NASCAR at Watkins Glen: Can Kevin Harvick 3-peat? Plus starting lineup, how to watch

Wait... is Kevin Harvick a contender now?

Three weeks ago, the 46-year-old driver was someone whose career success on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit was remarkable and enviable but nonetheless a thing of the past.

In these past two weeks, though, the No. 4 team has transformed its season — and it’s done so by exuding a steady confidence that Harvick shared with the world after his win at Michigan: “Everybody who doubted us,” he said with a smile, “doesn’t know us.”

The “is Harvick a contender for the Cup Series championship” question is a wild one to ponder: Harvick is the only back-to-back winner of the regular season. And despite a rough start to 2022 — and despite only leading 106 laps this season (with more of half of those coming in last weekend’s race at Richmond) — he now enters the storied road course at Watkins Glen on Sunday with hopes of three-peating.

Take all this into account, and you get a dizzying answer to your wild question: Calling Harvick a championship contender is a bit presumptuous and a bit obvious all at once.

Welcome to the 2022 NASCAR regular season.

A lot of eyes will be on Harvick on Sunday as the Cup Series embarks on its second-to-last race of the regular season, but many will also be on the rest of the remarkably deep field.

Chase Elliott can clinch the regular season championship by scoring just four points, per NASCAR. He currently has a 116-point advantage over the next-best driver. (He also boasts the most amount of road course wins among active drivers with seven, two of which came at WGI.)

Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney are still searching for their first wins to clinch a place in the 2022 playoffs. Blaney, who signed an extension with Team Penske earlier this week, is second in the field in points, but without a win he’s in danger of losing a spot in the 16-driver playoff field. Truex, similarly, sits fourth in the field in points and without a win remains on the outside looking in.

Kurt Busch will miss the rest of the regular season, still not “100%” after sustaining a brain injury in July. Sunday marks the fifth straight race that Ty Gibbs will command the No. 45 car in his stead.

Elliott earned his 12th career pole on Saturday afternoon. Kyle Larson will start beside him, and Michael McDowell and William Byron fill out the second row. Kimi Raikkonen, the former Formula 1 champion who headlines a record-breaking international field and marks the launch of TrackHouse Racing’s “Project91,” will start in 27th.

You can catch the Go Bowling at The Glen at 3 p.m. Sunday on USA Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. The race will feature 90 laps around the track’s 2.54-mile track. Stages end on Lap 20, Lap 40 and Lap 90.

Kyle Larson won last year’s Cup race at Watkins Glen.

How to watch NASCAR race at Watkins Glen

• Race: Go Bowling at The Glen
• Distance: 220.5 miles, 90 laps
• Where: Watkins Glen International
• When: 3 p.m.
• TV: USA Network
• Radio: MRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio
• Purse: $6,664,145
  
  

Starting lineup: Go Bowling at The Glen

This story was originally published August 21, 2022 at 6:00 AM.

Alex Zietlow

The Charlotte Observer

Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22. Support my work with a digital subscription