Mission 200 At Watkins Glen: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Entry List

Sarah Talker
Aug 9, 2025; Watkins Glen, New York, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Connor Zilisch (88) leads the field to the green flag to start the Mission 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International.

Watkins Glen International has never been a track that forgives hesitation. The 2.45‑mile road course forces drivers to commit instantly, and the high‑speed corners punish anyone who misses their marks. After the chaos of the season’s early ovals, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series arrives in Upstate New York for its 13th points‑paying race of 2026, and the garage already feels different.

The Glen changes the air. It tightens the room. It makes even the veterans think twice. Average lap speeds routinely clear 120 mph in green‑flag conditions, making it one of the fastest road courses in North America. Teams understand that mistakes here are magnified because runoff areas are limited, braking zones are narrow, and the blue guardrails don’t forgive anything.

Thirty‑eight teams have unloaded for the weekend, forming a full field with no margin for error. Temperatures are expected to sit in the low‑80s, which means grip will shift quickly as rubber builds through the esses and into the bus stop.

Crew chiefs must anticipate balance changes before they happen, and drivers must stay ahead of the handling curve as the track tightens through the afternoon. A single missed braking point can cost a driver five positions before they even reach the carousel.

Where Speed, Timing, And Execution Will Shape The Afternoon

Watkins Glen demands a blend of raw speed, braking stability, and long‑run discipline. Tire falloff typically ranges between eight‑tenths and one full second over a green‑flag run, and a missed entry into Turn 1 can ruin a lap before the field reaches the uphill esses.

The average green‑flag run at The Glen sits around 22–25 laps, forcing drivers to manage their equipment with precision. Even a slight wheel hop into the bus stop can create a handling imbalance that lasts an entire stint. The groove evolves quickly as rubber builds, and the dirty air through the carousel is unforgiving.

Leaders often reach lapped traffic within 15 laps, creating constant decision‑making pressure. Watkins Glen rewards drivers who stay calm in turbulence and punishes those who hesitate. With the Cup Series idle until Sunday, the spotlight is fully on the O’Reilly field, and this is the point in the season where contenders begin to separate from pretenders.

The Mission 200: A Six‑Figure War

Shane van Gisbergen: No. 9, JR Motorsports

Shane van Gisbergen enters Watkins Glen as the most dangerous man in the garage. His road‑course résumé speaks for itself: multiple wins across NASCAR’s national series and a driving style built for high‑speed technical circuits. His ability to process braking zones and corner entry speeds puts him in a different category. If he qualifies near the front, the field will spend the afternoon chasing him.

Justin Allgaier: No. 7, JR Motorsports

Justin Allgaier remains one of the most consistent road‑course performers in the series. He owns multiple top‑five finishes at Watkins Glen and understands how to maintain balance deep into a tire cycle. Allgaier’s long‑run pace and ability to read traffic make him a legitimate threat to control the middle stages.

Connor Zilisch: No. 1, JR Motorsports

Connor Zilisch arrives with momentum and raw speed. He has already led more than 150 laps this season across all track types and continues to improve his racecraft. Zilisch’s aggression on corner entry has become one of his defining traits, and if he starts inside the top ten, he becomes a real problem for the veterans.

Triple‑Duty Ironmen Shift The Competitive Balance

Three drivers are confirmed to run triple duty across all three national series this weekend, and their presence instantly raises the difficulty level for every points‑eligible driver. Triple‑duty weekends at Watkins Glen are brutal: three races, three disciplines, and nearly 500 miles of physical punishment.

Shane van Gisbergen: No. 9, JR Motorsports

Van Gisbergen’s road‑course IQ is unmatched. His ability to carry speed through the carousel and modulate brake pressure into the bus stop makes him the most technically gifted driver in the field. Every lap he runs sharpens his edge.

Ross Chastain: No. 32, Jordan Anderson Racing

Ross Chastain brings a level of aggression that changes the tone of any race he enters. He is not afraid to use the bumper, and Watkins Glen’s tight braking zones give him plenty of opportunities. Chastain’s Cup‑level experience makes him a threat even in equipment that isn’t top-tier.

Connor Zilisch: No. 1, JR Motorsports

Zilisch rounds out the trio. His natural road‑course instincts make him one of the most talked‑about young drivers in the sport. Running triple duty will test his stamina, but it also gives him more track time than anyone else in the field.

Breaking Down The Watkins Glen Entry List

Thirty‑eight cars are locked in, forming one of the most competitive road‑course fields of the season. It’s the kind of lineup that fills every inch of the garage and leaves no room for mistakes once the engines fire. Teams know that when the field is this deep, even a small slip in the braking zones or a missed shift through the esses can bury a driver for the entire afternoon.

The Glen doesn’t hand out easy laps, and with this many capable entries, every position will have to be earned the hard way. Drivers know they can’t hide in traffic here because the track exposes anyone who’s even a little off their marks.

JR Motorsports: The Road‑Course Powerhouse

JRM brings van Gisbergen, Allgaier, Zilisch, and Sam Mayer. Their road‑course notebook is one of the strongest in the series, and all four drivers have shown top‑ten speed in practice. And with the way their cars unload at tracks like this, it’s clear they didn’t leave anything on the table this weekend.

Richard Childress Racing: The Braking‑Zone Specialists

RCR counters with Austin Hill and Jesse Love. Hill’s braking control into Turn 1 is among the best in the field, and Love’s raw speed continues to force veterans to stay honest. Their cars usually unload close to the window at tracks like this, giving both drivers room to attack rather than play defense.

