Shane van Gisbergen Wins at Watkins Glen in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series
SVG did it again. If you weren't watching Sunday's race at Watkins Glen, here's what you missed: Shane van Gisbergen was 29 seconds down with 18 laps to go, then won by seven seconds.
From the jump, van Gisbergen held a six-second lead over the field before the No. 97 team opted to come to pit road with four laps remaining in the stage, coming 8th in Stage 1. He pitted strategically before Stage 1 ended to let teammate Ross Chastain grab the stage win, and quietly set himself up for what was coming.
In stage 2, he started seventh and was back to the front in two laps. He won the stage and looked completely in control going into the final run. Then, around lap 40, a tent from the infield blew onto the track.
Under the caution, SVG pitted from the lead; six other guys, including McDowell, stayed out and jumped the queue. He came out seventh. With 40 laps left and a 29-second mountain to climb.
"Everyone's really good. McDowell was good. Connor was good. Tyler Reddick. There were some really good guys and a lot of pressure — so just stoked to execute every facet of our game." — Shane van Gisbergen, post-race
Ty Gibbs and Connor Zilisch were up front trying to manage fuel. Lap after lap, the gap came down. Zilisch got a flat tyre with eight laps to go and fell out of it. One lap later, SVG went past Gibbs, and McDowell finished second. He said:
"There were moments where I thought maybe we can hang with SVG, and it felt like he was just pacing himself off me."
He came out 24th with 22 laps to go. Two seconds a lap faster than the leaders, he just picked them off one by one. By lap 92, he was in front and he didn't look back, crossing the line seven seconds clear, taking back-to-back wins at the Watkins Glen.
History Made
Since Mexico City last June, he's won six of seven Cup road and street course races. Six of seven. Trackhouse got its first win of 2026, and it came in the most SVG way possible.
Celebrate with our brand new Quad Lock SVG #97 Case. The #97 isn't just a car number. SVG inherited it from his father, Robert, who raced it on the dirt tracks of New Zealand. Now it's on the biggest stage in American motorsport — and on your phone. Shop the Quad Lock SVG #97 Case.
