Ryan Blaney delivered a memorable performance during the NASCAR Cup Series Watkins Glen qualifying on Saturday at Watkins Glen International, securing Team Penske‘s 150th Cup pole with a blistering lap that outpaced three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen. Blaney’s pole run sets the stage for Sunday’s Go Bowling At The Glen, while Chase Elliott’s team strategizes to build playoff momentum with just three races left in the regular season.
Blaney’s Redemption Drive and Pole Victory
After an underwhelming showing at this course in 2024, where he struggled in qualifying and did not complete a single lap, Ryan Blaney was looking to turn the page. He powered around the 2.45-mile road course at 122.568 mph, managing to edge out Shane van Gisbergen by 0.33 seconds. This strong effort not only awarded him the pole but marked a milestone with Team Penske’s 150th Cup pole.
Blaney’s confidence was clear as he looked ahead to the race, emphasizing the difficulty of beating van Gisbergen over a full race distance but also expressing optimism about his turnaround from last year’s difficult weekend.
“Ninety laps is going to be a little harder to beat (van Gisbergen on Sunday), but gotta start somewhere,”
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Cup Series driver
Reflecting on both his recent struggles and this rejuvenating qualifying result, Blaney added:
“I try to take these things one day at a time. Tomorrow is a whole different task, but it’s nice to have done our job really well today and now about focusing on trying to make 90 good laps tomorrow.”
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Cup Series driver
ESPN Ithaca noted the significance of Blaney’s achievement on social media, confirming his second pole of the year and his position at the head of the lineup for Sunday’s race.
Elliott and Gustafson Aim for Late-Season Surge
While Blaney will start at the front, Chase Elliott and his Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Alan Gustafson are eyeing both immediate wins and critical playoff preparation during the final stretch of the regular season. With 752 points earned so far, Elliott trails William Byron—his Hendrick teammate and the series leader—by 18 points, and holds a 27-point edge over another teammate, Kyle Larson.
Elliott’s most recent road-course success came in 2021 at Road America, but Watkins Glen carries sentimental value as the site of his first Cup win. Gustafson has outlined a strategy focused on capturing vital victories before the playoffs begin, and a strong Watkins Glen performance is key to that mission.
“We obviously want to win the regular season, but more importantly than that, we want to win some races,”
—Alan Gustafson, crew chief for Chase Elliott
Encouraging urgency and diligence, Gustafson added:
“I think we’ve got three races to polish up as much as we can and go win and get to the playoffs.”
—Alan Gustafson, crew chief for Chase Elliott
Elliott’s consistency stands out as well. For two years running, he has completed all but one lap in the first 23 races of the season—an unprecedented feat in Cup Series history, according to NASCAR Insights.
Full Starting Lineup for Go Bowling At The Glen
Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen International will showcase a deep field, with each driver hoping to set the tone for the final leg of the regular season. Here are the official starting positions for the NASCAR Cup Series’ Go Bowling At The Glen:
1. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
2. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Chevrolet
3. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota
4. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet
5. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet
6. Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet
7. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet
8. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet
9. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota
10. William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
11. Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
12. Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
13. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford
14. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota
15. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota
16. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford
17. Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford
18. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet
19. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet
20. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
21. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota
22. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
23. Justin Haley, No. 7 Chevrolet
24. Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford
25. Connor Zilisch, No. 87 Chevrolet
26. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
27. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet
28. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford
29. Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota
30. Erik Jones, Nol. 43 Toyota
31. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota
32. Cole Custer, No. 41 Ford
33. Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet
34. Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford
35. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet
36. Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford
37. Cody Ware, No. 51 Ford
38. Katherine Legge, No. 78 Chevrolet
39. JJ Yeley, No. 44 Chevrolet
40. Josh Bilicki, No. 66 Ford
Several drivers, including Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, and Brad Keselowski, will be looking to move forward quickly, while teammates at Hendrick Motorsports—like William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott—aim to maximize their playoff prospects.
This lineup reflects a wide mix of veterans and up-and-coming talent, setting up an exciting and pivotal contest at Watkins Glen International.
What This Means for the Season Ahead
Ryan Blaney‘s pole in the NASCAR Cup Series Watkins Glen qualifying serves as a key turning point following last year’s challenges at the course, boosting Team Penske’s morale as the regular season winds down. For Chase Elliott, Watkins Glen holds added pressure and promise, as he and Alan Gustafson target both a regular-season championship and the perfect lead-in to the playoffs. With the grid set and teams putting final touches on their strategies, the Go Bowling At The Glen race stands to impact playoff positioning and set the tone for the remaining races. All eyes will be on Blaney, Elliott, and the rest of the field as they chase vital wins on Sunday.
