Roush wants more road races, even a 2nd one at The Glen
It’s the first time a Roush-owned car has won at The Glen since Greg Biffle’s Camping World Truck victory in 2000, and one of several in series like IMSA, Trans-Am and, of course, the Sprint Cup Series. While celebrating, he was reminded of the latest feat.
“This is great to finally win here at Watkins Glen. We always enjoyed bringing our road race cars here and had some success in our Cup cars. I think we had a stretch with Mark Martin when we won two or three in a row," Roush said. “I did not realize until somebody asked me in victory circle if we had won here before and I said, ‘Gee I don’t think we did.’"
Roush, whose empire was built through his successful Ford sports car racing programs, also like the idea of doing more road racing in the Sprint Cup Series, even if that means coming to The Glen twice annually.
“It’s a great place to come, we enjoy the race track. I wish we had more road races," he said. “I’m not saying I’d like to trade in (Indianapolis) for a road race, but I’d like to have an opportunity to come here twice a year."
Track president Michael Printup was, understandably, non-committal.
“It’s tough. It would take a lot of evaluation," Printup told The Leader. “I always review other tracks that have to put two summer races together, and it would be a little risky to be honest with you. I’d have to ask the fans."
Printup likes the idea of a rotating schedule, where tracks with one date could have two Cup races “once every eight years or something, so it would be special," he said. “I think our fans would really support that."
The annual August NASCAR weekend is the largest sporting event in New York State, with tens of thousands of fans coming to the area from Canada, surrounding states and even as far as California. It may be a major success because there’s only one race every year, but that’s something, Printup said, would take some research to determine.
Jack Roush’s teams have won at Watkins Glen International in everything, except NASCAR’s Nationwide Series. Carl Edwards changed that Saturday, making a late pass for his victory in the Zippo 200 at The Glen.
It’s the first time a Roush-owned car has won at The Glen since Greg Biffle’s Camping World Truck victory in 2000, and one of several in series like IMSA, Trans-Am and, of course, the Sprint Cup Series. While celebrating, he was reminded of the latest feat.
“This is great to finally win here at Watkins Glen. We always enjoyed bringing our road race cars here and had some success in our Cup cars. I think we had a stretch with Mark Martin when we won two or three in a row," Roush said. “I did not realize until somebody asked me in victory circle if we had won here before and I said, ‘Gee I don’t think we did.’"
Roush, whose empire was built through his successful Ford sports car racing programs, also like the idea of doing more road racing in the Sprint Cup Series, even if that means coming to The Glen twice annually.
“It’s a great place to come, we enjoy the race track. I wish we had more road races," he said. “I’m not saying I’d like to trade in (Indianapolis) for a road race, but I’d like to have an opportunity to come here twice a year."
Track president Michael Printup was, understandably, non-committal.
“It’s tough. It would take a lot of evaluation," Printup told The Leader. “I always review other tracks that have to put two summer races together, and it would be a little risky to be honest with you. I’d have to ask the fans."
Printup likes the idea of a rotating schedule, where tracks with one date could have two Cup races “once every eight years or something, so it would be special," he said. “I think our fans would really support that."
The annual August NASCAR weekend is the largest sporting event in New York State, with tens of thousands of fans coming to the area from Canada, surrounding states and even as far as California. It may be a major success because there’s only one race every year, but that’s something, Printup said, would take some research to determine. The Corning Leader