CONCORD, N.C. – On one hand, if current NASCAR Cup Series trends continue, crew chief Rudy Fugle, driver William Byron and the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team, should be in for a big day at Watkins Glen International this weekend.
After all, Hendrick Motorsports is looking for its sixth straight win at the 2.45-mile road course in upstate New York, as well as its third straight two-peat, with Chase Elliott winning in 2018 and 2019 and Kyle Larson cruising to victory lane in 2021 and 2022. Byron picked up his first win at Watkins Glen last year.
In that victory, Byron led 66 of 90 laps in a dominant performance and extended the organization’s stranglehold on the track, one that is not currently rivaled by any team anywhere. In fact, Hendrick Motorsports’ five wins in a row is the most by any company at a venue since it claimed six straight Phoenix races from 2007-2009.
For Fugle, it was just another trophy in a tradition started at Hendrick Motorsports long ago.
“If you go back a really long time, (Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman and four-time Watkins Glen winner) Jeff Gordon was just one of the best natural road racers, he put the most into it and therefore, the team put a lot into it and that led to him and the team to always being really good at Watkins Glen,” Fugle said. “It just transfers on and on. Basically, it’s the same road course, the same track it’s been for forever. Things it takes to go fast around there continue to stay the same. The drivers have a lot to do with it and teams have a good idea of what to focus on to be fast.”
But this week doesn't arrive without its share of uncertainty.
Standing in the way of Byron bludgeoning the field again is a big rubber elephant in the garage in the form of a new, softer Goodyear tire. Reports from testing indicated that tire falloff over the course of a fuel run could be anywhere from two to six seconds per lap, leaving those sitting atop the pit boxes scratching their heads a bit until an extended practice session, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. Practice, and qualifying Saturday, as well as the race at 3 p.m. on Sunday, are set to air on USA Network.
Fugle said Saturday’s practice will be paramount in developing a strategy for Sunday.
“It’s going to be a different animal than we’ve had at Watkins Glen probably in a long, long time or ever,” Fugle said. “So, we’re going to fight different things for sure. Really, Saturday is going to be an open-book learning session. Trying to be open minded as a team and keep William open minded. Don’t expect anything and be ready for everything … we’ll gather as much data as we can and be ready to attack on Sunday.”
Adding onto it all, for the first time, NASCAR’s trip to Watkins Glen comes in the playoffs. As the second race in the Round of 16, each qualified team finds itself in a unique position in terms of points and trying to ensure a spot above the cutoff at the end of next week’s race at Bristol. Factor in the rest of the field will only be concerned with winning, and Sunday is sure to bring a bevy of various strategies as the race unfolds.
In Byron’s case, a solid, top-10 run at Atlanta last week has the No. 24 team in a good spot coming into a good track. Byron enters Sunday in fourth place, 32 points clear of the cutline.
Faced with short pitting a stage in an effort to have track position to begin stage three, perhaps those all-precious stage points will be a little tougher to pass up for Fugle and Byron. Like tire strategy, Fugle said much of his team’s plan is to be determined.
“You’re trying to figure out what’s the best way to score points during the day,” Fugle said. “It’s a super difficult decision. We’re going to be prepared for multiple strategies. Right now, we have three solid (plans) and maybe a 3A as well. As stage one rolls along, cautions can change what you’re thinking, how your car is feeling up to lap 13, 14, 15 as you’re coming to where you want to short (pit) - those conversations will be had with William and I and all the team and we’ll make the decision on what we need to do.
“Yeah, you’re trying to win the race but sometimes, it’s how do you get 40 points in a road course race? You can do that by winning or you can do that by stacking some points. So, we’ll figure it out and try to do the best we can.”