kings of New York, combining to win eight of the last 11 races at Watkins Glen. Last year, Stewart and Gordon combined to lead 71 of 90 laps. Since 1997, the two road ragers have combined to lead 413 of 992 total laps — and Stewart didn’t run his first race at The Glen until 1999.

The 20 car has been nearly unstoppable lately, taking four of the last six checkers (’07, ’05, ’04 and ’02), along with a runner-up in ’06. Seven of Stewart’s nine career starts have resulted in a finish inside the top six.

Gordon’s production has slipped since registering seven top-10 finishes in his first nine trips to Watkins Glen — including victories in ’01, ’99, ’98 and ’97. The 24 car has only one top 10 (last year’s ninth) since 2002. Gordon finished 22nd, 33rd, 21st, 14th and 13th in between his ’01 win and respectable ’07 showing.

The open wheel imports — second-year driver Juan Pablo Montoya and rookies Patrick Carpentier, Dario Franchitti, Jacques Villeneuve — will have a better chance at Watkins Glen than most other tracks on the Cup schedule. Montoya crashed at The Glen — then mixed it up with Kevin Harvick — last year after earning his first Cup win at Infineon earlier in his rookie season. Carpentier made his first career Cup start at The Glen last season, leading seven laps before finishing 22nd.


FANTASY STALL
Looking at Checkers
Hard to ignore Tony Stewart’s four wins in the last six races.
Pretty Solid Pick
Jeff Gordon

Good Sleeper Pick
Patrick Carpentier
Runs on Seven Cylinders
Lots of people, most notably Kasey Kahne and Reed Sorenson.
Insider Tip
Stick with old standbys, but study the open wheelers.