The seven-second win comes after driving through field after final pitstop
By Roy J. Akers — www.skyviewsports.net
Drivers know SVG is the favorite and he reaffirms this by winning the pole for the race. Road course aces, Connor Zilisch, Chris Buescher, and AJ Allmendinger figure to be in the mix. Still, the race is won on the track. So now…
Shane van Gisbergen takes us to the green flag.
Stage One (Laps 1-20)
SVG jumps out to a commanding 2.41-second lead over Michael McDowell by the halfway stage of S1. SVG increases this to seven seconds by lap 16. Drivers looking to ‘flip the stage’ for Stage points start pitting by lap 17 and SVG pits himself by lap 18 making Ross Chastain the new leader. Penske cars are among the few that did not pit with Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Austin Cindric running 2-3-4. Chastain wins the Stage with Ford’s right behind him.
Stage Two (Lap 21-50)
With only two leaders in S1 and no cautions for cause, drivers quickly finished the Stage. Cycling, SVG goes to the lead with Connor Zilisch second, and McDowell third. Brad Keselowski slides 17 spots to 36th. Unlike S1 where SVG led by seven seconds, Zilisch is .034 behind by lap ten of 30 laps. The bus stop is where SVG is picking up time on the field and all 38 drivers are on the lead lap. A caution was called on lap 20/30 when debris coming from a camper’s tent was carried onto the racetrack.
Drivers looking to flip the Stage start pitting on lap 40 of 50. SVG, Zilisch, and Gibbs all come in. McDowell grabs the lead by staying out. It’s McDowell, Suarez, and Bubba Wallace 1-2-3 with seven to go. William Byron gets spun by Ryan Blaney in the middle of the pack. Byron’s toe link is bent and the flag stays green. Tyler Reddick wrestles the lead from McDowell and SVG takes it from him. SVG has control of the race and wins S2.
Final Stage (Lap 51-Finish)
SVG leads Reddick and Gibbs after six dead laps between the stages. 36 of 38 drivers are on the lead lap. The field needs a final pit stop. Allmendinger slyly makes his way up the field and closing on Reddick in second place. At lap 74 of 100, Shane van Gisbergen leads from the No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. The race has seen four lead changes among three drivers through four cautions totaling 12 laps. SVG is out front of Allmendinger by over four seconds.
The leaders are splitting the Stage around lap 75 of 100 (25 of 50 in the Stage). With SVG pitting, Gibbs goes to the lead with 21 to go. Zilisch, and Allmendinger are second and third. SVG is coming up through the field with several drivers gambling on having enough fuel and spent tires to finish the race. Gibbs and Zilisch are battling for the lead with Gibbs staying P1 w/11 to go. Zilisch cuts a tire with nine to go and SVG passes Gibbs for the lead. Within laps of taking the lead, SVG leads McDowell by seven seconds. Chase Briscoe climbs to fourth and Kyle Busch to sixth. SVG was way out in front and takes the checkered flag.
Watkins Glen Champion
SVG wins his 7th CUP race, all road courses by over seven seconds. Michael McDowell finishes second. SVG leads 73/100 laps with Ty Gibbs leading 17 and four drivers leading the race overall. Shane, you had to come in and pit. You blended in, about 26th with 24 laps to go. You absolutely put on a clinic. How did you do it, especially this time in a number that means so much to you, your first time winning here in the 97?
SHANE VAN GISBERGEN: Yeah, you’re right. Unbelievable to win with 97. Yeah, super (indiscernible) Chevy was great. Thank you to Trackhouse. We weren’t very good in practice, and then qualifying was amazing. Good tweaks, and then today, so what a race car.
Then Stephen made great calls. I wasn’t sure how it was going to work. Then to run them down, very, very special to do two in a row.
Tale of the Tape
Fantasy Results
Everyone will have SVG as a starter. The difference is the rest of your starting lineup. For me, Zilisch, despite a poor rookie season is too good on road courses. His win in the O’Reilly Auto Part Series over Jesse Love reaffirms my faith in CZ. McDowell, and Buescher for me were solid picks. Austin Cindric replaced AJ Allmendinger. Bad move. Cindric struggled, and Gibbs, replaced him after S1.
After losing big points by resting Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin the last few weeks, my road course lineup picked up points this week. We scored 206 points plus 30 and barely missed sweeping the matchups. Best pick. SVG. No brainer. Worst pick. Zilisch. He cut a tire late and his day was done.
They Said It
Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet – Finished: 13th
“Our Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Chevy was decent at times today. We tried to gain track position all race long, and the No. 7 team fought hard to work our way back toward the front and come away with a decent finish. I felt like it was a step in the right direction for our road course package. Our car was definitely better in the race than it was in practice and qualifying. Stage 2 didn’t feel the best, but the rear handling improved some for the final stage.”
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet –Finished: 8th
“Strong day for the No. 8 zone Jalapeño Lime Chevrolet. We were a Top 10 car for the majority of the race, and ended eighth here at Watkins Glen International. We made the adjustments and strategy calls we needed to drive forward and make up track position after qualifying 21st, despite battling a car that trended tight throughout the race. We ran out of fuel at the end of the race, but we’re still going home with our second Top-10 finish of the season. I’m proud of the work the entire Richard Childress Racing team is putting in back in Welcome, NC, and will look to continue that momentum as the season progresses.”
Factoids that May interest only me
SVG makes up 17 spots and 29 seconds after his final pit stop to take the lead from Ty Gibbs.
What’s Next- Next Points paying race
