WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Shane Van Gisbergen claimed his fourth NASCAR Cup Collection highway course victory of the season Sunday afternoon and second win of greater than 10 seconds on the sector … and he made it look easy.
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 Collection multi-time champion, joins racing legend Dan Gurney in scoring his first 5 profession NASCAR Cup Collection victories on highway programs and he did it the identical weekend as his Trackhouse crew introduced his multi-year contract extension.
“Good to get that one again,’’ stated 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 last pit cease) I had lot of enjoyable.
“The automobile was simply superb once more. One other win. Superior.’’
“It’s the stuff you dream about proper?’’ a smiling Van Gisbergen acknowledged of the vital 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 fulltime season at NASCAR’s elite degree, has been primarily unstoppable on the highway programs. His 4 victories on the yr – additionally at Mexico Metropolis, Chicago and Sonoma, Calif. – provides him that rookie win report and he now ties perennial championship contender Denny Hamlin for many victories within the collection this yr.
For all intents and functions, in terms of this fashion of racing, his competitors judges itself on how shut it may come to him.
“I’m thrilled [today] as a result of we’ve been struggling a bit bit to search out our rhythm,’’ stated 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 automobile doing such an excellent job. That crew has actually obtained 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 presently eligible for the Playoff discipline.
Two common season races – at Richmond, Va. and Daytona Seashore – now stay.
“Had a quick race automobile once more and positively took the chance to capitalize on some stage factors early,’’ stated Buescher, who collected 10 vital factors in successful Stage 1. “Nonetheless obtained again into second [place] there and was making some fairly good headway however simply obtained used up actually arduous getting by a pair vehicles to get observe place and it fell off fairly arduous there on the finish.”
Present common season championship chief, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron completed fourth within the No. 24 Chevrolet.
That exhibiting coupled along 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 top-20.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe completed fifth within the No. 19 JGR Toyota, making a last-lap move on race polesitter, Workforce Penske’s Ryan Blaney.
Van Gisbergen’s teammate Daniel Suarez was seventh, adopted by 23XI Racing teammates Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. Trackhouse’s Ross Chastain rounded out the highest 10.
13 drivers have automated Playoff bids by advantage of an everyday season win. Reddick, Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman and Buescher spherical out the 16-drivers presently eligible for the Playoffs.
Preece and Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch (-102 factors) are slightly below the cutoff line. A brand new race winner on the Richmond brief observe or the Daytona Seashore superspeedway, nevertheless, may drastically alter the Playoff look.
