Heading to Watkins Glen, Hendrick Motorsports has a massive bullseye painted on their backs. As the 2.45-mile race track makes its Playoffs debut, the field will attempt to break a six-year stranglehold over its Victory Lane. It all started in 2018 when Chase Elliott won his first premier-tier race at The Glen. Since then, Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won all 5 events on the track. But that’s not all.

Mr. H’s team serves as the winningest team in the lush Finger Lakes region of New York. They have won 11 times, and current VC Jeff Gordon leads the way for all Hendrick drivers with 4 wins at WGI. Call it preparation or Catch-22, it’s almost as if HMS has a crystal ball predicting trophies at this unpredictable racetrack. And interestingly enough, Chase Elliott doesn’t appear to be bothering himself with any extra practice before his third potential conquest of Watkins Glen.

Chase Elliott is ready for redemption; no sim is needed

Fun fact: Chase Elliott has the most road course victories among all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series (7). In the eyes of many, NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver is the sport’s undisputed road course king in recent regard. And on a track where he has consecutive back-to-back victories, Elliott appears nonchalant about the stress and how it could lead to overpreparation before a redemption run at Watkins Glen.

Thanks to consistent performances and a win in Texas, Elliott is ready and roaring for the playoffs. However, in a recent video posted by the official Hendrick Motorsports Instagram handle, the #9 driver was asked if sim work is important on a road course. And, without hesitation, Elliott emphatically refused with a deafening one-word reply: “No.”

That type of confidence is a welcome sight for all Elliott fans worldwide, considering he must make it into the Round of 12. Besides, the 28-year-old blew it last year by running out of gas at the second-to-last race at Watkins Glen and not making the playoffs. Hence, Elliott might have a few tricks up his sleeve this time. He certainly needs them.

One overlooked stat paints quite an incredible picture of Hendrick Motorsports’ recent road course dominance in recent memory. Thanks to William Byron at COTA, Kyle Larson at Sonoma, and Alex Bowman at the Chicago Street Race, Mr. H’s drivers have won all three road course races this year. This makes them the first organization to have its drivers win that many road course races in a single season.

• However, can Chase Elliott make it 4 out of 4 at the Glen?
• The answer will reveal itself after all 90 scheduled laps on Sunday.

Another driver tied with Chase Elliott for the most stage wins on road courses also aims to punch a coveted spot in the Round of 12. Denny Hamlin, in a media briefing ahead of his race preparations, shared a contrasting perspective on the effectiveness of sim work for WGI.

Denny Hamlin’s hope to dethrone HMS at Watkins Glen

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Goodyear is bringing a new tire compound to the Go Bowling at The Glen on Sunday. These new compounds potentially promise a ‘three-second falloff per lap’ on the 7 turns of WGI. So when former track winner Denny Hamlin was asked how he’s approaching this weekend with a new tire on Sunday, he responded, “We’ll definitely spend a lot of time in the sim doing our prep work like normal. It’s also good that we get extra practice time on Saturday to be able to get some laps, then debrief with the team, and then go out and run again.”

Hamlin further asserted, “I think it’s going to be a challenge. I feel like our team is very strong when it comes to adapting to circumstances like this. I enjoy Watkins Glen. It has typically been our strongest road course over the years, so I am confident about this weekend.” 

In his 17 appearances at the racetrack, Hamlin in his No. 11 Toyota has only won once in 2016 and registered an average finish of 15.0 across all starts. After a disappointing end to his race at Atlanta, the #11 driver will look forward to taking his number to victory lane for the 235th time in the NASCAR Cup Series.

After all, the next two races will be crucial to ensuring a spot in the Round of 12 for both Elliott and Hamlin. Otherwise, it could end up in a long walk of shame for both those drivers at the end of the 2024 season.

• So do you see either driver coming out on top this Sunday?