As many as four drivers — or as few as one — can clinch Chase berths at Watkins Glen on Sunday

By Aug 8, 2014, 11:07 AM EDT
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Heading into Pocono, four drivers had a chance to officially clinch their berth in the upcoming and expanded 16-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup field.

However, only one driver wound up clinching, that being Kevin Harvick.

Harvick is the seventh driver to have officially locked up a spot in the Chase, the others being Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Joey Logano.

Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen presents an opportunity for several more drivers to officially punch their ticket into the Chase.

But this is where things could get tricky statistically, just like one of Watkins Glen’s tricky turns.

Here’s how things shake out, per NASCAR’s statisticians:

* If a repeat 2014 winner is triumphant this Sunday, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Aric Almirola and Kurt Busch will all officially be in the Chase.

* However, if there is a first-time winner in 2014 – someone that has yet to win such as Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer, Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth and others – it could mean only one driver, namely Kyle Busch, would officially clinch a Chase berth.

* But there’s a caveat to that: If Kenseth wins, he would likely become perhaps the only driver to clinch. However, that scenario is a longshot, given Watkins Glen is arguably Kenseth’s worst track on the Sprint Cup circuit.

* Likewise, if Newman or Bowyer were to win Sunday – and they are both decent road course racers – they would clinch their spot, but not the other, nor Kenseth.

* After Watkins Glen, the clinching driver must be 193 points ahead of 31st place.

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Ryan Hunter-Reay hired as replacement for Conor Daly at Ed Carpenter Racing

By Jun 8, 2023, 9:05 AM EDT
Ryan Hunter-Reay Carpenter
Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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Ryan Hunter-Reay was named to replace Conor Daly in Ed Carpenter Racing’s No. 20 Dallara-Chevrolet, starting in the NTT IndyCar Series event next week at Road America.

Hunter-Reay is the 2012 series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner. He finished 11th for Dreyer & Reinbold last month in the 107th Indy 500, his first start since the 2021 season finale. He drove full time for Andretti Autosport from 2010-21.

“We need to improve our competitiveness and I wanted to add a fresh perspective from a driver like Ryan who has a massive amount of experience and success as well as a reputation as a team leader. I am excited to welcome Ryan to the team,” team owner Ed Carpenter said in a team release. “We have worked together in the past as teammates and he tested for ECR at Barber Motorsports Park in October 2021, where he made an immediate impact as we were able to qualify one of our cars on the pole following that test. I am confident that his experience and technical abilities will be an asset to ECR as we move forward toward our goals as a team.”

Hunter-Reay has 18 IndyCar victories, most recently in 2018. He also is a winner in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, having been a part of winning entries in the 2020 Twelve Hours of Sebring and 2018 Petit Le Mans. Last year, he was an endurance driver for Cadillac Racing while being on standby for Chip Ganassi Racing.

He replaces Daly, whose departure was announced a day earlier in what the driver and team said was a mutual decision.

“I was surprised when I got the call from Ed,” Hunter-Reay said in a team release. “He described how frustrated he was that his team has not been able to realize its potential despite their efforts, investments, as well as technical and personnel changes over the past few years and asked for my help. Ed and I are very close friends and have been for a long time. I’ve worked with the team in the past and they are a very talented group with high expectations and a committed partner in BITNILE.COM.

“This will certainly be a challenge for me as well. It’s a tough situation jumping in a car in the middle of the season without any testing in what I believe to be the most competitive series in the world. Certainly, part of my motivation in saying ‘yes’ to Ed is the great challenge ahead. The last time I turned right driving an NTT IndyCar Series car was in October of 2021 with this team at Barber. However, I remain very confident in both my driving and technical abilities and believe by working with the talented people at ECR and Team Chevy, while representing BITNILE.COM, we will make progress. I am going to do everything I can do to help the team achieve its long-term objectives.”

Said Milton “Todd” Ault, the chairman of sponsor BitNile.com: “It is great for BitNile.com to be aligned with an Indy 500 Winner and an NTT IndyCar Series champion. I have followed Ryan’s career for years and I am confident he will challenge the entire ECR team to perform at higher levels. I wish everyone luck at Road America.”