Brian Simo Watkins Glen preview

Brian Simo will drive the No. 90 Hills Bros Coffee Ford for Donlavey Racing in this weekend's NASCAR Winston Cup event at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. The Carlsbad, Calif., racer was tabbed to drive the car at Watkins Glen last year, but was unable to race when the qualifying session was rained-out.

"It would be great to add a win for Hills Bros," Simo said. "The first thing, though, is to qualify. After being rained-out last year, all I want to do is qualify! Then we'll take it from there."

Simo competed in NASCAR Busch Series races on the 2.45-mile Watkins Glen road course in 1997 and 1998. Both times, he was leading the race when his engine failed.

He has one previous Winston Cup start this season, at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., in June. He qualified a strong 15th, but was sidelined early with a broken differential.

-DR-