Zippo 200 From Watkins Glen International
The NASCAR Nationwide Series hits Watkins Glen International on Saturday, Aug. 8 for the Zippo 200 at the Glen.
The road course race takes place from Watkins Glen, N.Y. and defending champion Marcos Ambrose is the pre-race favorite to take the checker flag again.
Ambrose is an 11/4 favorite to win according to odds makers from the online sportsbook SBGGLOBAL. Other short odds to win the event are Kyle Busch (3/1), Kevin Harvick (5/1), and Ron Fellows (11/2).
Ambrose is a road course specialist that won the 2008 Zippo 200 under caution. The win was the lone career win for Ambrose on the Nationwide Series, but he also has a third place finish at Watkins Glen in the Sprint Cup Series. This will be the first Nationwide race in 2009 for Ambrose.
Busch is the current Nationwide Series points leader with six wins and 18 top 10 finishes in 21 races this year. Kyle Busch holds a victory at Watkins Glen in the 2008 Sprint Cup race, and has two career road course wins in NASCAR.
Harvick has also had success on road courses, winning the 2007 Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen while also winning at Watkins Glen in the 2006 Sprint Cup Series race. Harvick has finished in the top five in six of his 13 Nationwide races in 2009.
Fellows is a common face to see on road courses in the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series’. Fellows is a three-time winner of this event at Watkins Glen in the Nationwide Series, and has three top five finishes in his Sprint Cup Series career on road courses.
The Zippo 200 at the Glen will take place Saturday, Aug. 8 from Watkins Glen International at 3 p.m. ET. For complete odds and track information on this year’s event, see below.
Odds to win the Zippo 200
Marcos Ambrose 11/4
Kyle Busch 3/1
Kevin Harvick 5/1
Ron Fellows 11/2
Robby Gordon 7/1
Denny Hamlin 7/1
Carl Edwards 8/1
Joey Logano 10/1
Boris Said 12/1
Brad Keselowski 20/1
Greg Biffle 20/1
Jeff Burton 25/1
Field (Any Other Driver) 5/1
Zippo 200 at the Glen Information
Race Date: Saturday, Aug. 8
Location: Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.
Pre-Race: 2:30 PM ET
Green Flag: Approx. 3:18 p.m.
TV Coverage: ESPN2
Radio Coverage: MRN
Track Type: Road (82 laps)
Harvick captures Nationwide pole at Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen, NY (Sports Network) - Kevin Harvick edged Marcos Ambrose in Saturday's Nationwide Series qualifying at Watkins Glen International to take the pole position for the Zippo 200.
Harvick, who was among the ninth and final group of drivers to make their qualifying run, lapped the 2.45-mile, 11-turn road course at 121.998 m.p.h. (72.296 seconds) for a new track qualifying record. He surpassed Kurt Busch's previous record, set in 2007.
"I didn't expect it to be that fast in qualifying trim," Harvick said. "I knew it would be fast, but I think our race trim is probably a little bit better than qualifying trim."
Harvick grabbed his second pole of the season and the 19th of his Nationwide career. He also recorded his first pole in six starts at Watkins Glen. Harvick won here in '07.
Ambrose qualified .03 seconds behind Harvick to claim the outside pole. Ambrose won this race one year ago for his first victory in a NASCAR national touring series.
Robby Gordon will start third, followed by Scott Speed and Denny Hamlin.
Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, the current points leader, Brian Vickers, Boris Said and Ron Fellows will roll off sixth through 10th, respectively.
Peyton Sellers, Daryl Harr, Brad Baker, Scott Gaylord and Brett Rowe failed to qualify.
Today's race is scheduled to start around 3:00 p.m. (et).