NASCAR Playoffs Fantasy Outlook 2024: Analyzing HMS' dominance at Watkins Glen and other key contenders

Watkins Glen International is the site of race two of the opening round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. After Joey Logano locked up a spot in round two with a win at Atlanta last week, the other 15 playoff drivers will look to do the same with room for only 11 more in the Round of 12.

Here, we'll take a look at the ones to watch at the 2.45-mile road course on Sunday.

---

Hendrick Motorsports

Having won the last five Cup Series events at "The Glen," Hendrick Motorsports has owned the keys to the victory lane gate at the New York road course in recent memory. Chase Elliott wheeled his #9 Chevrolet to victories in 2018 and 2019, with the 2018 one being the first career Cup win for the Georgia native. Aside from a fuel strategy blunder that left him with a 32nd-place finish last year, Elliott placed runner-up in the 2021 race and fourth in the 2022 race at The Glen, making him a considerable threat for the checkered flag on Sunday.

His HMS teammate, Kyle Larson, also has a proven track record of success at Watkins Glen. In fact, it was Larson who earned the victories in the 2021 and 2022 races in which Elliott placed second.

However, much like his aforementioned teammate, the driver of the #5 Chevrolet was denied a chance at victory following a pit road speeding penalty in last year's race. If the 2021 champion can avoid trouble, expect him to be a top contender for the win on Sunday.

Fellow HMS teammate William Byron enters Sunday as the defending Watkins Glen winner. The driver of the #24 Chevrolet led for 66 of the race's 90 laps a year ago, earning the win in dominant fashion.

This year's Daytona 500 champion has carried his road course success elsewhere too as Byron nabbed the win at Circuit of The Americas in March. As last year's winner at "The Glen" and having won a road course race earlier this season, don't overlook Byron as Sunday's potential victor.

Chase Elliott, Go Bowling at The Glen (Source: Imagn)

---

Tyler Reddick

With nine top-tens in the last 10 races, the 2024 regular season champion enters the second race of the Round of 16 with momentum. Tyler Reddick's track history of road-course performances shouldn't be overlooked.

The driver of the #45 23XI Racing Toyota grabbed his first two career Cup wins at road courses in 2022 when driving for Richard Childress Racing at Road America and Indianapolis respectively. The two-time winner this season also earned his first win with 23XI at Circuit of the Americas last season.

While they haven't been wins, Reddick has shown consistency on the road courses as he's racked up five top-fives in the last five road course races, including an eighth-place finish at Watkins Glen last year. With momentum on his side and proven success on road courses, don't be surprised if it's Reddick holding the trophy at the conclusion of Sunday's race.

Tyler Reddick (Source: Imagn)

---

Ty Gibbs

Aside from a 37th-place finish at Sonoma earlier this year, the grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs has emerged as quite the road racer in just two full-time seasons of Cup racing. Since moving up to Cup full-time, Ty Gibbs has placed top 10 in four of the seven road-course races he ran, while only finishing outside the top 20 once.

The driver of the #54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota placed fifth at Watkins Glen last year. The 21-year-old starts well at the road courses, too, having not qualified outside the top 10 in his last six road-course starts.

Still seeking that elusive first Cup Series victory, Sunday could be Gibbs' day at "The Glen."

Ty Gibbs, Go Bowling at The Glen (Source: Imagn)

---

Christopher Bell

Including a third-place finish at Watkins Glen last year and a win at the Charlotte Roval in 2022, Christopher Bell has placed no less than 15th in nine of the last 10 road-course races. The three-time winner this season also carries a wave of momentum into Sunday with three top-fives in the last three races.

Heading into Sunday, the 29-year-old hasn't finished worse than eighth at Watkins Glen. Aiming for his third career road-course Cup win, Bell has proven to be in contention when it counts, and could very well be the first to the finish line in the second race of the Round of 16.

Christopher Bell, Go Bowling at The Glen (Source: Imagn)

The question of whether HMS' dominance at "The Glen" will continue or whether someone new finds their way to victory will be answered this Sunday at 3 p.m. EST at Watkins Glen International. The race can be watched on the USA Network or listened to on the Motor Racing Network.