Cup Series: Van Gisbergen goes four-in-a-row at The Glen

Written by Sean McKean

Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images

In spite of challenges from Ryan Blaney, Shane van Gisbergen dominated at Watkins Glen to win his fourth consecutive road course race. This fourth win in a row ties him with second on the list of longest road course win streak, tied with Chase Elliott and two away from Jeff Gordon.

As it unfolded

Despite a brief challenge from Shane van Gisbergen to his outside, Ryan Blaney led the way from pole.

On Lap 6, a major contender, that of Kyle Larson, went out of the race. This happened due to a brake fluid leak that saw him spin out in Turn 1. He finished last.

The stage remained clean all the way through to green flag pit stops on Lap 17. With most of the drivers on the playoff bubble staying out, Chris Buescher found his way to the front come stage’s end. Alex Bowman and Ryan Preece followed behind

Stage 1 Results:

1. No. 17 - Chris Buescher (RFK Racing)

2. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)

3. No. 60 - Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)

4. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)

5. No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club)

6. No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak Motorsports)

7. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

8. No. 88 - Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)

9. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)

10. No. 51 - Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing)

Of the bunch that stayed out, only Alex Bowman and John Hunter Nemechek came down pit road during the stage break.

Preece led the way on Lap 25. Meanwhile, Van Gisbergen passed Blaney for the provisional lead in Turn 1.

The first caution for cause came out on Lap 27. Coming out of the carousel, Josh Berry received a tap from Ty Dillon behind, sending the Wood Brothers driver into the outside armco barrier. He drove away from the accident, but the caution was thrown for debris.

The remaining drivers yet to pit came down pit road during this caution.

Van Gisbergen led the field on Lap 32.

Green flag pit stops began on Lap 35, with five laps remaining in the stage. Notably, Blaney chose to stay out. Blaney grabbed maximum points ahead of William Byron and Christopher Bell.

Whilst battling for the final stage point, John Hunter Nemechek was sent into the tyre barrier in the carousel. He drove away from the accident but fell out of the top 20.

Stage 2 Results:

1. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

2. No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)

3. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)

4. No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing)

5. No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing)

6. No. 35 - Riley Herbst (23XI Racing)

7. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)

8. No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak Motorsports)

9. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)

10. No. 60 - Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)

Blaney led the field back to the green on Lap 45. 

On the same lap, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch were battling for position when Ross Chastain butted his head into the conversation, sending Busch and Hamlin into spins. They drove away mostly undamaged.

Carson Hocevar went for a spin in Turn 1 after a tap from teammate Michael McDowell with 39 laps remaining. He drove away unscathed. 

The remaining cars who stayed out during the stage break – Blaney, Byron, Bowman and Bell – came down pit road for their final stop on Lap 55, with 36 laps remaining.

The rest of the field came down with 27 laps remaining. When everything cycled out, Van Gisbergen retained the lead.

John Hunter Nemechek had a moment on the back stretch with nine laps to go, where he got hooked and spun by Todd Gilliland behind. He somehow got away from it without damage.

Shortly thereafter, Brad Keselowski suffered a flat left-rear tyre. He made it back to the pits.

Van Gisbergen kept his composure to dominate the sole visit to Watkins Glen. 

Provisional Results:

1. No. 88 - Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)

2. No. 20 - Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)

3. No. 17 - Chris Buescher (RFK Racing)

4. No. 24 - William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)

5. No. 19 - Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)

6. No. 12 - Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)

7. No. 99 - Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing)

8. No. 23 - Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)

9. No. 45 - Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)

10. No. 1 - Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)

11. No. 16 - AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing)

12. No. 43 - Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club)

13. No. 60 - Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)

14. No. 22 - Joey Logano (Team Penske)

15. No. 3 - Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing)

16. No. 2 - Austin Cindric (Team Penske)

17. No. 38 - Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports)

18. No. 77 - Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports)

19. No. 71 - Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports)

20. No. 48 - Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)

21. No. 4 - Noah Gragson (Front Row Motorsports)

22. No. 8 - Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing)

23. No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Hyak Motorsports)

24. No. 35 - Riley Herbst (23XI Racing)

25. No. 11 - Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

26. No. 9 - Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)

27. No. 7 - Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports)

28. No. 34 - Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)

29. No. 51 - Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing)

30. No. 10 - Ty Dillon (Kaulig Racing)

31. No. 6 - Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing)

32. No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club)

33. No. 54 - Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)

34. No. 41 - Cole Custer (Haas Factory Team)

35. No. 21 - Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing)

36. No. 78 - Katherine Legge (Live Fast Motorsports) +1 lap

37. No. 66 - Josh Bilicki (Garage 66) +1 lap

38. No. 44 - JJ Yeley (NY Racing) +1 lap

No. 5 - Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) +15 laps