Shane Van Gisbergen captures a masterful NASCAR Cup Sequence victory at Watkins Glen Worldwide on Sunday within the Go Bowling at The Glen.
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Shane Van Gisbergen claimed his fourth NASCAR Cup Sequence street course victory of the season Sunday afternoon and second win of greater than ten seconds on the sector … and he made it look easy.
Shane Van Gisbergen’s Masterful Victory
The 36-year-old New Zealander led a race-best 38 of 90 laps – together with the ultimate 17 – on the historic Watkins Glen Worldwide in picturesque upstate New York, his No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet formally crossing the end line by 11.116 seconds forward of Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell.
Van Gisbergen, a former Australian SuperCars Sequence multi-time champion, joins racing legend Dan Gurney in scoring his first 5 profession NASCAR Cup Sequence victories on street programs, and he did it the identical weekend as his Trackhouse workforce introduced his multi-year contract extension.
“Good to get that one again,’’ mentioned Van Gisbergen, in a nod to ending runner-up on this race final yr. “What an superior race. Coming again by (the sector after his closing pit cease) I had lot of enjoyable.
“The automotive was simply wonderful once more. One other win. Superior.’’
“It’s the stuff you dream about proper?’’ a smiling Van Gisbergen acknowledged of the necessary weekend. “I’m only a very fortunate man to get to drive for an incredible bunch of individuals and simply execute. The day simply went flawlessly, and I actually loved it. Thanks, everybody.’’
Van Gisbergen, in his first full-time season at NASCAR’s elite stage, has been primarily unstoppable on the street programs. His 4 victories on the yr – additionally at Mexico Metropolis, Chicago, and Sonoma, Calif. – give him that rookie win file, and he now ties perennial championship contender Denny Hamlin for many victories within the sequence this yr.
On the subject of this model of racing, his competitors judges itself on how carefully it could actually deal with him.
“I’m thrilled [today] as a result of we’ve been struggling just a little bit to search out our rhythm,’’ mentioned Bell, who handed Chris Buescher on the ultimate lap to say the runner-up place. “The vehicles have been good. Actually superior to have a great day, however annoyed to get our butts kicked by the 88 automotive doing such an important job. That workforce has actually acquired it happening.’’
The third-place end for Buescher, who edged Van Gisbergen for the win at Watkins Glen in 2024, nonetheless had a great day so far as his championship chances are high involved. The motive force of the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford holds onto the ultimate Playoff place, by 34 factors over RFK teammate Ryan Preece, among the many 16 drivers at the moment eligible for the Playoff area.
Two regular-season races – at Richmond, Va., and Daytona Seaside – now stay.
“Had a quick race automotive once more and undoubtedly took the chance to capitalize on some stage factors early,’’ mentioned Buescher, who collected ten necessary factors in profitable Stage 1. “Nonetheless acquired again into second [place] there and was making some fairly good headway however simply acquired used up actually laborious getting by a pair vehicles to get monitor place and it fell off fairly laborious there on the finish.”
Present common season championship chief, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron, completed fourth within the No. 24 Chevrolet. That exhibiting, coupled together with his teammate Chase Elliott’s twenty sixth place end, prolonged Byron’s lead within the factors standings to 42 over Elliott. This marks the primary time this season Elliott completed outdoors the highest 20.
The Better of the Relaxation Behind Van Gisbergen’s Masterful Victory
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe completed fifth within the No. 19 JGR Toyota. He made a last-lap cross on the pole-sitter, Group Penske driver Ryan Blaney. Van Gisbergen’s teammate Daniel Suarez was seventh, adopted by 23XI Racing teammates Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. Trackhouse’s Ross Chastain rounds out the highest ten.
13 drivers have automated Playoff bids by a regular-season win. Reddick, Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman, and Buescher spherical out the 16 drivers at the moment eligible for the Playoffs.
Preece and Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch (-102 factors) are just under the cutoff line. A brand new race winner on the Richmond quick monitor or the Daytona Seaside superspeedway, nevertheless, may drastically alter the Playoff look.
Subsequent Up
The NASCAR Cup Sequence strikes to Richmond (Va.) Raceway for Saturday night time’s Prepare dinner Out 400 (7:30 p.m. ET, USA Community, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Austin Dillon is the 2024 winner at Richmond.