Patrick Long will attempt to make his first start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend at Watkins Glen. Long will drive the No. 30 Inception Motorsports Toyota usually driven by David Stremme.
Although he's a Porsche factory driver, Long has dabbled in NASCAR competition before. He made a one-off start in the Nationwide Series' first trip to Elkhart Lake's Road America in 2010, qualifying seventh and finishing 14th.
Long expanded Thursday morning on his Twitter page.
"Heading to @WGI to make my first start in @NASCAR Sprint Cup! I'll be driving the #30 car for Inception/Humphrey-Smith. No SnP, we're racing! A top 20 is the goal this weekend. I'm under no illusion how tough Sprint Cup is these days, but humbled to be running!"
In 17 starts this year, Stremme has a best finish of 24th at Indianapolis. The race falls on an off weekend from Long's usual commitments driving with Jorg Bergmeister (LEFT) in the Flying Lizard Porsche in the American Le Mans Series.
No other abnormal “road course ringers” will be present, although Boris Said races for FAS Lane Racing in its No. 32 Ford as he did at Sonoma, and Jason Leffler will make a one-off Cup appearance in Jay Robinson's No. 49 Toyota. As there are only 43 cars entered for this race as of Wednesday, all cars entered should be able to race without anyone going home.