WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- It's been a sweet reunion for AJ Allmendinger and the world famous Watkins Glen International, site of the Californian's first and only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win last summer.
"It was pretty cool driving in the race track yesterday when we got here and just kind of remembering the last time I was driving out of the race track," Allmendinger said. "The amount of joy that I had and just all the feelings and emotions that I had gone through -- those are memories that no matter what happens the rest of my life, I will always have."
Allmendinger would really like to make more memories this weekend. The former open-wheel star knows very well it is his best chance to earn a second consecutive berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
His No. 47 Kroger/Bush's Beans Chevy was second fastest -- behind Clint Bowyer -- in Friday's opening practice around the windy and scenic 2.454-mile course in upstate New York. Four-time race winner Jeff Gordon topped the second practice, just faster than Kyle Larson. All four drivers are still looking for their first win of the year.
RELATED: Practice results
Allmendinger's popular victory at the Glen last year was all the sweeter because it landed him in the 16-driver Chase field. The only single-car team to make the playoffs, Allmendinger may have been considered a long shot to hoist the championship trophy, but at least he had a shot.
One race -- this race -- made all the difference.
"I feel like if we go out there and we perform at our best and we make all the right decisions, we will legitimately have a shot to win again," Allmendinger said. "That is all you can ask for."
The reality is Allmendinger isn't the only road course ace that needs to win to score a Chase berth.
The Glen's all-time winningest driver Tony Stewart (five victories) is 25th in the points standings and will need a victory to earn a Chase bid.
The track's all-time lap leader, Gordon (262 laps), as well as former road course winners Bowyer and Kasey Kahne also still need a win to secure an automatic Chase bid. Bowyer and Kahne are a tenuous 15th and 16th in the points standings.
It's the same situation for Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Jamie McMurray -- who has a road course win in the Rolex 24 sports car classic -- and Larson as both are also winless with only five races remaining to capitalize on the win-and-you're-in Chase format.
And then there's the season four-time race winner Kyle Busch, who sits 13 points out of 30th place in the standings -- the threshold for a race winner to earn a position in the 16-driver Chase field. He's won twice at the Glen (2008, 2013).
Does having so many successful road course drivers needing a victory ratchet up the competition on Sunday? Do they lean on other cars a little harder, block a little more, drive deeper into the corners?
Gordon, a four-time Watkins Glen winner, said Friday, he definitely expects the intensity will increase this weekend. It's a radically different scenario for him than in 2014 when he had already won twice and was leading the points standings coming into this race.
"That win means so much," Gordon said Friday. "Of course, it's important for us if we can't win this race to have a good solid points day and build that buffer (in the points). Our goal is to win and we feel like it's a great opportunity.
"There are others that have a similar opportunity, too. This is definitely one of the last sort of "wild cards," you think of restrictor plate and road course races as being a wild card with a winner you might not necessarily expect."
Even though he is considered a race favorite, Allmendinger is taking nothing for granted.
"The thing I've learned about the Sprint Cup Series is it doesn't matter whether somebody needs a win or not, if the opportunity is there, he or she is going to go out there to do whatever they can to get the win," Allmendinger said.
"I kind of laugh because everybody initially said, 'Oh, Marcus Ambrose isn't here so this should be easy for you.' I'm like, 'I'm not sure if you guys remember but Gordon was leading (last year's race) when he broke.' There are a lot of great race car drivers and you can't just single out one or two of them that are going to be tough.
"It makes it a lot of fun. I know I have to go out there and be on my A-game to have a shot to win this thing."
MORE: Allmendinger reflects on last year's win