Shane van Gisbergen rockets to Watkins Glen NASCAR Cup win after unimaginable ultimate stint

There was no stopping Shane van Gisbergen at Watkins Glen on Sunday, as he collected his seventh profession win and Trackhouse Racing’s first of the 2026 NASCAR Cup season.

In 18 laps, he made up 29.2 seconds, passing Ty Gibbs for the race lead with seven laps to spare. 

 

Michael McDowell completed second, with Gibbs ending third. Chase Briscoe completed fourth and Tyler Reddick fifth. 

Austin Dillon, AJ Allmendinger, Kyle Busch, Austin Cindric, and John-Hunter Nemechek crammed out the rest of the highest ten.

Stage 1

Van Gisbergen led the best way from pole place, adopted by McDowell. Cindric fell behind the Trackhouse vehicles as Zilisch moved as much as third. 

Nonetheless, there was no catching Van Gisbergen as he drove off with the lead by a number of seconds over the sphere.

Stenhouse went off-roading by way of the bus cease, however prevented any injury as he drove by way of the muddy grass.

There was a tense second between Spire teammates as Suarez and Hocevar rubbed doorways, with Hocevar radioing the staff to say “Daniel can go f*** himself” and that he’ll ‘by no means let him go once more.’

As anticipated, many vehicles flipped the stage by short-pitting, together with Van Gisbergen.

Chastain stayed out and received Stage 1, adopted by Logano, Blaney, Cindric, Allmendinger, Bell, Nemechek, Van Gisbergen, Herbst, and McDowell.

The battle for the ultimate stage level was dramatic as McDowell, Herbst, and Wallace fanned out three-wide throughout the road, with Wallace shedding out.

A pair different vehicles sacrificed observe place in an effort to achieve stage factors, however got here up empty-handed, together with Elliott.

Stage 2

On the restart, Van Gisbergen continued to regulate the race, however Zilisch shadowed him for a lot of the stage.

Larson and Keselowski misplaced loads of spots on the restart as issues received chaotic within the midfield, however they saved it clear.

With 10 laps to go within the stage, a tent or cover from the campground blew onto the observe, forcing a warning flag.

Van Gisbergen pitted from the lead and a lot of the discipline adopted go well with, however six drivers stayed out: McDowell, Suarez, Bell, Wallace, Herbst, and Nemechek.

The restart was wild, and Herbst was the primary driver to go spinning in Flip 1. On the bus cease chicane, Byron went round and Blaney slammed into him, damaging each vehicles. Gilliland additionally spun within the chaos, whereas Zilisch misplaced a couple of spots after being compelled to bail by way of the grass. Byron needed to pit and misplaced a number of laps within the course of.

Bell missed the bus cease and needed to cease, denying him a shot at any stage factors.

Van Gisbergen simply reclaimed the lead, successful Stage 2 over Reddick, Gibbs, A. Dillon, Busch, Buescher, Cindric, Zilisch, Briscoe, and Wallace — who beat Chastain by only a nostril on the green-and-white checkered.

McDowell fell all the best way outdoors the highest ten and scored no factors, giving up a prime three run with out gaining any further bonus from it.

Stage 3

Van Gisbergen restarted with Reddick now alongside. It was a clear restart with no drama on the entrance. 

Logano slowed with a flat tire and spit tire carcass onto the observe, forcing a warning simply outdoors the gasoline window.

Van Gisbergen and Reddick stayed out, however a lot of the discipline opted to pit.

A complete of 12 vehicles stayed out, with Gibbs main those that got here down pit highway in thirteenth.

Van Gisbergen checked out on the restart, as Allmendinger took second from Reddick. Gibbs rapidly made his method up into the highest 5, with Zilisch shut behind him.

Katherine Legge spun however continued. Nonetheless, Reddick reacted, pondering the No. 78 would set off a full-course warning. As the ultimate stage progressed, Gibbs moved as much as second as Van Gisbergen led by over 5 seconds.

Van Gisbergen pitted from the lead with 25 laps to go, and the race was on as Gibbs inherited the race lead. He rejoined the race in twenty fifth, about 30 seconds behind the race chief.

Zilisch was placing strain on Zilisch as Wallace spun at Flip 1, however continued. There was additionally an incident with Josh Berry and Cody Ware on the strategy to the ultimate nook, however the race remained inexperienced.

Zilisch finally needed to pit, whereas Van Gisbergen took the lead with seven laps to go. He merely drove away at that time, incomes back-to-back wins at Watkins Glen.

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