NASCAR lineup at Watkins Glen: Starting order, pole for 2026 Go Bowling at The Glen based on qualifying results originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Shane van Gisbergen is the best road course racer in NASCAR. He'll look to prove as much on Sunday afternoon.
The New Zealand-born racer came on the scene — at least to U.S. audiences — in 2023, racing to gold during his first ever Cup Series race in Chicago. In the years that have followed, van Gisbergen has become the sport's finest talent when the turns are ever-present and the course layout is winding, claiming another five wins in 2025 to pace the field.
van Gisbergen hasn't quite been able to match his output in 2026, posting just two top-10 finishes thus far. However, he is expected to dazzle at Watkins Glen on Sunday, just as he did one year earlier.
His performance during Saturday's qualifying session indicates that isn't too far-fetched, either.
With that, here's what you need to know about qualifying results ahead of Sunday's race, Go Bowling at The Glen.
MORE: Why NASCAR Truck Series' Daniel Dye was suspended after controversial comments
Who won the Go Bowling at The Glen pole for 2026?
Qualifying for Go Bowling at The Glen took place on Saturday. Shane van Gisbergen captured the pole, surging to the top of the field with a blazing run across the winding terrain.
van Gisbergen posted a 71.165s lap time, three-tenths of a second-faster than second-place Michael McDowell. He will take his rightful place at the top of the pyramid on Sunday afternoon, looking to record his second-consecutive win at the central New York colliseum.
“Crazy," van Gisbergen said of his run. "It’ll be a good race to watch but probably a hard one to manage.”
Go Bowling at The Glen starting lineup 2026
Starting pos.
Driver
Car No.
Team
1.
Shane van Gisbergen
97
Chevrolet
2.
Michael McDowell
71
Chevrolet
3.
Austin Cindric
2
Ford
4.
Ross Chastain
1
Chevrolet
5.
Connor Zilisch
88
Chevrolet
6.
Joey Logano
22
Ford
7.
Ryan Blaney
12
Ford
8.
Christopher Bell
20
Toyota
9.
Chase Briscoe
19
Toyota
10.
Ty Gibbs
54
Toyota
11.
Carson Hocevar
77
Chevrolet
12.
AJ Allmendinger
16
Chevrolet
13.
William Byron
24
Chevrolet
14.
Chris Buescher
17
Ford
15.
Tyler Reddick
45
Toyota
16.
Daniel Suarez
7
Chevrolet
17.
John Hunter Nemechek
42
Toyota
18.
Bubba Wallace
23
Toyota
19.
Cole Custer
41
Chevrolet
20.
Denny Hamlin
11
Toyota
21.
Kyle Busch
8
Chevrolet
22.
Todd Gilliland
34
Ford
23.
Kyle Larson
5
Chevrolet
24.
Erik Jones
43
Toyota
25.
Austin Dillon
3
Chevrolet
26.
Brad Keselowski
6
Ford
27.
Chase Elliott
9
Chevrolet
28.
Alex Bowman
48
Chevrolet
29.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
47
Chevrolet
30.
Ryan Preece
60
Ford
31.
Ty Dillon
10
Chevrolet
32.
Riley Herbst
35
Toyota
33.
Zane Smith
38
Ford
34.
Josh Berry
21
Ford
35.
Noah Gragson
4
Ford
36.
Cody Ware
51
Chevrolet
37.
Josh Bilicki
66
Ford
38.
Katherine Legge
78
Chevrolet
