The Low Tier – Watkins Glen
Cody Ware – Among normal low-tier drivers, Cody Ware who pilots the family car has the most job stability and he’s the only usual who isn’t replaced by a road course ringer. At Watkins Glen, Ware only has one Cup start on his resume and back in 2019 he finished 33rd. At Indy, the most recent road course visited, Ware finished 24th. At the other three road courses visited this year where the attrition rate wasn’t apocalyptic, Ware went 3 for 3 at finishing between 27th to 32nd. On Sunday, I would pencil him in for a result around that range.
Mike Rockenfeller – At Watkins Glen, road course ringer Mike Rockenfeller will be making his Cup debut driving the #77. Josh Bilicki in this equipment has finished in the 20’s in 3 of the 4 races at road courses this year, so I guess naturally the #77 team is getting greedy (joke). Rockenfeller has never driven in any level of NASCAR competition before, so keep your expectations low. This year at road courses, the #77 has results of 22nd (COTA, Bilicki), 29th (Sonoma, Bilicki), 36th (Road America, Bilicki) and 22nd (Indy RC, Bilicki).
Kyle Tilley – At Watkins Glen, Kyle Tilley will be back piloting the #78, A.K.A, BJ McLeod’s car. Tilley piloted this car last year at Watkins Glen and came home 30th, and that’s likely about his fantasy ceiling once again unless the attrition rates spikes. At Road America, Tilley’s only prior Cup start this year he piloted the #78 once again and that afternoon he also finished 30th. I guess, pencil him in for 30th.
Daniil Kvyat – At Watkins Glen, Daniil Kvyat will be returning to pilot the #26. He’s in the same high risk equipment failure situation that his teammate, Hezemans is in. At the Indy Road Course, his only previous Cup start he had an equipment failure that was attributed to suspension, and it led to him finishing 36th. I don’t foresee anything good coming from picking him.
Loris Hezemans – At Watkins Glen, I’m going to pencil in Loris Hezemans in for an equipment failure of some sort. This year at road courses, he’s 3 for 3 at getting equipment DNF’s of different sorts and his results are 34th (COTA), 37th (Road America) and 37th (Indy RC)
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