Van Gisbergen took his fourth consecutive road course win today, dominating the field once again at Watkins Glen to deny Chris Buescher a spot in the Playoffs.
Earlier this week, the Kiwi signed a multi-year contract extension with Trackhouse Racing and showed why: with a clinical drive to take his fourth win of the season – joint most with Denny Hamlin – while denying his closest rivals a place in the post-season playoffs.
Upstate New York’s Watkins Glen International presented today’s battleground for the NASCAR Cup Series – a high-speed, technical and undulating 2.45-mile lap, providing a challenge for all since 1957.
Van Gisbergen has won at three of the last three road courses this season – and came close to winning here last year when RFK’s Chris Buescher stole it on the final lap. SVG lined up on row one, beside polesitter Ryan Blaney – his first pole since race two of the year in Atlanta.
With just three races left in the regular season, the pressure was on for those yet to lock themselves into the Playoffs – including Buescher, who started on row six.
A clean opening stint saw Blaney lead from SVG.
Kyle Larson spun on lap six under the heavy braking zone at turn one, subsequently retiring to the garage to check his reported “brake issues.”
Most drivers pitted before the end of stage one, including the leaders. Blaney kept the net lead off pit road while Buescher, Alex Bowman and Ryan Preece stayed out to maximise stage points in their hunt for a Playoff spot.
RFK team-mates Buescher and Preece made up the front row as they launched to green onto lap 25. During the restart, Van Gisbergen passed Blaney – and both quickly disposed of the RFK Fords to lead early in stage two. Those on old tyres fell back quickly.
Eight laps into stage two, Josh Berry spun fighting in close quarters among Ty Dillon and Chase Elliott. Elliott dived for pit road – luckily before NASCAR called a caution for debris.
The field returned to green with nine laps to go in stage two. Van Gisbergen and his Trackhouse Racing team-mate, Ross Chastain, pitted with four to go. Meanwhile, Blaney stayed out, claiming stage two on lap 40.
During that last lap, Legacy Motor Club team-mates Erik Jones and John-Hunter Nemechek made contact at turn two on the final lap of the stage – almost putting Jones in the wall. Moments later, Nemechek slammed into the wall at turn five.
Blaney did not pit at the end of the stage, and so led the field to green with Byron, Bowman and Bell who also skipped pitting. Van Gisbergen lined up 12th and quickly cut through the field, reaching the top three by lap 51.
Kyle Busch made a brilliant three-wide overtake at turn six, but failed to clear Denny Hamlin into turn seven. The two made contact, pitching Hamlin into the air momentarily. Both cars remained relatively unscathed with no caution.
By lap 55, Shane van Gisbergen’s no. 88 Chevy took the lead from Blaney. Over the following laps, the field dripped onto pit road to make their final planned stops of the race.
Once the pit cycle had completed, SVG kept and expanded a lead over Buescher through the end of the race, crossing the line to claim a fourth consecutive road course victory. To rub salt in the wound, Buescher was relegated to third place by Christopher Bell on the final lap.
No driver in Cup Series history has ever won four races in the rookie season. Climbing from his no. 88 Chevy, the Kiwi said: “That’s the stuff you dream about, right? I’m just a lucky guy that get to drive with a great bunch of people, and just execute, and the day just went flawlessly. I can’t believe it.”
With only two races left of the regular season, the pressure is piling on those drivers yet to win, and those who need to consolidate their points to make it in. Next week, the Cup Series heads to Richmond Raceway – the scene of a controversial finish last year. Will those getting desperate show their hand at a critical time again?
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