CONCORD, N.C. – This Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to racing from the Olympic break and No. 24 crew chief Rudy Fugle is ready to perform at his hometown track of Watkins Glen International.
The 37-year-old Livonia, New York, native grew up just 72 miles from the track and knows there will be a little extra motivation to win this weekend in front his family and friends.
“Anytime you go back where it is close to home, there are more family and friends watching,” Fugle said. “To be able to have bragging rights and have that on your résumé that you won at your home track is definitely a goal of mine and something we are looking forward to doing this weekend.”
Fugle plans to take full advantage of being home to see his family and friends before the race, spending time with them the day before and then having them come to the race and support the No. 24 team on Sunday.
“I am actually bringing my kids and my wife,” Fugle said. “My parents will be there, some of her family will come, definitely will have some aunts and uncles coming. Actually, (I) have a pretty big family coming Saturday and we get to hang out with them a little bit. Then they will be in the grandstands Sunday watching.”
To prepare for Sunday’s event, Fugle is leaning on No. 24 driver William Byron and his fellow crew chiefs at Hendrick Motorsports to give Byron the best chance at winning the race. Since the start of the 2021 season, Fugle and Byron have put together a string of strong road course performances, finishing inside the top 10 in three of the last seven events. Byron also has the third-most led laps on road courses this season and two stage wins.
“William has been fast there, had a lot of speed,” Fugle explained. “We have really good road course cars here at Hendrick Motorsports, obviously with Chase (Elliott) and Kyle (Larson) winning most of these races here the last couple of years. We are really looking to improve our program and I really think we will have a top-five car and top-five speed and really looking to learn and improve for the next two road course races, as well.”
Hendrick Motorsports has won six of the last eight road courses, and Elliott has won the last two Cup Series races at Watkins Glen. Tune in on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN to see if Fugle and the rest of the No. 24 team can put on a show for his family and friends at his hometown track.