NASCAR: Allmendinger fast despite Glen frustration

AJ Allmendinger was fastest in final Sprint Cup practice on Friday at Watkins Glen International, as he looks to win this race for the second time and first since 2014. As was the case two years ago, such a victory would propel Allmendinger into the Chase for the Championship, not that this has created additional stress for the 34-year-old.

"I'm always going to put pressure on myself," Allmendinger said after practice. "I don't care what weekend it is. I'm always going to put the most pressure on myself, but in the end it's just another race. All I can do is go out there and drive my butt off.

"As a race team all we can do is go work the hardest that we can, try to make no mistakes or minimize our mistakes. If we are meant to win then we go win."

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Allmendinger said fans and the media try to create additional pressure due to winners advancing to the playoffs, but everyone within JTG Daugherty Racing downplays it. With that said, Allmendinger is 21st in the standings and 59 points out of a playoff spot.

This isn't just another race even if Allmendinger maintains it.

"I've lost plenty of races that you just move on to the next one," Allmendinger said. "I know everybody else tries to put a lot of pressure on the race team, but it's just another race to us. We just go out there and give it our best. That's all we can do."

Even though Allmendinger was fastest in the final session, it's been an evenful day for the NASCAR and Indy car veteran. He suffered through a pierced oil line that he believed, at first, was an expired engine. Luckily he was able to nurse his Chevrolet around the 2.45-mile New York road course without doing damage to the power plant.

"I think the tie strap that was holding an oil line kind of came undone and it sat against the headers and poked a little hole in the oil line," Allmendinger said. "Initially I thought I blew up, there was so much smoke, but I was able to shut the motor off quick enough and just coast back. It didn't really hurt anything.

"My guys they busted their butts to get this Kroger/Kingsford Chevy just in the ball game at least. I think you've seen on my facial expressions today and I'm just not very happy. We got it closer. It's still not amazing, but it's got speed in it at least."