Van Gisbergen Wins at Watkins Glen

Shane van Gisbergen secures his fourth Cup Series win of the season at Watkins Glen, breaking a rookie record.

Van Gisbergen Wins at Watkins Glen to Reach Fourth Victory This Season

Shane van Gisbergen won the NASCAR Cup race at Watkins Glen International, his fourth win of the season and a rookie record for most Cup victories in a season. After qualifying second, he moved to the lead on lap 25 and, aided by a clean run and a decisive final pit stop on lap 74, stretched his advantage to 11.116 seconds over Christopher Bell as the checkered flag flew. The win comes with five Cup victories in 38 career starts for the New Zealand driver, reinforcing his rapid rise in a series that tests drivers on both road and oval courses.

Trackhouse Racing had announced a multiyear extension for van Gisbergen last week, a decision now vindicated by a dominant performance at a demanding road course. With two races left in the regular season, van Gisbergen sits No. 2 in the playoff standings, facing a mix of still-unfamiliar oval tracks and the pressure to translate road-course speed into round-elongating results. Bell acknowledged the challenge, while third-place Chris Buescher secured important stage points in the battle for the final playoff spots. Ty Gibbs encountered handling issues and a tense exchange with his strategist, underscoring how tight the playoff race has become ahead of Richmond.

Next up, the Cup Series heads to Richmond Raceway for a sole NASCAR weekend, a different test after a race that highlighted van Gisbergen’s evolving skill set and Trackhouse’s commitment to his development.

Van Gisbergen’s success at Watkins Glen signals more than a single victory. It shows a trend where a driver from outside the traditional Cup ladder can break through by mastering the sport’s toughest road courses and then adapting to high-speed ovals. The win also validates Trackhouse’s decision to invest in him, suggesting teams may increasingly seek cross-border talent who bring fresh perspectives to the playoff grind.

At the same time, his rapid ascent raises questions about how teams will balance road-racing pedigree with the brutal demands of oval tracks in the playoffs. The sport’s strategy around stage points, race tactics, and car setup will be tested as van Gisbergen faces left-handed ovals and round-by-round eliminations. The tension visible in Gibbs’s team meetings, plus Bell’s candid assessment, reminds readers that even top contenders must solve a moving equation across tracks and conditions.

Highlights

The season is more unpredictable than ever, and every race adds a new chapter.