A Familiar Face Returns to NASCAR This Weekend at Watkins Glen
Long-time NASCAR fans will be surprised to see a familiar face at the race track this weekend. Juan Pablo Montoya is returning to the NASCAR Cup Series after 10 years away at age 48. Montoya will drive for 23 XI racing in their number 50 car at Watkins Glen on Sunday. Due to the former experience of Montoya, the road course at Watkins Glen should suit him as opposed to other tracks, as one of his two career NASCAR wins came at the track in 2010.
A full-time driver in NASCAR from 2007-2013, Montoya has plenty of NASCAR experience with 255 starts to his name. With his entrance into the race, Juan Pablo Montoya easily becomes the most decorated driver in the field. Even though Montoya has not experienced a ton of NASCAR success, two wins are nothing to scoff at. Montoya also has five career wins in the IndyCar series, including a cornerstone victory at the Indianapolis 500 in 2000. If that were not enough, Montoya is one of the few former full-time NASCAR drivers with Formula One experience. Montoya’s career accolades also include seven wins in the Formula One series. These successes in many different series prove the quality and versatility Montoya possesses as a driver and show why he was sought after by 23 XI to race for them this weekend.
Despite Juan Pablo Montoya’s pedigree, he is far from a favorite this weekend at Watkins Glen. Montoya has had very little time with the team and will have to navigate through the majority of the field, qualifying in 34th out of 38 drivers. Other road course specialists like Shane Van Gisbergen and A.J. Allmendinger qualified third and sixth respectively. Martin Truex Jr. will also be looking for a timely win, as he qualified in second and sits in 15th out of 16 playoff drivers. With two races remaining in the Round of 16, one this weekend at Watkins Glen and one next weekend at Bristol, drivers ranked 13-16 in points will be eliminated after next week’s contest. Nevertheless, Montoya will be looking for a respectable finish in what could be his last NASCAR race at age 48.
