Video: NASCAR Cup Series winners at Watkins Glen from 1957 to 2024
Past winners of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International.
- Van Gisbergen became the fourth driver in series history to win at least four straight road or street races.
- The victory was especially meaningful for Van Gisbergen, who finished second at Watkins Glen last year after a late mistake.
- Defending race winner Chris Buescher finished third, strengthening his position in the playoff standings.
After a frustrating mistake in overtime of last year’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International, Shane Van Gisbergen delivered a blowout victory in his return to the road course Aug. 10.
Van Gisbergen, 36, led by nearly 20 seconds at one point in the 90-lap race and pulled away in the No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet to win Sunday afternoon’s Go Bowling at The Glen by 11.116 seconds.
Christopher Bell finished second, reigning race-winner Chris Buescher third, 2023 WGI champ William Byron fourth, Chase Briscoe fifth and pole-sitter Ryan Blaney sixth.
The win on the track’s 2.45-mile NASCAR configuration gave the native of Auckland, New Zealand, four consecutive victories on road or street courses this year. Van Gisbergen became the fourth driver in series history to reach that number over any stretch, trailing only the six straight by Jeff Gordon.
He also set a record for most wins in a season by a Cup rookie with four, topping the three of Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson.
“Awesome race. … The battle coming back through I had a lot of fun,” Van Gisbergen said. “Thank you to WeatherTech, Trackhouse, the car was just amazing again.”
Minus an early exit in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race, the win capped a rewarding visit to Schuyler County for Van Gisbergen, a three-time series champion in the Supercars Championship in Australia and New Zealand.
It was announced Friday that Van Gisbergen signed a multiyear extension with Trackhouse Racing.
His dad, Robert Van Gisbergen, made the trip to watch Shane, who signed a rugby ball and booted it over the fence during his post-race celebration.
“I try to talk to him every day,” said Shane, who hadn’t seen his father since Christmas. “He was almost in tears, too. It’s really special to share that because we’re a long way from home.”
Van Gisbergen said his dad had been unable to travel recently because of illness.
“It’s been pretty difficult,” Shane said. “He lost his wife, my mother. And his sister and then his mom a month or so ago. It’s been a really rough run for Dad. It’s hard to support him when I’m on the other side of the world. That’s probably why I’m the most homesick.”
Van Gisbergen became the third foreign-born driver to win the track’s Cup race, joining Australia’s Marcos Ambrose (2011 and 2012) and Colombia’s Juan Pablo Montoya (2010).
Glen redemption ‘pretty darn cool’
Van Gisbergen’s car got loose going through the Bus Stop in last year’s Glen race, giving Buescher an opening to pass him on the way to the overtime victory as Van Gisbergen settled for second.
“Yeah, it certainly makes up for it,” Van Gisbergen said of Sunday’s redemption. “And then I went to bed pretty angry yesterday, having to junk a car and have another DNF.
“It was nice to clear the head this morning and come here and just have a great day. Executed from the start, no mistakes. It means everything. This is why we work so hard. To get another win, it’s pretty darn cool.”
Day of dominance
With no competitor near him during Sunday’s closing lap, Van Gisbergen said he made sure to give the final wall an extra meter of space as he took the checkered flag.
The decisive pass of the day came on lap 54 when Van Gisbergen got by Blaney in Turn 6 for the lead.
His advantage was nearly 20 seconds when he made a scheduled pit stop on the back end of lap 63. Van Gisbergen returned to the track in 10th, with everyone in front of him needing to pit again.
Van Gisbergen took over the lead for good on lap 74 when Brad Keselowski pitted.
Strong day for Buescher in playoff pursuit
Two more races remain before the 16-driver field is decided for the 10-race playoffs. Thirteen drivers have clinched playoff spots with victories, leaving three openings based on points if no other drivers break into the win column.
Buescher came into the day holding down the final playoff spot. He gained bonus points by taking Stage 1 of the race and ended up third after Bell passed him on the final lap.
Tyler Reddick is 14th in points among non-winners with 701, followed by Alex Bowman in 15th (644) and Buescher in 16th (618). Ryan Preese is 17th with 584.
“Took the opportunity to capitalize on some big stage points there early,” Buescher said. “Still got back up into second there and was making some pretty good headway, but just used it up really hard trying to get by a couple cars and get to that track position and fell off pretty hard there at the end.”
It was also a fruitful points day for Van Gisbergen, who will take a minimum of 22 playoff points into the playoff opener at Darlington Raceway on Aug. 31.
The final two regular-season races are at Richmond Raceway on Aug. 16 and Daytona International Speedway on Aug. 23.
Connor Zilisch unable to race
The race was scheduled to include 40 drivers, but that was reduced to 39 after Connor Zilisch was unable to drive Trackhouse Racing’s No. 87 Red Bull Chevrolet.
Zilisch broke his collarbone in a fall while exiting his car in Victory Lane after winning the Mission 200 at The Glen Xfinity Series race Saturday at the track.
Zilisch attended the race with a sling around his arm. He has secured a spot in the Xfinity Series playoffs, which begin Sept. 6 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois. Three regular-season races remain.
Trackhouse team owner Justin Marks described the weekend as “very, very eventful” given the wins by Van Gisbergen and Zilisch, along with Zilisch’s injury in a scary head-first fall.
“I think he wanted to show the fans and show the sport that he was upright and he was OK, and that he’s committed,” Marks said of Zilisch. “He really wants to get back as fast as he can.”
Go Bowling at The Glen Results
Race results, with finish, starting position, driver, car and laps completed.
1. (2) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet, 90.
2. (9) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 90.
3. (12) Chris Buescher, Ford, 90.
4. (10) William Byron, Chevrolet, 90.
5. (3) Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 90.
6. (1) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 90.
7. (19) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 90.
8. (15) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 90.
9. (21) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 90.
10. (4) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 90.
11. (18) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 90.
12. (29) Erik Jones, Toyota, 90.
13. (17) Ryan Preece, Ford, 90.
14. (11) Joey Logano, Ford, 90.
15. (25) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 90.
16. (13) Austin Cindric, Ford, 90.
17. (33) Zane Smith, Ford, 90.
18. (8) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 90.
19. (6) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 90.
20. (7) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 90.
21. (35) Noah Gragson, Ford, 90.
22. (5) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 90.
23. (34) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 90.
24. (28) Riley Herbst, Toyota, 90.
25. (22) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 90.
26. (20) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 90.
27. (23) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 90.
28. (27) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 90.
29. (36) Cody Ware, Ford, 90.
30. (32) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 90.
31. (16) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 90.
32. (30) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 90.
33. (14) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 90.
34. (31) Cole Custer, Ford, 90.
35. (24) Josh Berry, Ford, 90.
36. (37) Katherine Legge, Chevrolet, 89.
37. (39) Josh Bilicki, Ford, 89.
38. (38) JJ Yeley, Chevrolet, 89.
39. (26) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 75.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 101.263 mph.
Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 10 Mins, 39 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 11.116 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 3 for 8 laps.
Lead Changes: 8 among 6 drivers.
Lap Leaders: R. Blaney 1-18; C. Buescher 19-23; R. Preece 24; S. Van Gisbergen 25-36; R. Blaney 37-53; S. Van Gisbergen 54-62; C. Briscoe 63-68; B. Keselowski 69-73; S. Van Gisbergen 74-90.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Shane Van Gisbergen 3 times for 38 laps; Ryan Blaney 2 times for 35 laps; Chase Briscoe 1 time for 6 laps; Brad Keselowski 1 time for 5 laps; Chris Buescher 1 time for 5 laps; Ryan Preece 1 time for 1 lap.
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