Watkins Glen makes playoff debut and other stories to watch during NASCAR weekend

NASCAR Cup Series playoff racing comes to Watkins Glen International for the first time this weekend.

Watkins Glen's foray into playoff participation arrives part and parcel with the race's September debut after it had been a regular August stop for the series since 1986. The event moves back to August in 2025 and will again be one of the final races before the playoff field is set.

The Go Bowling at The Glen is set for a 3 p.m. start Sunday, culminating a three-day race weekend at the road course.

Also on the schedule are Friday's 5 p.m. General Tire 100 at The Glen, an ARCA Menards Series race; and Saturday's 3 p.m. Xfinity Series Mission 200 at The Glen.

Here are four storylines to follow this weekend.

More: What you need to know about NASCAR Weekend at Watkins Glen International

Drivers battle to advance in playoffs

Watkins Glen is the second of 10 playoff races on the schedule and the middle event of three in the round of 16. A champion will be crowned Nov. 10 at Phoenix Raceway.

Joey Logano won last weekend's playoff opener in Atlanta , securing a berth in the round of 12. Winners at Watkins Glen and next week's Bristol race also advance to the second round while four drivers will be eliminated based on points.

The four drivers on the outside looking in heading to Watkins Glen are Brad Keselowski, Harrison Burton, Martin Truex Jr. and Chase Briscoe. Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin and Ty Gibbs hold spots 10 to 12.

Of those in the final seven positions, two-time winner Larson, Hamlin and Truex have victories at WGI.

The top nine playoff drivers start with Logano, followed by Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, William Byron, Alex Bowman, Austin Cindric, Chase Elliott and Daniel Suarez.

Hendrick Motorsports tries to continue Glen dominance

The last five Cup winners at Watkins Glen have been from the Hendrick Motorsports stable. The streak began with Elliott in 2018 and 2019, followed by Larson in 2021 and 2022, and Byron last year.

With Larson's tenuous position in the championship hunt, Watkins Glen's appearance on the schedule is welcome timing. He comes off a 37th-place finish at Atlanta following a scary wreck that also involved Briscoe.

"I'm definitely excited to get to Watkins Glen," Larson said. "I read a stat last night I don't think Hendrick Motorsports has lost there since 2017."

How will tire change impact the race?

A new tire compound will be used this weekend that Goodyear director of racing Greg Stucker said will create more falloff and passing potential. Based on a two-day, three-team test at Watkins Glen on June 26 and 27, plus other test data, the expectation is the tread will create at least two to three seconds of falloff per lap.

The change is expected to create more passing opportunities on the 2.45-mile circuit. Byron led 66 of 90 laps last year during his win at Watkins Glen, a far cry from the type of white-knuckle racing that helped the track win Best NASCAR Track four times from 2015 to 2020 in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice voting.

"It’s always tricky on road courses as drivers take advantage of a limited number of passing zones, so the increased falloff should lead to more comers and goers as some drivers manage their tires and gain on the field as the runs go on," Stucker said in a story that appeared on NASCAR's website.

The introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022 has made passing more challenging, particularly at short tracks and road courses.

"Watkins Glen is so fast, and we've gone through there the last few years with no tire falloff, so you can't get close enough to a guy to make a pass," said Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. "It's simple as physics, right? You go up through the Esses and lose five to six car lengths, it's over. So it's going to help us be able to make passes if our car is good and that's what we need at those kinds of places."

Byron said having 40 minutes of practice instead of 20 will make a difference.

"You're going to have more time to figure out what that pace drop-off is and I think you'll make your adjustments from there," he said.

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Glen farewell for Truex?

Truex has been among the more popular and successful drivers at Watkins Glen International. He won the track's 2017 race and has eight other top-six finishes in 17 career Cup starts there.

The 2017 Cup Series champion announced in June he is retiring from full-time NASCAR competition, leaving the possibility Sunday will be his final race at a track he has called one of his favorites .

Truex, who was involved in an accident at Atlanta to a 35th-place finish, said having that title under his belt eases playoff pressure.

"It’s easier to deal with the emotions when you’ve been through it before and you’re not scared to death thinking your career is going to be over, you’re not going to win a championship, as you already have," Truex said. "It helps keeping you calm and focused and hopefully it’ll help us."

Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter: @SGAndrewLegare . You can also reach him at alegare@gannett.com . To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today

This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Watkins Glen makes playoff debut and other stories to watch during NASCAR weekend