Chase Elliott’s one-word take on sim work importance for road courses ahead of Watkins Glen

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series road-course winner Chase Elliott kept it short when asked about the importance of getting sim work in before road-course races, ahead of the second race of the playoffs at Watkins Glen International.

In an Instagram video posted by Hendrick Motorsports, the 2020 Cup champion was asked if sim work is more important on road courses. His answer was one word:

"No."

The driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet holds the most road-course wins of any active driver with seven, while also only trailing Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon for most road-course wins all-time, as they have eight and nine victories, respectively.

Elliott's first road-course triumph was his first career Cup Series victory in 2018 at Watkins Glen. The son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott had a repeat performance at "The Glen" the next year, leading 80 of 90 laps to earn the win.

The nine-year veteran added another road-course trophy to his collection in 2019 at the Charlotte Roval. In 2020, Elliott captured road-course victories at the Daytona Road Course and again at the Charlotte Roval. The 28-year-old nabbed two more road-course checkered flags at the Circuit of The Americas and at Road America in 2021.

However, since the debut of the next-gen car in 2022, Elliott hasn't found a win on a road course. Despite that, he's placed top-10 in eight of the 12 next-gen road-course races, including runner-up at Road America in 2022 and the Indy road course in 2023.

Elliott enters Sunday's race at Watkins Glen eighth in the playoff standings, 24 points to the good over the cut-line to advance to the Round of 12.

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NASCAR drivers react to lap around Watkins Glen

In a video posted by Watkins Glen International on X, a few playoff drivers provided commentary on an on-board lap around the 2.45-mile road course. One of those was Austin Cindric, who said:

"One of the fastest road courses we go to," Cindric said.

Brad Keselowski, the 2012 Cup Series champion, said Watkins Glen stands out from other road courses they go to for multiple reasons. He said:

"Very untraditional road course because it has banking," Keselowski said. "Also has elevation change."

As they go into the carousel turn of the New York road course, Chase Briscoe, winner at Darlington two weeks ago, said it's a "traditional-feeling" NASCAR turn, except you're going the wrong way. Denny Hamlin, three-time winner this season, followed up by saying:

"As a driver that's turned left for most of my life, it's a challenge because I'm falling out of the other side of the seat."

As the driver makes their way off the final turn, Cindric said it's key to drive the car all the way out to the outside wall, something the 2022 Daytona 500 champion enjoys.

"That's like my favorite part of my job, is getting to hear that noise," Cindric said.

Coverage of the Go Bowling at The Glen starts at 3 p.m. EDT on the USA Network and the Motor Racing Network.