The NASCAR Cup Series visited Watkins Glen International on Sunday afternoon in the Go Bowling at The Glen. Ryan Blaney started the race on the pole, with Shane van Gisbergen starting second.
Blaney led the opening 18 laps in the first stage. Blaney and Gisbergen went to pit road, and Chris Buescher was the new leader. He would go on to win the first stage. Buescher was still the leader when the second stage started on lap 25. Ryan Preece passed Buescher for the lead and led a lap before Gisbergen passed both Preece and Blaney for the lead a lap later.
There was debris on the track after Josh Berry spun off Turn 5 to bring out the second caution. Gisbergen and Blaney were on the front row for the restart on lap 32. Shane led an additional four laps before making a pit stop and Ryan Blaney took the lead. Blaney led the final three laps to win the second stage.
In the final stage, Blaney cleared William Byron for the lead on lap 45. Three laps later, Shane van Gisbergen passed Ryan Preece for fifth place and later passed Alex Bowman for third place all within two laps. Gisbergen passed Byron and set his sights on Blaney.
He caught Blaney and passed him for the lead at Turn 6 on lap 54. On lap 63, Gisbergen, along with several other drivers went to pit road. Once the pit stop cycles were complete, Gisbergen resumed the lead. He led the final 17 laps to win his fourth race of the season by 11.116 seconds over Christopher Bell. It is the fourth consecutive road course win of the season for Gisbergen.
Chris Buescher, William Byron, and Chase Briscoe rounded out the top five. Ryan Blaney, Daniel Suarez, Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, and Ross Chastain rounded out the top ten. There were three cautions for eight laps, and eight lead changes among five drivers. Gisbergen led the most laps (38), and Ryan Blaney led 35 laps.
The Cup Series heads to Richmond Raceway next Saturday at 7:30 pm on USA Network.
