Drivers to watch for at Watkins Glen

A.J. Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose both start up front when the race
gets under way on Monday. The teammates start 2nd and 3rd.
Credit: NASCAR.com

Sprint Cup racing from Watkins Glen International has been postponed due to a rain delay and the race will be held on Monday at 10 am est on ESPN.

This season has been filled with many new winners and there is no reason to believe this weekend won’t be any different. You should have already posted your picks for the Sprint Summer Showdown but if you’re still not sure who’s hot for this weekend, here are a few drivers to watch for.

It's common to brag about a team that starts in the front row of a race but this Monday, Richard Petty Motorsports starts in second and third.

Marcos Ambrose has qualified in 3^rd. He is an exceptionally good driver on road courses with experience racing in a wide variety of series. His experience ranges from winning karting titles growing up in Tasmania, to racing in Formula Ford and Formula Three in Europe, to a legendary career in Australian V8 Supercars and now he's a U.S. NASCAR driver for the No. 9 Ford at Richard Petty Motorsports.

Ambrose is looking for his first win in NASCAR Sprint Cup. This will mark his third start at ‘The Glen’ and has three top five’s. he’s finished second once and third twice. Ambrose is currently 23rd in points.

A.J. Allmendinger is one driver we’ve talked a lot about lately and there’s a reason for that. This weekend is the second weekend for him to have qualified 2nd (his first was at Charlotte Motor Speedway) This year,  the driver of the legendary No. 43 Ford racing for Richard Petty Motorsports has made unbelievable strides. He is in the Championship bubble and a win this weekend could land him the Wild Card postion into the Chase. With a history of being a winner in Champ Car racing, the 'Dinger' has extensive experience in road course racing. In three starts at ‘The Glen’ he’s finished in the top five once and has finished in the top 15 twice.

Jimmie Johnson has won one road course win last year and it was at Sonoma and is now looking for another victory. Johnson is due for a win, though second in points, Johnson has only one victory for the 2011 season. He qualified 4th for Monday’s race.

On Saturday, Johnson raced for JR Motorsports No. 7 Anything with an Engine Chevrolet and although suffered a penalty for driving off with the gas can still in his car, he managed to finish 2nd.