Advance to Victory Lane: Can Elliott get playoff-clinching win at Watkins Glen?

Four times in the last six years, a driver has gotten his first win of the season in the final two races of the regular season. Chase Elliott hopes to make it five times in seven years as he bids to win his way into the NASCAR Playoffs.

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History is on Elliott’s side, with Hendrick Motorsports having won the last four races at Watkins Glen International, the site of Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen (3 p.m. ET, USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App). Elliott’s teammate Kyle Larson took top honors in 2021 and 2022, while Elliott made it to Victory Lane in 2018 and 2019.

Elliott is also coming off a runner-up performance at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, where he just didn’t quite have enough for Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell. However, the No. 9 Chevrolet figures to be right there in the mix again this week, having finished in the top four in the last four Watkins Glen races.

If Elliott wins, he’ll be in and won’t have to worry about the race the following week at Daytona International Speedway. Better to get things locked in this week so as not to leave it to chance in the regular-season finale.

OTHERS TO WATCH

MICHAEL MCDOWELL: There are a mountain of numbers that strongly suggest he could go back-to-back, but the most impressive, perhaps, is that he leads all drivers in points earned on road courses in the 10 races with the Next Gen car.

BRAD KESELOWSKI: Keselowski and Kevin Harvick are on the precipice of clinching playoff berths and are separated by just two points in the standings. The problem is Keselowski has an average finish of 20th on road courses with the Next Gen car.

CHRIS BUESCHER: Buescher couldn’t extend his winning streak or his top-10 streak on road courses, but he still could be a factor in this race. He finished ninth last year at The Glen.

KYLE LARSON: Larson has the second-most points at road courses this season (138) and is tied with Elliott for tops with four straight top-10 finishes at The Glen.

MARTIN TRUEX JR.: Before his 23rd-place finish last year, Truex had five straight finishes of seventh or better at The Glen, including his win in 2017.

Projections as of Sunday, Aug. 20.

RACING INSIGHTS’ PROJECTIONS FOR THE GO BOWLING AT THE GLEN

Racing Insights’ advanced statistical formula includes current track, current track type, recent performance, team data and pit-crew data to arrive at a projected winner and full race results.