It’s the second road course race of the year for the Monster Energy Cup Series with the GoBowling 400 from Watkins Glen International.
Along with the left and right turns, the drivers must also pit backwards to what they normally are used to doing.
Again this week the NBC Sports team will employ the radio style broadcast with Mike Bagley, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and Jeff Burton calling the race from spots on the track.
In a return to group qualifying, Chase Elliott is looking to defend his race title from the pole with a time of one minute 9.267 seconds with team mate William Byron starting alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the GoBowling 400:
Chase Elliott
William Byron
Kyle Busch
Martin Truex JR
Kyle Larson
Denny Hamlin
Kurt Busch
Jimmie Johnson
Aric Almirola
Brad Keselowski
Michael McDowell
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Clint Bowyer
Erik Jones
Kevin Harvick
Chris Buescher
Alex Bowman
Daniel Suarez
Ryan Blaney
Matt DiBenedetto
Joey Logano
Paul Menard
Daniel Hemric
Parker Kligerman
Ryan Newman
Matt Tifft
Ty Dillon
Austin Dillon
Ryan Preece
Bubba Wallace
David Ragan
Ross Chastain
Corey LaJoie
Landon Cassill
Cody Ware
Josh Bilicki
Reed Sorenson
Ryan Blaney’s team had to make adjustments to the car after inspection; as a result, Blaney will have to start the race from the back of the field.
Stages one and to of the race are 20 laps each with stage three lasting 50 laps for a total of 90 laps around the 2.45 mile road course.
Defending his title as race winner last year, Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag start of the race and edges out in front of William Byron for the lead.
Kyle Busch spins out but he gets the car straightened out and keeps going, the track stays green.
Lap three, Chase Elliott has pulled out to a lead of nearly two seconds on William Byron. Kyle Busch ended up in tenth place after spinning out.
Lap four, Chase Elliott has increased his lead to nearly two and a half seconds over team mate William Bryon. Kyle Busch has moved up to eighth place.
Lap seven, Chase Elliott now has a lead of three seconds over William Byron.
Aric Almirola is reporting issues with his shifter.
Lap nine, Chase Elliott has a three second lead on William Byron; Kyle Busch has just passed Brad Keselowski for seventh.
Lap eleven Chase Elliott has a lead of over four seconds on Denny Hamlin.
Lap 12, Chase Elliott is driving away with it; he has a lead of over five seconds on Denny Hamlin.
Lap 14, Chase Elliott has pulled out to a six second lead on Denny Hamlin.
Three laps to go in stage one, Chase Elliott holds on to a six second lead on Denny Hamlin.
A few of the drivers are beginning to make pit stops short of the end of stage one.
Drivers can make a pit stop at Watkins Glen without losing a lap.
William Byron has a lot of grass on his grille.
Chase Elliott wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Chase Elliott
Denny Hamlin
Martin Truex Jr
Kyle Busch
William Byron
Jimmie Johnson
Kyle Larson
Erik Jones
Kurt Busch
Aric Almirola
Drivers bring their cars down pit road for service. Chase Elliott wins the race off of pit road with Kyle Busch right behind. Brad Keselowski came out in third after taking only fuel.
Kyle Busch was caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.
After pit stops,, Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two and edges out Kevin Harvick for the lead.
The drivers are getting three wide across the track causing a number of on track issues, but the track stays green.
Lap 26, Kyle Larson has a one second lead on Kevin Harvick with Chase Elliott in third place..
Parker Kligerman spins out on the track after making contact with Daniel Suarez, the track stays green.
Joey Logano has some grass on his grille.
Lap 27, Kyle Larson has a second and a half lead on Kevin Harvick. Kyle Busch has moved up to 24th place.
Lap 28, Chase Elliott gets around Kevin Harvick for second place a second and a half behind leader Kyle Larson.
Lap 29, Chase Elliott is once again leading the race after Kyle Larson makes his pit stop. Kyle Busch has moved up to 19th place.
Lap 32, Chase Elliott has a second and a half lead on Kevin Harvick with Martin Truex Jr in third. Kyle Busch has moved through the field and is now in 15th place after starting the stage from the back of the field.
Lap 33, Reed Sorenson brings out the caution flag with a smoking car for some mechanical issue.
A few drivers bring their cars down pit road for service.
Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 36and edges out Kevin Harvick for the lead. Martin Truex Jr gets around Kevin Harvick for second as the stage two laps wind down.
Drivers are getting three and four wide around the track, battling for position.
With only two laps remaining in stage two, Martin Truex Jr is challenging leader Chase Elliott for the top spot.
Bubba Wallace brings out the caution flag when he gets into the tire barrier and has a lot of damage to the back of his car.
Chase Elliott wins stage two under caution.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Chase Elliott
Martin Truex Jr
Kevin Harvick
Clint Bowyer
Denny Hamlin
Brad Keselowski
Alex Bowman
Erik Jones
Ryan Blaney
Jimmie Johnson
Josh Bilicki was charged with leaving pit road with equipment and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.
Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 44 and beats out Martin Truex Jr for the lead.
Lap 47,Chase Elliott has a half second lead on Martin Truex Jr.
Lap 49, Chase Elliott has increased his lead over Martin Truex Jr to over half a second.
Ryan Newman brings his car down pit road with a flat tire.
Daniel Hemric gets turned around on the track and has heavy damage to his car. Ty Dillon has some grass on his grille and has to bring his car down pit road to get it cleaned off. Grass on the grilles has been a major issue during the race.
NBCSports reports that Brad Keselowski did not get his tank full of fuel.
Lap 55, Martin Truex Jr has caught up to leader Chase Elliott and is challenging for the lead.
Lap 57, the battle between Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr continues with Kevin Harvick in third over nine seconds back.
Thirty five laps remain in the race, drivers still have to make one more pit stop.
Green flag pti stops have begun with several drivers coming in for service.
Lap 59, leader Chase Elliott makes his pit stop. Martin Truex Jr is the new leader.
Lap 60, leader Martin Truex Jr makes his green flag pit stop. Paul Menard is the new leader.
The caution flag comes out on lap 62 when Bubba Wallace makes contact with Kyle Busch and turns Busch around. Jimmie Johnson gets loose and gets into the tire barrier.
Clint Bowyer is having issues with tires getting cut.
Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart with 25 laps remaining in the race and battles Martin Truex Jr for the lead before edging out in front for the lead.
Leader Chase Elliott is reporting that he may have a left rear tire issue.
Austin Dillon gets turned around but he gets the car moving again and the track stays green.
Lap 69, Chase Elliott continues to dominate the race with a lead of over half a second on Martin Truex Jr.
Eighteen to go, Chase Elliott continues to lead the race as he once again has to hold off Martin Truex Jr. Last year it was down to Elliott and Truex with Elliott winning the race.
Fifteen to go, Chase Elliott has dominated the race and continues with a half second lead over Martin Truex Jr.
Eleven to go, Chase Elliott is in the lead but Martin Truex Jr is within a few car lengths of the leader as he tries to catch and pass the leader.
Ten to go, Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr have a near seven second lead on the third place driver Denny Hamlin.
Seven to go, Chase Elliott is still in the lead but Martin Truex Jr is very slowly creeping closer to the leader.
With five laps remaining in the race, Chase Elliott has led 75 of the 85 laps run today. Elliott has a lead of less than half a second on Martin Truex Jr.
Three to do, Chase Elliott has a half second lead on Martin Truex Jr with Denny Hamlin in third nine seconds back.
Chase Elliott takes the white flag.
And the fire bell in Dawsonville will ring loudly once again as Chase Elliott defends his race win to become only the fifth driver to go back to back wins at Watkins Glen. Elliott led 80 of the 90 laps in today’s race.
The unofficial results of the GoBowling 400:
Chase Elliott
Martin Truex Jr
Denny Hamlin
Erik Jones
Ryan Blaney
Matt DiBenedetto
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Larson
Brad Keselowski
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch
Aric Almirola
Chris Buescher
Alex Bowman
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Michael McDowell
Daniel Suarez
Paul Menard
Jimmie Johnson
Clint Bowyer
William Byron
David Ragan
Joey Logano
Matt Tifft
Ryan Newman
Parker Kligerman
Ross Chastain
Bubba Wallace
Landon Cassill
Ty Dillon
Austin Dillon
Josh Bilicki
Cody Ware
Corey LaJoie
Daniel Hemric
Ryan Preece
Reed Sorenson