This Saturday, the NASCAR Xfinity Series Watkins Glen race, Mission 200 At The Glen, will unfold over 82 laps on the 2.45-mile road course at Watkins Glen International in New York. Starting at 3:00 p.m. ET, fans can tune in via CW, MRN, or SiriusXM Channel 90 to witness some of the series’ most promising drivers tackle this challenging circuit. As the regular season nears its end, the battle for playoff positioning is heating up, spotlighting emerging talent and seasoned contenders alike.
Carson Kvapil: A Newcomer Poised for Growth at Watkins Glen
Carson Kvapil arrives at Watkins Glen fresh off a strong top-10 finish in Iowa and eager for his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start on the New York road course. At just 22 years old, Kvapil has competed in three previous road course events in the series, with his best result an eighth place at Sonoma Raceway last month. He also brings experience from the TA2 series, where he started third at Watkins Glen. Positioned 93 points above the playoff cutline as just four races remain in the regular season, Kvapil aims to leverage his track familiarity and mount a solid challenge this weekend.
Kvapil shared his perspective ahead of the race:
“This No. 1 team has had a lot of speed on road courses this year and I know we will unload another fast piece this weekend. I had the opportunity to race at Watkins Glen in the TA2 car last year, so I hope that will help me adjust to the track in the Xfinity car. Our plan is to stay out of the mess and have a solid day for Johnny Morris and everyone at Bass Pro Shops and Clarience Technologies.”
—Carson Kvapil, Driver
Justin Allgaier’s Strong History at Watkins Glen Continues
Veteran driver Justin Allgaier brings considerable experience to the race, boasting 13 career starts at Watkins Glen with JR Motorsports. His record includes four top-five finishes and seven top-10s, with third-place results twice earned in 2018 and 2019. Allgaier has also secured wins at other road courses like Mid-Ohio and Road America in 2018, underpinning his strength on such circuits. Over 60 road-course starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, he has collected three wins, 18 top-five, and 35 top-10 finishes, demonstrating consistent competitiveness on tracks like Watkins Glen.
On his team’s readiness, Allgaier remarked:
“This whole BRANDT Professional Agriculture team is ready to go this weekend in Watkins Glen. Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) and all the guys on this team have been working hard all week long and I know that we are going to go out and execute the way we need to on Saturday to come home with a solid, strong finish. If we can just keep all four wheels on track all day long, I know we are going to be where we need to be in the end. We’re ready to go and get that momentum back heading in the right direction.”
—Justin Allgaier, Driver
Sammy Smith’s Continued Progress on Road Courses
Sammy Smith will make his fourth NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Watkins Glen this weekend. His best prior finish at the venue was third in 2022, a race during which he also led for six laps. Smith’s experience also includes strong performances in the ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen the same year, where he started on the pole and finished in the top five. Among his 17 career road-course starts in the Xfinity Series, Smith has achieved three top-five and seven top-10 finishes, including three top-10s this season.
Looking ahead to the race, Smith said:
“We’ve had good, consistent top-10 runs this season on road courses so I’m looking forward to Watkins Glen this weekend. I’ve been working to better my road-course driving and this No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet team has given me good cars to do that so I know we’ll have the car to be up there competing for the win this weekend.”
—Sammy Smith, Driver
Shane van Gisbergen Returns with Strong Credentials at Watkins Glen
New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen is set for his second start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Watkins Glen, driving the No. 9 Kubota Chevrolet. Last year, he demonstrated formidable pace by starting 13th, leading 14 laps, and finishing fifth at this road course. Van Gisbergen also showed impressive performance in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen, starting third and challenging for a win until an incident on the final lap relegated him to second place.
This season, van Gisbergen has been remarkable in the Cup Series, becoming the fastest driver since 1967 to secure four wins and achieving a rare hat trick of consecutive road-course victories from the pole position. He stands tied with legends Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson for the most Cup Series wins as a rookie at three, and holds the distinction of being the only non-U.S. driver with at least four Xfinity Series wins.
Van Gisbergen shared his excitement ahead of the race:
“I’m looking forward to another race at Watkins Glen. It’s an awesome track and one where I know we will be competitive. It’s been epic getting to drive some Xfinity Series races with the No. 9 JR Motorsports team. I know we will unload a fast Kubota Chevrolet and hopefully we are able to put together a great result on Saturday.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Connor Zilisch Aiming to Build on Historic Victory at Watkins Glen
Connor Zilisch is heading into his second NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Watkins Glen this Saturday, looking to extend the momentum from his impressive debut earlier this year. In his first appearance at this track, Zilisch won from the pole, led 45 of 90 laps, and became the youngest winner in Xfinity Series history at just over 18 years old. With three wins and four pole positions across five starts, Zilisch has been a dominant force in road and street races for JR Motorsports.
Currently tied with Justin Allgaier for the lead in the regular-season driver standings, Zilisch holds the most playoff points with 30 and has helped his team maintain a strong lead in the owner standings. His streak of ten straight top-five finishes, starting in May at Charlotte Motor Speedway, boasts an average finish of 2.30 and includes victories at Pocono, Sonoma, Dover, and Indianapolis.
Reflecting on his readiness for the upcoming race, Zilisch stated:
“I was fortunate enough to win the ARCA race at Iowa last year, so I’m looking forward to using what I learned in that race with a new challenge in the Xfinity car. My crew chief, Mardy Lindley, won the race there with Sam Mayer last year so I know we’ll have a really good KOA Chevrolet when we get to the track this weekend. We’ve been on a roll lately with top-five finishes and trips to Victory Lane, so I’m ready to get to the track and continue that with KOA.”
—Connor Zilisch, Driver
Additional Drivers and Team Insights Enter the Race Weekend
Ross Chastain also commented on his desire to perform well following the recent race in Iowa, praising the return of this venue to the schedule and expressing his ambition to capture a win for JR Motorsports and Acceptance Insurance in the “corn fields” of Iowa. He acknowledged teammate Connor Zilisch’s recent milestone of achieving JRM’s 100th win and expressed his determination to be the driver who scores the 101st.
JR Motorsports carries a rich history at Watkins Glen, having competed 55 times in the NASCAR Xfinity Series since 2006. Over these appearances, the organization has collected three wins, 12 top-five finishes, and 30 top-10 results, with an average finishing position of 12.5. This demonstrates the team‘s consistent competitiveness on road courses including this iconic New York circuit.
On race day, select JRM drivers, including Carson Kvapil, Justin Allgaier, and Sammy Smith, will participate in an autograph session at the JR Motorsports / HMS-Byron/Bowman souvenir rig from 11:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. ET, offering fans a chance to meet rising stars before the action begins.
Race Anticipation and the Road Ahead
The NASCAR Xfinity Series Watkins Glen event promises a fierce contest among accomplished drivers and emerging talents, all seeking key victories and valuable playoff points. With standout performers like Justin Allgaier, Shane van Gisbergen, and Connor Zilisch showing speed and consistency, the Mission 200 will be a critical battleground in the final stretch of the regular season. The race will not only test driving skill and team strategy on a demanding road course but could also shape the playoff field as the series moves closer to its championship chase.