A dominant weekend at Watkins Glen
Shane van Gisbergen, the 37‑year‑old New Zealand‑born driver, captured his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory at Watkins Glen International, overcoming a 23‑spot deficit and nearly 30 seconds in just 17 laps.
The win not only tied him with Chase Elliott for the most road and street‑course victories among active drivers, but also marked the first Cup triumph for a debutant in six decades, underscoring the rarity of his achievement.
Having already secured six of the past seven road races, van Gisbergen now sits sixth in the points standings, six points ahead of Chase Briscoe and 38 points ahead of Joey Logano, while his focus shifts to mastering oval tracks to cement a Chase berth.
Teammates Ross Chastain and Connor Zilisch remain outside the playoff picture, but the Trackhouse Racing lineup is poised for a strong finish, with team owner Justin Marks praising van Gisbergen’s relentless work ethic.
Looking ahead, the driver said he intends to extend his NASCAR career into the next decade, aiming to return to the Chase by delivering the consistent finishes he has already begun to showcase on superspeedways.