Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International Preview

ANOTHER TWO-CAR EFFORT: Team Penske will once again be a two-car team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) this weekend at Watkins Glen International (WGI), with Joey Logano piloting the No. 12 Snap-On Ford Mustang alongside teammate Brad Keselowski. The team has fielded only the No. 22 car entry in the majority of NNS races this season but the No. 12 competes at select events in 2014. Ryan Blaney was the last driver to race in the No. 12 Ford, competing at Kentucky Speedway in June, when he finished fifth.

ROLLER COASTER AT THE GLEN: Logano has had mixed results competing in the Nationwide Series at Watkins Glen International. The 24-year-old has finished second and third, but also has three finishes outside of the top 10 in his career. In last year’s race, when Logano raced a third car for Team Penske, he was running fourth and ran out of gas on the white flag lap, finishing 21st.

ROAD COURSE QUALIFYING: Over the years, Logano has been strong qualifying on the road course at Watkins Glen International. In six career NNS races at the track, he’s only qualified outside the top eight on one occasion, his rookie year in 2008. Last season, Logano qualified in the third position at WGI.

SNAP-ON RETURNS AGAIN: Snap-on will return as the primary sponsor of the No. 12 Ford Mustang this weekend at Watkins Glen. Snap-on Tools is a leading global innovator, manufacturer and marketer of tools, equipment, diagnostics, repair information and systems solutions for professional users performing critical tasks. Snap-on Tools is one of the largest non-food franchise companies in the world, selling its products and services through franchisee, company-direct, distributor and Internet channels.

HOW DO YOU VIEW THIS WEEKEND’S RACE IN THE NO. 12 SNAP-ON FORD?

“It will be a lot like last year’s event at Watkins Glen when I was running the No. 48 car. We were out here for two things – to get some time behind the wheel on the road course and to try and win the race. We aren’t running for points, so finishing second or third or 25th doesn’t make any difference. But I also want to go out there and be competitive. The reason we put a second car together for this race is to give both Brad and I some more on-track time. That’s important, especially on these road course events. The more time you get, the better you get. And if I learn one thing that I can do different on Sunday, just one thing, then the weekend was worth it, no matter where we finish. But don’t get me wrong, I want to win the race.”

DO YOU THINK IT WILL FEEL DIFFERENT TO DRIVE THE NO. 12?

“It will be different for sure, but it’s just a number of the side of the car. It will be the first time I can remember running the No. 12 in my career though, in any racecar. I’ve gotten to run the 48 and the 12 while here at Team Penske, so I guess I’m expanding my resume quite a bit.”