The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will tackle the 2.5 mile road course at Watkins Glen International raceway this afternoon in the Finger Lakes 355. Today’s race, the 22nd of the season, has a scheduled start time of 12:00pm ET; it will be broadcast live on ESPN. Finger Lakes 355 at the Glen Predictions and Odds have last year’s race winner, Marcos Ambrose, listed as a +450 moneyline favorite to be the first to take the checkered flag. Defending Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart and today’s pole sitter, Juan Pablo Montoya, are second picks to win the race with each driver drawing +600 odds ($100 to win $600).
The Favorites
Marcos Ambrose (+450 to win, +130 top three finish): While not a household name, Ambrose, who drives the No. 9 Stanley Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports, sits 18th in the points standings, but he is a brilliant road course driver. One only need review his history at Watkins Glen to understand how dominating he can be on a track that features more than left hand turns. In five career races at the Glen, Ambrose has produced one win and four top five finishes. The one race he did not crack the top five, he still managed to secure a spot in the top 10. Ambrose will start today’s race from the fifth position.
Tony Stewart (+600 to win, +180 top three finish): Stewart is presently sixth in the driver standings and 53 points behind current leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. He should gain ground today, though, given his exceptional road course history. Stewart (starting seventh) has five wins in 13 races at Watkins Glen; he has finished inside the top 10 in 10 of those outings. Stewart also owns seven victories and 12 top five finishes in 27 road course races as a NASCAR driver.
Juan Pablo Montoya (+600 to win, +180 top three finish): Montoya is a Chase for the Cup afterthought, sitting 21st in the driver standings with 500 points, but he is anything but that in today’s race. The Colombia native, who captured the pole with an average speed of 127.02 mph, has one win at Watkins Glen and four top 10 showings in five career races at the track.
The Best of the Rest –
Jimmie Johnson (+700 to win, +200 top three finish), Jeff Gordon (+1000 to win, +300 top three finish), and Kyle Busch (+700 to win, +200 top three finish). These three drivers have combined for five wins and 12 top five finishes in 36 races at Watkins Glen.
Odds to Win the Finger Lakes 355 at the Glen:
Marcos Ambrose +450, Tony Stewart +600, Juan Pablo Montoya +600, Jimmie Johnson +700, Kyle Busch +700, Jeff Gordon +1000, Brad Keselowski +1100, Clint Bowyer +2000, Martin Truex Jr. +2000, Kevin Harvick +2500, Carl Edwards +2500, Ryan Newman +2500, Jamie McMurray +3000, Kurt Busch +4000, Denny Hamlin +4000, Kasey Kahne +4000, Joey Logano +4000, Greg Biffle +4000, Brian Vickers +6000, Matt Kenseth +6000, Field +1500