Joe Gibbs Racing: The Pressure Builders

JGR brings William Sawalich, Brent Crews, Brandon Jones, and Taylor Gray. Sawalich and Gray have been magnets for each other all season, and their rivalry adds tension to a track where contact is almost guaranteed.

Jordan Anderson Racing & Sam Hunt Racing: The Breakout Threats

Jordan Anderson Racing fields Ross Chastain, Jeb Burton, Blaine Perkins, and Rajah Caruth. Sam Hunt Racing counters with Harrison Burton and Dean Thompson. All six have shown flashes of speed on road courses this year.

O’Reilly Auto Parts Series At Watkins Glen International Raceway

Mission 200 At The Glen: Full Entry List

(i) indicates ineligible for championship or playoff points

  • 1. Sheldon Creed — No. 00 — Haas Factory Team
  • 2. Alex Labbe — No. 0 — SS GreenLight Racing
  • 3. Connor Zilisch (i) — No. 1 — JR Motorsports
  • 4. Jesse Love — No. 2 — Richard Childress Racing
  • 5. Ryan Ellis — No. 02 — Young’s Motorsports
  • 6. Justin Allgaier — No. 7 — JR Motorsports
  • 7. Josh Bilicki — No. 07 — SS GreenLight Racing
  • 8. Sammy Smith — No. 8 — JR Motorsports
  • 9. Shane van Gisbergen (i) — No. 9 — JR Motorsports
  • 10. Corey Day — No. 17 — Hendrick Motorsports
  • 11. William Sawalich — No. 18 — Joe Gibbs Racing
  • 12. Brent Crews — No. 19 — Joe Gibbs Racing
  • 13. Brandon Jones — No. 20 — Joe Gibbs Racing
  • 14. Austin Hill — No. 21 — Richard Childress Racing
  • 15. Harrison Burton — No. 24 — Sam Hunt Racing
  • 16. Dean Thompson — No. 26 — Sam Hunt Racing
  • 17. Jeb Burton — No. 27 — Jordan Anderson Racing
  • 18. Kyle Sieg — No. 28 — RSS Racing
  • 19. Blaine Perkins — No. 31 — Jordan Anderson Racing
  • 20. Ross Chastain (i) — No. 32 — Jordan Anderson Racing
  • 21. Matt Wilson — No. 35 — Joey Gase Motorsports
  • 22. Ryan Sieg — No. 39 — RSS Racing
  • 23. Sam Mayer — No. 41 — Haas Factory Team
  • 24. Brad Perez — No. 42 — Young’s Motorsports
  • 25. Brennan Poole — No. 44 — Alpha Prime Racing
  • 26. Lavar Scott — No. 45 — Alpha Prime Racing
  • 27. Patrick Staropoli — No. 48 — Big Machine Racing
  • 28. Preston Pardus — No. 50 — Pardus Racing Inc.
  • 29. Jeremy Clements — No. 51 — Jeremy Clements Racing
  • 30. Derek White — No. 53 — Joey Gase Motorsports
  • 31. Taylor Gray — No. 54 — Joe Gibbs Racing
  • 32. Glen Reen — No. 55 — Joey Gase Motorsports
  • 33. Austin Green — No.87 — Peterson Racing Group
  • 34. Rajah Caruth — No. 88 — JR Motorsports
  • 35. Carson Kvapil — No. 91 — DGM Racing X JIM
  • 36. Alex Guenette — No. 92 — DGM Racing X JIM
  • 37. Anthony Alfredo — No. 96 — Viking Motorsports
  • 38. Parker Retzlaff — No. 99 — Viking Motorsports

What This Means

With three triple‑duty drivers in the field, every points‑eligible contender faces a strategic dilemma. Watkins Glen has produced 10 different winners in the last 12 O’Reilly races, underscoring how unpredictable this track can be. Drivers must decide whether to risk everything trying to beat Shane van Gisbergen for the win or protect their equipment and maximize points.

Watkins Glen is the ultimate road‑course barometer. Teams that move quickly here will carry that advantage into the late‑summer stretch, while teams that miss the setup will spend weeks trying to recover. This race often sets the tone for the next month, and a strong Glen run can be the foundation of a championship push.

A race at Watkins Glen has a way of exposing who’s truly prepared and who’s just trying to hang on. The track doesn’t hide weaknesses, and teams that show up even slightly off usually spend the entire afternoon paying for it. It’s the kind of place where confidence matters as much as speed, because every lap forces drivers to make decisions they can’t take back.

What’s Next

The 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series stop at Watkins Glen sets up a season‑shaping showdown, with thirty‑eight cars locked in, triple‑duty stars in the field, and a road course that exposes every weakness. Watkins Glen rewards execution and punishes hesitation, making Saturday a momentum‑defining race for the entire field.

The haulers are parked, the setups are locked in, and the only thing left is to drop the green flag. Fans are about to witness one of the most intense road‑course battles of the season. Tune in Saturday at 4 p.m. ET on The CW as the field takes on one of the fastest, most unforgiving road courses in the sport.

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Sarah is a motorsports journalist covering NASCAR, IMSA, Formula 1, and IndyCar, blending sharp analysis with accessible storytelling shaped by live reporting at the Daytona 500 and Würth 400. She brings an analytical foundation through a B.S. in Political Science and a Master’s in Project Management and Information Technology, and is an active member of the National Society of Leadership and Success through the CTU Chapter, reflecting her commitment to growth and leadership in the industry.