NASCAR Betting: Watkins Glen

The Sprint Cup Series hits the road on Sunday afternoon in its 22nd race of the year – the long-titled Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen at Watkins Glen road course and sports betting fans are very excited

A handful of active drivers have dominated the checkered flag at Watkins Glen, most recently Tony Stewart. Stewart won the Heluva Good! last season, beating Marcos Ambrose and Carl Edwards across the finish line. Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle rounded out the Top 5 at Watkins Glen in 2009, with Juan Montoya, Kurt Busch, Max Papis, Clint Bowyer, and Denny Hamlin making up the rest of the Top 10. Jimmie Johnson had to settle for a 12th-place finish at that event, while an accident put Jeff Gordon in 37th spot.

That marked Stewart's fifth career Cup win at Watkins Glen; he also won on the road course in 2007, 2005, 2004, and 2002. Gordon (2001, 1999, 1998, and 1997) and Mark Martin (1995, 1994, and 1993) have combined for seven other wins on the track, with Kyle Busch (2008), Kevin Harvick (2006), and Robby Gordon (2003) being the other active drivers who have managed to visit victory lane at Watkins Glen over their careers.

Martin especially will be looking to repeat some past success at Watkins Glen this weekend, as he has ground to make up in the race for a berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Martin sits one below the Chase cutoff line in 13th place in the current Sprint Cup standings after 21 races, 34 points behind the 12th-place driver (Bowyer). Here's a look at how the Sprint Cup standings break down heading into Watkins Glen:

Sprint Cup Series: Points Standings

01 Kevin Harvick
02 Jeff Gordon -189
03 Denny Hamlin -260
04 Jimmie Johnson -277
05 Jeff Burton -323
06 Kyle Busch -356
07 Kurt Busch -358
08 Tony Stewart -361
09 Matt Kenseth -398
10 Carl Edwards -414
11 Greg Biffle -428
12 Clint Bowyer -516
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13 Mark Martin -550
14 Dale Earnhardt Jr. -645
15 Ryan Newman -654
16 Kasey Kahne -684
17 Jamie McMurray -688
18 David Reutimann -699
19 Joey Logano -751
20 Martin Truex Jr. -797

Earnhardt Jr. and Newman are the next closest drivers to the Chase cutoff line, but they have even more ground to make up than Martin over the next few races. Martin ended up in 23rd place at Watkins Glen in '09, while Dale Jr. was 39th, and Newman was 21st.

Qualified drivers will be re-sorted according to race wins once the Chase begins in September. Hamlin and Johnson are battling for the top spot in that category right now:

Sprint Cup Series: Wins Standings

01 Denny Hamlin 5
01 Jimmie Johnson 5
03 Kevin Harvick 2
03 Kyle Busch 2
03 Kurt Busch 2
03 Jamie McMurray 2
07 Greg Biffle 1
07 Ryan Newman 1
07 David Reutimann 1

Harvick, Kyle Busch, and Kurt Busch will all be looking to break that tie for third place in the standings with a win at Watkins Glen. McMurray also has two victories on the season, but he's back in 17th place in the driver standings and likely to miss the Chase.

The Chase for the Sprint Cup begins on September 19 in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. After Watkins Glen there are four more races on the pre-Chase slate: Michigan, Bristol, Atlanta, and Richmond. Sunday's race begins at 1pm ET.