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| | Friday, August 11 Global Crossing at the Glen Breakdown | ||||||||||||||||||||
| By Ron Buck ESPN.com
On the Track For three years he dominated Watkins Glen. But he arrives this week mired in a slump. No, we're not talking about Jeff Gordon. The driver we speak of is Mark Martin, who until Geoffrey Bodine's win in 1996 was unbeatable at The Glen. Watkins Glen comes at the right time for Martin, who finished last at the Brickyard 400 -- his second straight DNF and last-place run. Martin, who won the 1997 SaveMart 300 at Sears Point, has four career wins on the road. He'll be one of the main threats to end Gordon's remarkable streak of six consecutive road course wins. Others who pose a threat include road specialist Ron Fellows, the runner-up to Gordon last year at The Glen; Rusty Wallace, a four-time road course winner and the pole-sitter for this race a year ago and this year at Sears Point ... and that's really about it. Sure, Dale Jarrett and Dale Earnhardt could win. But it would take some major mistakes from the other three to allow either Dale to reach Victory Lane. Gordon simply is the class of this field, or any other road course field. He proved at Sears Point that he could win on the road without Ray Evernham. His sixth consecutive victory set a Winston Cup record for road courses. He also has finished ninth or better in 12 consecutive road-course races, a streak that began at Watkins Glen in 1994. Fellows figures to be right on Gordon's bumper, as he was a year ago in finishing second. The Canadian sports car regular points to this race each year as the one shot to beat the Cup boys. Fellows, who drives just about anything he can get his hands on at The Glen, has posted three wins, two seconds and a third in his past six NASCAR races in a truck, or Busch and Cup car. It would be an upset if anyone else won. The only other four active drivers to have won at the track are Bodine, Wallace, Kyle Petty and Ricky Rudd. But look out for Jerry Nadeau, a driver who's name isn't normally associated with drivers to watch. But the third driver in the Hendricks garage has posted three top-10 finishes in the past five races -- including a fourth-place run last week in Indy. Nadeau has a road racing background and finished fifth last year at The Glen. Friday's qualifying will also play a major role in the outcome on Sunday. Passing is always difficult on a road course, as evident by the fact that four of the last seven races at Watkins Glen have been won from the pole: Martin in 1993 and 1995, and Gordon in 1998. Last year, Gordon won after starting third. Pole-sitter Wallace was third behind Fellows, who started seventh. 10 Drivers to Watch Jeff Gordon: Hasn't finished outside the top five at Watkins Glen since 1994. He can become all-time Winston Cup leader in road course wins with victory on Sunday. Currently tied with Rusty Wallace and Bobby Allison with six career wins. Ron Fellows: The Glen Master warmed up for this week by winning the Lysol 200 in a Busch Series car. A day earlier, he charged from 26th to third in a Craftsman Truck Series race. Dale Jarrett: Finished fourth at The Glen last year -- his best Glen finish in 13 starts. Back that performance up with a seventh-place run this year at Sears Point. May not win, but is running a strong season in defense of his championship last year. Stands second by 87 points to Bobby Bobby Labonte: The good news is he comes off impressive victory at Indy in Brickyard 400 -- his second win of the season.The bad news, however, is he isn't exactly fond of The Glen after crashing in practice and then again in last year's race. But more good news: he finished fourth in the first road race of the year at Sears Point. Mark Martin: Like Gordon, he has three wins at Watkins Glen. And like Gordon, all three wins came consecutively starting from the pole between 1993-95. Overall, he has 11 top-10 finishes in 12 career starts at the upstate New York track with a 10th last year. Finished third at Sears Point this year. Rusty Wallace: Tied with Bobby Allison and Gordon for career road course wins with six. But hasn't won on the road since Sears Point in 1996. His two wins at Watkins Glen came in 1987 and 1989. Started on the pole in Sears Point, but a late spin dropped him to 26th when Gordon took checkered flag. Driving with confidence lately after a win at the Pennsylvania 500 and second in the Brickyard 400 last week. Has led a series-high 1,042 laps. Dale Earnhardt: Was sixth at Sears Point and eighth a week ago at Indy. In pursuit of his record eighth Winston Cup title with 16 top-10 finishes in 20 starts with a win at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Third in the point standings, 145 behind Labonte. Tony Stewart: His rookie appearance at the track last year was crowned with a respectable sixth-place finish. Didn't finish the Sonoma race after flu-like symptoms forced him out of the No. 20 car. Leads the series with three wins this year and is sixth in the point standings. Jerry Nadeau: Finished fifth at The Glen last year and then eighth this season at Sears Point. Has seemed to be lurking lately at the end of road course races and his recent form suggests this may be the week he breaks through. Ron Hornaday, Andy Houston & Tom Hubert: These three will make their Winston Cup debuts on Sunday. Hornaday is subbing for the injured Terry Labonte, while Hubert fills in for Jeremy Mayfield. Houston gets his shot in Cal Wells' second car. Ron Buck is ESPN.com's auto racing editor. | ALSO SEE Weber: Glen a road Labonte must travel to reach title Gordon tries for history at Watkins Glen Furr: Taking a step back Gordon well aware of a Fellows from Canada Gordon content despite fewer trips to Victory Lane | ||||||||||||||||||||
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