Shane van Gisbergen charged from seventh to first in just two laps at Watkins Glen International to score the victory in Stage 2 of Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen.
SVG surged back to the front of the field after a mid-stage yellow flag shook up pit strategy for some. Tyler Reddick finished the stage second ahead of Ty Gibbs, Austin Dillon, Kyle Busch, Chris Buescher, Austin Cindric, Connor Zilisch, Chase Briscoe and Bubba Wallace.
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A burst of wind at Lap 40 led to the first caution for cause in Sunday’s 100-lap contest when a tent from infield blew skyward and landed squarely atop the pavement exiting the esses.
Six cars stayed out under that caution period to gain track position: Michael McDowell, Daniel Suárez, Christopher Bell, Wallace, Riley Herbst and John Hunter Nemechek. SVG had led every lap of the stage until that point and restarted seventh, ahead of Connor Zilisch, Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick and Austin Dillon. Wallace was the only driver of those who stayed out to score stage points.
Trouble occurred on the ensuring restart twice at Lap 44. Herbst spun to the excess pavement in Turn 1 and ended the stage 31st. Once the field approached the inner loop, Buescher and William Byron were in a side-by-side battle that led to an incident.
MORE: Stage 2 results | Byron around in the bus stop
Buescher hopped the curb to driver’s left entering the chicane and caught Byron’s left rear, sending the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for a spin. Byron, who made his 300th NASCAR Cup Series start Sunday, suffered a broken toe link that needed repair. In total, Byron lost four laps as a result of the incident and runs last, 38th, entering the final stage. Todd Gilliland also spun in the melee while drivers like Connor Zilisch, Carson Hocevar and Zane Smith bolted to the grass to driver’s right exiting the bus stop to avoid the spun car of Byron.
The top nine finishers in Stage 2 stayed out under caution with Ross Chastain moving into the top 10 when Wallace hit pit road.
Stage 1 recap
Shane van Gisbergen controlled the pace early at Watkins Glen International, but his Trackhouse Racing teammate Ross Chastain won Stage 1 of Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen (FS1).
Chastain stayed out to collect the stage win, while van Gisbergen and other leaders opted to hit pit road to maintain track position for the Stage 2 restart. Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric and AJ Allmendinger completed the top five at the end of the 20-lap opening segment.
MORE: Stage 1 results
John Hunter Nemechek, Christopher Bell, van Gisbergen, Riley Herbst and Michael McDowell rounded out the top 10. Van Gisbergen and McDowell, who both started on the front row and ran first and second before pit stops began, were the only two leaders who managed to both pit and score stage points. Van Gisbergen led the opening 18 laps before surrendering the lead to Chastain to hit pit road.
Only 15 of the 38 teams in Sunday’s race opted not to pit before the stage break. Bubba Wallace and Chase Elliott both elected to stay out in an attempt to score stage points but ultimately were bested by van Gisbergen and McDowell, who were leading but pit.
This story will be updated.
