Shane van Gisbergen is now the winningest driver in Trackhouse Racing historical past, surpassing Ross Chastain together with his seventh profession win — all on highway programs.
It is really unimaginable to see simply how unbeatable the three-time Supercars champion has been over the previous two years, even with how shut the sector is in fashionable NASCAR. He has solely final one of many final seven highway/avenue course races, and even then, he completed a detailed second.
Sunday’s race was maybe the most effective instance of simply how good Van Gisbergen is, however he wasn’t the one one who impressed us on the Glen. This is a take a look at the most important winners and losers from Spherical 12 of the 2026 NASCAR Cup season from the Finger Lakes area of New York.
WINNER: Shane van Gisbergen for making up 29 seconds in 18 laps
Watch: SVG on profitable in No. 97 for first time: ‚What a race automobile‘
What. A. Drive. When SVG exited the pits for the final time, he was operating within the mid-20s, a full 29.2 seconds behind race chief Ty Gibbs. Nonetheless, the Kiwi’s tempo was fast, and he ran Gibbs down in simply 18 laps. He went on to win the race by over seven seconds, and Michael McDowell was the one different driver who additionally pitted that managed to catch Gibbs by the tip. Van Gisbergen continues to claim himself as one of many best highway racers in NASCAR historical past, and the win vaulted him again contained in the Chase, gaining three positions.
LOSER: Connor Zilisch as career-best run ends with flat tire
Watch: Zilisch annoyed after late tire situation at The Glen
Whereas it was all celebrations for the Trackhouse No. 97, it was the other for the Trackhouse No. 88 automobile. Connor Zilisch had excessive hopes after profitable the NASCAR O’Reilly race and qualifying fifth for the Cup race. He ran inside the highest 5 for many of the day, and was operating second to Gibbs on the fuel-saving technique within the closing laps. As a result of tempo of SVG and McDowell, he wasn’t going to win, however Zilisch was just about assured to complete third or fourth if he made the gas final. The rookie driver was searching for the primary prime 5 and prime ten of his Cup profession, however a flat tire with eight laps to go left him with a disappointing twentieth place end as an alternative.
Watch: Dillon: Technique helped safe P6 Watkins Glen end
Lastly, one thing optimistic for RCR. A double prime ten at Watkins Glen, and one in every of simply two groups to get multiple automobile inside the highest ten on the finish of the race (the opposite being JGR). It was the most effective end of the 12 months for each Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch, ending sixth and eighth, respectively. The one blight was the truth that Busch was set for a prime 5 end on the ultimate lap, however the automobile sputtered simply two corners away from the end line, costing him three spots. Even nonetheless, the consequence allowed each drivers to climb up the standings, and Dillon jumped 5 positions. That makes him the most important mover within the factors this week.
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports
Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Pictures
Whereas Trackhouse received, Spire ran robust, and RCR loved their finest day but, the place was the flagship Chevrolet staff? The Hendrick Motorsports squad was nowhere all weekend. William Byron was their prime qualifier in thirteenth, and none of their drivers had been elements on race day. It was the worst highway course consequence for HMS in over 20 years, with Kyle Larson main the way in which in twenty third. Chase Elliott in twenty fourth, Alex Bowman twenty fifth, and William Byron thirty sixth after a mid-race crash. All misplaced floor within the standings, and Byron fell exterior the highest ten.
WINNER: Michael McDowell for being the most effective of the remainder
Watch: McDowell: ‚Not fairly sufficient‘ to run SVG down
Behind SVG, the most effective of the remainder was the driving force of the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. McDowell began second and completed second, proving he was clearly the strongest driver not named Van Gisbergen at The Glen. He was additionally the one driver who pitted that managed to succeed in Gibbs by the tip, ending a distant second to the Trackhouse driver. SVG was the star, however McDowell deserves some reward too, particularly after combating again to the entrance after some questionable Stage 2 technique that left him deep within the discipline.
LOSER: Joey Logano finishes final, persevering with thirtieth+ streak
Joey Logano, Staff Penske
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Pictures
The three-time Cup Collection champion is having a fully horrendous time proper now. His finest end over the previous 4 races is thirtieth and he’s cratering down the standings. On the Glen, he certified robust and virtually received Stage 1 after staying out, but it surely all went downhill from there. He lower a tire mid-race, and in the end completed in final place. Logano is now 18th in factors, and one other unhealthy consequence within the Coke 600 might doubtlessly drop him exterior the highest 20.
WINNER: NASCAR’s name to make use of new tire packs as monitor limits appeared to work
Watkins Glen new tire packs
Photograph by: NASCAR Media
Many eyebrows had been raised upon seeing the brand new tire packs lining the monitor in Flip 1 and the Carousel, however they really labored out surprisingly effectively. The brand new technique of implementing monitor limits did simply that, and whereas automobiles did hit them and undergo injury, it wasn’t absolute carnage as some had predicted. Maintaining automobiles on the racing floor additionally made for some extra dramatic passes by means of Flip 1, and saved automobiles from harmful conditions on the outskirts of the monitor on the exit of the Carousel with the way in which the guardrail is positioned there.
LOSER: TV protection as FOX struggles to maintain up with highway course motion
Sadly, NASCAR on FOX’s final points-paying race wasn’t their finest. FOX has made some enhancements in 2026, however the TV protection struggled to maintain up with the highway course motion on Sunday. They caught the tail-end of a number of incidents whereas lacking others, and infrequently went again to indicate replays to elucidate what occurred. A full record might be present in THIS STORY we posted on Monday morning. There are quite a lot of story traces unfolding round a highway course, however TV struggled to provide them correct focus on the Glen. Nonetheless, that digicam work for the flying tent that prompted a weird mid-race warning was 10/10.
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