2014 Cheez-It 355 Odds, Free Picks and Predictions: Favorites, Sleepers and Drivers to Avoid: For just the second time this season, the Cup Series teams will do battle with a road course. Watkins Glen International is the site of Sunday’s Cheez-It 355, and the seven-turn road course combines fast, snaking uphill and downhill sections with sharp right-hand and left-hand turns that make staying on course difficult and passing borderline impossible in some areas. Road racing is one of the more unique skills required of Cup Series drivers, and as a result, certain drivers excel at the draft while others struggle. In fact, a road course can shift the balance of power with typical big names becoming average options and middle-tier and sleeper drivers becoming contenders. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the drivers that could end up conquering Watkins Glen.
The Favorites
His bid for a three-peat ended with a late wreck, but Marcos Ambrose has still amassed an impressive record at Watkins Glen. In addition to his victories in 2011 and 2012, he has finished third or better in five of his six starts at the track. Overall, his 6.8 average finish at the road course ranks second in the series, and since his rookie year, Ambrose has led the third-most laps at The Glen.
He is the defending winner of this weekend’s race, and Kyle Busch has been one of the best in the business at Watkins Glen since joining the Cup Series. He is a two-time winner at the track, and he has finished ninth or better in his last eight starts, compiling a 5.0 average finish in the process. To top it off, Busch has led more laps at The Glen than any other driver since he broke into the series in 2005.
His five victories at Watkins Glen are the most all-time, and with seven total road course wins, Tony Stewart has established himself as one of the best road racers in NASCAR history. At The Glen alone, he has finished either first or second in half of his 14 starts, finishing in the top 10 in 10 of his starts. Stewart missed last year’s race at the track while rehabbing a broken leg, but he should return with a vengeance this weekend.
The Contenders
Although he has never won a race at Watkins Glen, Brad Keselowski has certainly been knocking on the door. He has finished second in each of the last three races at the track, leading the third-most laps of any driver during the stretch. Overall, Keselowski’s 6.5 average finish at The Glen leads all drivers, and it seems like only a matter of time before he seals the deal.
He is gunning for a season sweep at the road courses after winning at Sonoma earlier this year, and Carl Edwards has been rock solid throughout Watkins Glen throughout his career. His 8.8 average finish at the track ranks fifth in the series, and he has finished in the top 15 in his last eight starts. During the stretch, he has six top-10 finishes, including three top-five finishes in his last five starts.
Sleeper Special
While he has never won a race at the Cup level, A.J. Allmendinger’s road racing skills are among the best in the series. He is a two-time winner at road courses at the Nationwide level, and in five Cup starts at Watkins Glen, he has never finished outside the top 15. More importantly, Allmendinger has finished in the top 10 in his last three starts at The Glen, and earlier this year, he led the most laps at the first road course event at Sonoma.
Big Name to Avoid
He is actually a former winner at Sonoma, but Kasey Kahne has never had much luck at Watkins Glen. In 10 starts, he has compiled a lackluster 20.0 average finish, and more concerning is the fact that he has never finished in the top 10. Kahne would have to make a serious leap to be able to end up in victory lane.
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