th in the 2021 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 last April.
Writer’s Prediction
Chase Elliott wins the 2021 Go Bowling at the Glen.
