Shane van Gisbergen’s domination at Watkins Glen was undeniable, but fans were far less enthusiastic about the race itself. The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series road course showdown produced an overwhelming margin of victory, a near-flawless drive from SVG, and historic milestones. Yet, the “Was it a good race?” poll painted a very different picture—placing the event among the lowest-rated road course races in the history of Jeff Gluck’s fan survey. The result raises questions about how on-track dominance can impact fan perception.
Key Highlights
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28.1% of voters said Watkins Glen was a good race
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Ranks No. 41 of 42 road/street course races in poll history
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Previous Watkins Glen low was 39.6% in 2023 Byron win
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SVG’s previous lowest win rating was 61.6% at Sonoma
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Second-lowest 2025 race rating, ahead of only Bristol spring race at 20.1%
Poll Results Show Steep Decline in Approval
The 28.1% approval rating for the 2025 Watkins Glen race is among the sharpest drops seen for the track in the nine years it has been part of the fan poll. Only the 2022 Charlotte Roval (19.2%) ranked lower among 42 road and street course events surveyed. For Watkins Glen specifically, the prior low mark came in 2023, when William Byron’s victory earned 39.6%. This year’s race now holds a clear gap from that figure, indicating a notable shift in perception.
Was Watkins Glen a good race? 28.1 percent of you said Yes.
— Ranks No. 41 of 42 road/street course races in the poll. Only the 2022 Roval (19.2%) is lower.
— Previous low Watkins Glen race (out of nine in the poll) was the 2023 Byron win (39.6%).
— SVG's previous…— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) August 12, 2025
SVG’s road course wins have generally been rated far higher by fans. His lowest-rated victory before this was 61.6% at Sonoma earlier in the year—a result that now looks significantly stronger in comparison. Even among the 2025 season’s 20 races so far, Watkins Glen was rated only ahead of the spring race at Bristol, which scored 20.1%.
SVG’s Performance Stands in Contrast to Fan Sentiment
While the poll numbers were low, SVG’s drive was anything but. The New Zealand driver led 38 of 90 laps, built a winning margin of more than 11 seconds, and captured his fourth consecutive road course win of the season. He has now swept Mexico City, Chicago, Sonoma, and Watkins Glen—an unprecedented streak in the modern era. His overall total of five wins in just 38 career Cup starts makes him the fastest rookie to reach that milestone since the 1960s.
For SVG and Trackhouse Racing, this race represented redemption after coming close to victory at The Glen in 2024. A refined car setup and evolving pit strategy were credited for the flawless execution. Yet the sheer dominance that defined his victory may have also been the reason many fans left the event feeling it lacked suspense.
Context and Comparisons in NASCAR History
Jeff Gluck’s “Was it a good race?” poll has long been a barometer for fan reaction to NASCAR events. The data suggests that while technical excellence and dominance can impress, it is often close battles, dramatic passes, and late-race unpredictability that resonate most with voters.
The Watkins Glen result serves as a reminder that competitive parity can heavily influence perception, even when history is being made. Comparisons to other low-scoring races, such as the 2022 Roval and the recent Bristol spring race, highlight a recurring theme—wide margins of victory on certain track types often fail to capture broad fan enthusiasm.
News in Brief: NASCAR 2025 Watkins Glen Fan Poll
Shane van Gisbergen dominated the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen, winning by over 11 seconds and leading 38 laps. It marked his fourth straight road course victory and fifth career Cup win in just 38 starts. However, Jeff Gluck’s “Was it a good race?” poll rated it at 28.1%, ranking No. 41 of 42 road/street course races in poll history. It was the track’s lowest score since 2023 and the season’s second-lowest overall.
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