Shane van Gisbergen did it once more. The New Zealander who got here to NASCAR and instantly made highway programs look simple received at Watkins Glen, his first Cup victory of 2026, and his seventh highway course win within the collection. That ties Chase Elliott for probably the most amongst energetic drivers. In the meantime, Chevrolet dominated a lot of the afternoon, claiming 5 of the highest eight spots.
Michael McDowell completed second, whereas Connor Zilisch regarded like he may problem SVG earlier than a right-front tire ended that chance. As soon as the checkered flag fell, the storage rapidly reacted. However what remained most unimaginable was SVG’s victory itself.
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Shane van Gisbergen soaks in a particular win
The 37-year-old received the race after pitting from the lead with 25 laps remaining. He emerged from pit highway in twenty sixth place and wanted to make up a 30-second deficit whereas charging by means of the sphere. And that’s precisely what he did, reclaiming the lead with seven laps remaining as he carved by means of the competitors on recent tires. .
Moreover, the motive force was seen doing his victory burnout earlier than half the sphere had even completed the race.
August 10, 2025, Watkins Glen, Ny, USA: Watkins Glen, NY USA – August 10, 2025: NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Collection driver, SHANE VAN GISBERGEN 88 of Auckland, New Zealand NZL leads the sphere for the Go Bowling at The Glen in Watkins Glen, NY. Watkins Glen USA – ZUMAa161 20250810_aaa_a161_011 Copyright: xWalterxG.xArcexSr.x
“Yeah, fairly unreal and simply grateful for my No. 97 Superfile Chevrolet group. Simply an unbelievable day,” . “It was superb within the methods and the way they labored out, however the automobile was simply magic to have the ability to do this and push once I wanted to. To again it up from final yr is fairly unreal.
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“I like with the ability to do this on the finish and chase everybody down on a tire distinction. Josh, my spotter, was wonderful in giving me the lap occasions and what the hole was. I used to be attempting to calculate it as I went and handle the tires in order that I’d nonetheless have some once I bought there. It’s simply so particular and actually cool.
“Yeah, it’s fairly superior. I’ve executed it within the O’Reilly Collection earlier than, however not right here. So it’s fairly superior to signify that, and I’m proud to have it right here in Victory Lane.”
Michael McDowell wanted this one
McDowell has had a tough few weeks, and ending second felt like oxygen.
“Like I mentioned, it’s simply powerful, man. Second is superior. It’s nice to get momentum again on our aspect,” he mentioned. “We would have liked it after a tough few weeks, however we needed to get to victory lane. However pleased with Spire, pleased with my guys. They labored actually exhausting. … We restarted on the twenty seventh. I wasn’t certain how that was going to work out. However we made fairly fast work to get close to the highest ten, after which it cycled round once more, after which we bought slightly little bit of monitor place.
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“I don’t know even when we restarted proper behind SVG if we had the tempo for him. That final cease, we got here out proper with him, and he nonetheless had a little bit of tempo on us. So we bought slightly work to do, nevertheless it’s constructing block. Our highway course program’s actually, you already know, come round. High 5 at COTA, high 5 at Mexico. So I really feel like we’re constructing on it. We simply want slightly bit extra.
He was sincere in regards to the hole to SVG, too:
“We certified second, and we completed second. Shane van Gisbergen was a pair tenths higher than us in qualifying, and he was round a tenth higher within the race. It doesn’t sound like rather a lot, however we nonetheless have work to do.”
Connor Zilisch was gutted
Zilisch was proper there, genuinely on the right track for his greatest Cup end, earlier than the tire let go and dropped him to twentieth.
Could 2, 2026, Fort Value, Texas, USA: FORT WORTH, TEXAS- Could 2nd: Racing chevrolet Connor Zilisch 1,glares down the pit highway earlier than the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA O Reilly Auto Elements Collection Andy s Frozen Custard 340 at Texas Motor Speedway. Fort Value USA – ZUMAg270 20260502_zsp_g270_049 Copyright: xCodyxGrubbsx
“Yeah, I’m unsure, actually, what truly reduce the tire there on the finish. We had been working on these tires for a very long time. Not shocked to see it occur, essentially,” the 19-year-old mentioned. “However yeah, simply irritating. I imply, we had a extremely good day going. At worst, we had been going to get ourselves our first high 5 and stroll out of right here with one thing. However, you already know, congrats to Shane, Trackhouse, ECR Engines, everyone who makes this occur.
