WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — He was trailed by a documentary crew, answered several questions in Spanish in his media blitz, and was called a racing hero by drivers still in their teens the last time Juan Pablo Montoya ran a NASCAR race.

Ten years after his last Cup start, it was indeed “Juan’s World” again for the blunt Colombian, who never had the elite level of success in NASCAR as he did in his IndyCar, sports cars and Formula One careers. He’s back with Michael Jordan’s team for a one-off race Sunday at Watkins Glen International, without the hype and high expectations that followed him when he made his NASCAR debut 18 years ago.

“It’s either gonna be, ‘Oh, it’s not too bad,’” Montoya said, “or I’m gonna, go, ‘Oh (shoot!)’ We’ll see.’ ”

That kind of described Montoya’s career arc over the bulk of his seven full Cup seasons, spent driving for Chip Ganassi. There were flashes of greatness — like a win at The Glen in 2010 or seven top-five finishes in 2009 when he was eighth in the season standings — but just not enough consistency inside the organization to ever stamp him a true NASCAR championship contender.

Montoya these days is a podcaster, still races sports cars, and is mentor to his teenage son, Sebastián, who is following in his father’s tire tracks and chasing his own racing career. Sliding back into a Cup car wasn’t in his plans.

“He must have got really bored or something,” cracked driver Martin Truex Jr.

Not quite, though, Montoya had pretty much shut the door on any more NASCAR races until 23XI Racing reached out about having him drive the No. 50 Toyota in support of Mobil 1’s 50th anniversary. 23XI, the team owned by Jordan and Denny Hamlin, had run the third car two other times this season as part of the collaboration. Montoya also had a long friendship with 23XI Racing president Steve Lauletta, an executive with Chip Ganassi Racing back in Montoya’s tenure with the team, which further enticed him to return.

Those who remember Montoya, who turns 49 next week, as one of more talented, brash and successful drivers of his generation were thrilled to have him cameo at The Glen.

“He was the man when I was growing up,” 26-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver William Bryon said.

Mexican driver Daniel Suarez said Montoya “broke the mold” and helped show foreign drivers there was a career path toward NASCAR.

“A lot has changed since he was here,” Suarez said. “A lot.”

Yes, the field is largely happy to see him — just as long as Montoya kind of stays out of the way.

Watkins Glen is the second playoff race, and the stakes and emotions are raised for drivers chasing a championship. There isn’t a title contender out there that wants to crash out of the race in any circumstance, much less by a road-course ringer such as Montoya.

“Hopefully he’s nice and respectful of the playoff guys,” William Byron said.

Montoya said respectful racing “is not that hard.”

“I will be nice and respectful of everyone that is nice and respectful for me,” he said, laughing.