Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – Watkins Glen (2023)
Watkins Glen Top Ten Starters
- Denny Hamlin
- William Byron
- Michael McDowell
- Ty Gibbs
- Kyle Larson
- AJ Allmendinger
- Christopher Bell
- Tyler Reddick
- Kyle Busch
- Corey LaJoie
Watkins Glen Pre-Race Notes
Drivers who started in the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments: Brad Keselowski, Justin Haley, Corey LaJoie, Cole Custer and Corey LaJoie.
There were no Stage breaks in the race.
Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 20): 34,24,11,54,16,5,20,23,8,45
Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 40): 24,11,54,5,16,20,9,8,23,3
Watkins Glen Race Notes
Denny Hamlin who started in 2nd on the inside row led the opening 3 laps.
On lap 4, Michael McDowell took the lead and then led the next 17 laps.
Big: On lap 5 while running in 10th, Daniel Suarez spun coming off the bus stop and got into the inside wall. No caution came out. He went over a curb and got behind on steering. It dropped him back to the mid 20’s.
Running order on lap 6: 34,24,11,54,16,5,45,20,23,8 … 22,3,9,2,17,48,19,1,14,47 … 42,12,41,99,38,77,7,21,15,43 … 78,4,31,10,6,51
Notable: On lap 8, Harrison Burton had a harmless spin while running in 28th. No caution came out. It dropped him to the back. Burton had flat spotted tires and had to make an unexpected pit stop.
Running on lap 15: 34,24,11,54,16,5,20,23,8,45 … 22,3,9,2,17,48,19,1,14,12 … 42,41,7,38,99,77,15,4,6,43 … 10,78,31,51,14,21
On lap 17, an opening round of extended green flag pit stops started.
On lap 17 during his green flag pit stop, Martin Truex Jr.’s car wasn’t where he wanted.
Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 20): 34,24,11,54,16,5,20,23,8,45
Running order on lap 21: 34,24,11,54,16,5,20,23,8,45 … 17,1,42,6,15,4,43,78,31,51 … 3,7,9,22,14,19,41,12,48,2 … 47,38,99,77,10,21
Big: On lap 22 after doing his green flag pit stop, Michael McDowell was penalized for driving thru too many pit stalls. McDowell was the leader prior to his pit stop. It only dropped him back to 15th.
Running order on lap 29: 24,11,54,16,5,20,6(only driver who didn’t pit yet),9,23,8 …45,3,22,14,34,19,12,48,17,1 … 2,47,41,7,38,99,10,4,42,77 … 43,31,78,51,15,21
Running order on lap 38: 24,11,54,5,16,20,9,8,23,45 … 3,34,22,14,19,12,17,1,48,2 … 47,41,7,38,99,4,10,42,6,43 … 31,78,51,77,15,21
Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 40): 24,11,54,5,16,20,9,8,23,3
Running order on lap 45: 24,11,54,5,16,20,8,9,23,3 … 34,45,22,14,19,12,17,1,48,41 … 7,47,38,2,99,4,6,10,42,43 … 31,78,51,15,77,21
Running order on lap 50: 24,11,5,54,16,20,8,9,34,23 … 3,19,22,12,45,17,1,48,41,7 … 47,38,99,4,6,2,10,42,43,31 … 78,51,15,77,21,14
Notable: On lap 55, Michael McDowell got another pit road penalty for his team going over the wall too soon.
Big: On lap 55, Chase Elliott was off pace. He was running in 7th at the time. Elliott ran out of gas. This was the only caution of the race.
Big: Kyle Larson was caught speeding while running in 3rd during his green flag pit stop around lap 55.
Running order on lap 55 under caution (during an extended green flag pit cycle): 24,16,8,23,3,11,20,5,1,54 … 48,7,6,4,42,43,31,19,12,17
Notable: On lap 58 under caution, Alex Bowman pitted before pit road was open because he didn’t want to run out of gas like the #9 did.
Running order on lap 60: 24,11,20,16,54,19,12,17,22,34 … 45,38,41,47,2,23,3,6,5,8 … 7,4,10,34,42,48,78,15,99,5 … 51,43,77,21,9,14
Running order on lap 68: 24,11,20,16,54,19,17,34,45,12 … 22,38,47,23,6,2,8,41,1,3 … 5,7,42,4,99,48,15,10,78,43 … 31,51,9,14,21,77
Running order on lap 74: 24,11,20,16,54,19,17,34,45,12 … 22,38,47,23,6,8,2,41,1,3 … 5,7,42,4,99,48,15,31,78,43 … 51,10,9,21,77,14
Big: On lap 76, Michael McDowell was crawling around the track. He was running in 7th prior to his problem. McDowell had electrical problems, and it marked the end of his race.
Running order on lap 80 (10 to go): 24,11,20,16,54,19,17,45,12,22 … 38,47,23,6,8,2,41,1,5,3 … 7,42,4,99,48,15,31,78,43,51 … 10,9,21,77,14,34
Big: On the last lap in the last turn, Austin Dillon who was running in 20th was spun after contact with Kyle Larson. Larson spun too but he got refired pretty quickly. They were battling for 19th.