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“It’s actually cool what we’ve constructed on these highway programs and how briskly our vehicles are. So cool to see him win. Had day in our Chevrolet. Yeah, didn’t fairly finish the best way we needed it to. I wanted final yr’s race size of about 92 laps, and I most likely would have been slightly higher. However, yeah, it’s what it’s.”
Austin Dillon expresses gratitude
Dillon got here dwelling sixth and was in a beneficiant temper afterward.
“Man, God is so good. We work actually exhausting on these highway races. I put a whole lot of effort into them to get higher, and we didn’t qualify nice, however Richard Boswell and everybody on the Bass Professional Outlets group did job pushing the technique early.”
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He additionally laughed at Kyle Busch’s expense:
“He scared me into the bus cease with like two to go. He simply gave up on saving gasoline, and he ran out on the line. That was form of enjoyable getting him again by the road. Glad Mom’s Day to my mother, my spouse. We’ll take this and transfer on.”
Kyle Busch ran dry however held on
Busch ran out of gasoline on the line however nonetheless crossed eighth.
“Sturdy day for the No. 8 zone Jalapeño Lime Chevrolet. We made the changes and technique calls we wanted regardless of battling a automobile that trended tight all through the race. We ran out of gasoline on the finish, however we’re nonetheless going dwelling with our second High-10 end of the season,” mentioned the 41-year-old.
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AJ Allmendinger grinds to seventh
Allmendinger needed to battle for all the pieces he bought on Sunday:
“That was a loopy race. After round 12-14 laps, it hits a cliff and will get free. Trent made a extremely good name there; we had restart and began transferring by means of the sphere. Regardless of being in a gap in technique, Trent did an incredible job of getting us again in place. Clearly, you at all times need extra, nevertheless it was day.”
Daniel Suarez takes the positives
Suarez completed thirteenth and left with one thing to construct on:
“Our Cal Ripken Sr. Basis Chevy was respectable at occasions right this moment. I felt prefer it was a step in the best route for our highway course package deal. Our automobile was undoubtedly higher within the race than it was in observe and qualifying.”
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Ty Gibbs is available in at third place
“Yeah, actually, just a bit irritating as a result of I want we might maintain racing. Sadly, simply had to avoid wasting gasoline there,” he mentioned. “However, yeah, good to return dwelling with a third-place end. Clearly, want it had been one other win. However I had a whole lot of enjoyable right this moment. All the time enjoyable to return to Watkins Glen. So I need to say thanks to my group. So it was a ton of enjoyable right this moment. We’ll simply maintain working exhausting, maintain going for it.
BRISTOL, TN – APRIL 12: Kyle Larson 5 Hendrick Motorsports HendrickCars.com Chevrolet leads Denny Hamlin 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide Debt Reduction Toyota through the working of the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Collection Meals Metropolis 500 on April 12, 2026, at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN. Picture by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire AUTO: APR 12 NASCAR Cup Collection Meals Metropolis 500 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2604122443
“So a whole lot of positives from right this moment. And thanks, Toyota… Clearly, a whole lot of issues have modified for the reason that final race right here, and I feel we’ve made some good adjustments, and I’ll simply maintain going ahead and maintain working exhausting. It was a really enjoyable day, very blessed and lucky to be on this place on this automobile, and we’ll maintain working exhausting, we’ll maintain going ahead, and we’re excited to maintain hammering down.”
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Chase Briscoe had a fourth-place end
“Yeah, simply (crew chief) James (Small) did a extremely good job of placing ourselves in place to form of simply maximize our day with how the beginning of the day went,” the 31-year-old mentioned. “So, yeah, it’s powerful everytime you’re attempting to avoid wasting, and then you definately’re attempting to run exhausting sufficient so all these guys that pitted don’t catch you. However I can see the leaders, so that you need to go. So, yeah, it was powerful there attempting to handle all that.
“Plus, your tires are simply in every single place. So, yeah, I felt like we had only a stable day for our Toyota. So hopefully we are able to construct on this. And, yeah, simply want slightly bit extra. We simply weren’t very sort all day lengthy. Simply lacked slightly bit. So, yeah, I would like to return to the drafting board and see if we are able to determine one thing out. However, yeah, general, only a nice day for us.”
Past the celebrations and reactions from fellow drivers, the largest takeaway was easy: SVG continues to redefine what dominance on a highway course appears to be like like in fashionable NASCAR.
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