Complete Preview of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Watkins Glen

There's a rather strange irony heading into Sunday's Cheez-It 355 at The Glen.

The all-time leading Sprint Cup winner at Watkins Glen International won't be there to potentially add to the five wins he already has there over the years.

That's because Tony Stewart will likely still be in a hospital bed in Kannapolis, N.C., watching the race on TV and recovering from a second surgery to stabilize the shattered right leg he suffered in a sprint car crash Monday in Iowa.

This will be the first Cup race Stewart has missed in his entire career, ending an iron man-like streak of 521 consecutive starts dating back to his first race in NASCAR's top level in 1999.

While Marcos Ambrose has won the last two races at WGI and is one of the favorites to win a third, Sunday's race just isn't going to be the same without Smoke.

In 14 starts at WGI's twisting and turning 2.40-mile road course, Stewart has been exceptional, with five wins (2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2009), seven top-five finishes and 10 top-10 finishes.

Additionally, he's never failed to finish a race there, completing all 1,264 laps in those 14 starts (including leading 225 of those laps). He has an average start of 6.3 and an average finish of 7.9.

But Stewart won't be there Sunday, so turn your attentions to guys like Ambrose, Juan Pablo Montoya, four-time WGI winner Jeff Gordon and even current points leader Jimmie Johnson.

WGI is kind of an anomaly for Johnson. Even though he has 62 career wins on the Sprint Cup circuit, he has failed to go to victory lane at five tracks: Chicago, Homestead, Kentucky, Michigan and Watkins Glen.

Given the dominating start Johnson has gotten off to this season—leading the points for 18 of the first 21 races—nothing seems to be impossible for him, and a win Sunday is something he is likely pining for.

Also keep your eye on guys like Sonoma winner Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick (who has developed into a good road course driver over the years but has struggled the last few at both WGI and Sonoma), Clint Bowyer and Carl Edwards.

It's from that group—along with Gordon, Ambrose, Montoya and Johnson—that I'm betting Sunday's winner will emerge.

Sprint Cup teams will qualify for the Cheez-It 355 Saturday at 11:40 a.m. ET. On Speed TV.

Coverage of the race can be seen Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Watkins Glen Facts

Most Wins by Active Driver: Tony Stewart (5)

Most Poles by Active Driver: Mark Martin (3)

Best Average Starting Position by Active Driver: Jimmie Johnson (6.2, Tony Stewart is second at 6.3)

Best Average Finishing Position by Active Driver: Marcos Ambrose (2.0)

Worst Average Finishing Position by Active Driver (four or more starts): Michael McDowell (36.2)

Most Laps Led over last eight races: Kyle Busch (159)

Most Wins by Manufacturer: Chevrolet (16 of 30 races)

Top 25 Driver Ratings at WGI (over last eight races):

1. Tony Stewart 120.4

2. Marcos Ambrose 120.1

3. Juan Pablo Montoya 110.5

4. Kyle Busch 110.2

5. Jimmie Johnson 102.0

6. Brad Keselowski 101.7

7. Carl Edwards 94.0

8. A.J. Allmendinger 92.4

9. Kurt Busch 90.7

10. Denny Hamlin 89.6

11. Martin Truex Jr. 89.2

12. Kevin Harvick 88.8

13. Jeff Gordon 88.6

14. Clint Bowyer 81.2

15. Jamie McMurray 81.1

16. Ryan Newman 77.4

17. Matt Kenseth 76.6

18. Greg Biffle 75.6

19. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 73.6

20. Jeff Burton 73.3

21. Kasey Kahne 73.1

22. Joey Logano 71.6

23. Boris Said 71.3

24 Casey Mears 69.3

25. Paul Menard 66.2

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