Shane van Gisbergen enters Watkins Glen seeking redemption after last year’s dramatic loss, aiming to secure victory at a track where defeat still lingers. With dominant performances on road courses this season, the focus is on whether he can finally achieve Shane van Gisbergen Watkins Glen redemption and put his mistakes behind him.
Memories of Heartbreak Fuel van Gisbergen’s Motivation
Last year’s Cup race at Watkins Glen left van Gisbergen haunted, as a late error at the bus stop section cost him a crucial win while Chris Buescher snatched victory. The memory remains painful for the Trackhouse Racing driver who was leading comfortably before the mishap, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the 2.45-mile road course.
“When I make a personal mistake like that, it still makes me angry to think I threw that one away myself, especially after how good of a day it was and we had the fastest car all day and then to do that,”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Driver
Determined to turn the page, van Gisbergen emphasized a steadfast approach.
“I really want to go there and make no mistakes, have a fast car and try and execute all day, which we have been doing on the road courses.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Driver
Dominance on Road Courses Sets the Stage
This season, van Gisbergen’s prowess on road tracks has been unmatched. He arrives at Watkins Glen after winning three consecutive Cup Series road course races, emerging victorious at Sonoma, the Chicago Street Race, and Mexico City. Across these events, he dominated by leading over 64% of the laps, showcasing a mastery of road-racing technique that sets him apart from his peers.
At the inaugural Mexico City Cup race, van Gisbergen claimed victory by a massive 16.5-second margin—an achievement reminiscent of historic wins like Kurt Busch’s 2009 Texas triumph and Bobby Allison’s 1979 Riverside dominance. His recent form has made him the driver to beat on roads.
Fellow competitor Kyle Larson highlighted van Gisbergen’s distinctive style and skill on these tracks.
“And he’s got his own technique, you can call it. Not his own because the rest of the world does it – you know, right-foot braking, clutching and all that stuff. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks … like there’s zero chance I can learn how to do that. And even if I did, like there’s zero chance that I can have it be better than what I’m probably doing with left-foot braking. So yeah, he’s just so good.”
—Kyle Larson, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Comparing This Year’s Race to Last Year’s Playoff Tension
Watkins Glen was a playoff race last season, intensifying battles for championship points. Amid the pressure, playoff drivers focused on collecting valuable stage points, employing strategies that often compromised their chances for the win. The winner of Watkins Glen’s opening stage has finished no better than twentieth for four consecutive years, illustrating the challenge of balancing stage points with positioning for overall victory.
In last year’s event, seven of the top ten stage one finishers were playoff contenders. Chris Buescher, not involved in the playoff battle then, could afford to pit early and thus gain a significant strategic advantage. The dramatic conclusion saw him overtake van Gisbergen on the final lap after van Gisbergen’s costly mistake at the bus stop.
Changing Circumstances: Regular Season Stakes and Strategy
This year, Watkins Glen returns to the regular season schedule, yet the pressure remains, especially for drivers like Buescher who now sits in the final playoff spot. Buescher leads his RFK Racing teammate Ryan Preece by 23 points, making every stage result crucial. Crew chief Scott Graves anticipates a shift in race tactics, suggesting that more drivers may be willing to forego stage points in pursuit of overall victory, reflecting trends seen at other road course events this year.
“I think you see this every year, whether it was Watkins Glen being in the playoffs last year or you get the (Charlotte) Roval, you’ll see the guys in the playoffs that need those points,
They go for the stage points and that … takes some of the guys out of contention in the final stage. I think it may not play out the same this year (as last year).” —Scott Graves, RFK Racing Crew Chief
With Watkins Glen now positioned outside the playoff round, Graves expects a blend of point-gathering and win-seeking strategies, rather than a singular focus on stage results.
“(Watkins Glen) is likely to race more like the other road courses we’ve seen this year and you’ll see more of a split of people going for points vs. going for the win,”
—Scott Graves, RFK Racing Crew Chief
History Beckons as van Gisbergen Aims for a Rare Feat
If van Gisbergen wins again on Sunday, he will join an elite group of drivers who have captured at least four consecutive Cup Series road course victories. Only Jeff Gordon, with a record six straight wins, and Chase Elliott, with four, have accomplished such a streak in NASCAR history. Achieving this milestone would help van Gisbergen move beyond last year’s disappointment at Watkins Glen and reinforce his reputation as the most formidable road racer in the field.
The intensity remains high as drivers weigh their playoff ambitions with the pursuit of race glory, all while van Gisbergen seeks a measure of personal redemption that has eluded him at this historic track. With top drivers like Chris Buescher, Ryan Preece, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson in contention, Sunday’s race promises to bring drama, strategic challenges, and the possibility of witnessing a significant chapter in racing history.
As the checkered flag nears at Watkins Glen, all eyes will be on whether van Gisbergen can correct last year’s mistake. A triumph would cement his place among NASCAR’s road course legends and bring closure to a chapter marked by heartbreak, proving his resilience, skill, and relentless pursuit of victory on the sport’s grand stage.
