Samwise NASCAR Cup Series Newsletter
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Van Gisbergen Claims Watkins Glen Pole on 37th Birthday, Targeting Second Straight Victory
Shane van Gisbergen, celebrating his 37th birthday, clocked 71.165 seconds (123.937 mph) around the 2.45-mile Watkins Glen circuit Saturday to claim the Busch Light Pole Award for Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen. His margin over second-placed Michael McDowell was 0.259 seconds. Van Gisbergen made the decisive difference at the bus stop chicane, earning his fifth Cup Series pole in 62 starts and his first at Watkins Glen — despite winning the race there in 2025. Trackhouse Racing occupied three of the top five starting positions, with Ross Chastain fourth and teammate Connor Zilisch fifth. The defending race winner enters Sunday as the heavy favourite to repeat.
Sources: NASCAR.com, RACER, Motorsport.com
Zilisch Wins O’Reilly Race at Watkins Glen with Last-Corner Pass on Jesse Love
Connor Zilisch claimed his third consecutive NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victory at Watkins Glen International on Saturday, passing Jesse Love at Turn 7 on the final lap of the Mission 200. Zilisch pitted from the lead with 25 laps remaining to manage a damaged car, then steadily ran down Love over the closing miles before shooting past — winning by 0.262 seconds. Love drove the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Zilisch has now won in every O’Reilly Series start at Watkins Glen and will start fifth in Sunday’s Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen as part of his full-time rookie Cup season.
Sources: NASCAR.com, RACER
Reddick Leads Cup Points by 105 as Top Contenders Struggle on Watkins Glen Grid
Tyler Reddick entered the Watkins Glen weekend leading the NASCAR Cup Series standings by 105 points over Denny Hamlin, with Chase Elliott a further eight points back in third. Reddick, driver of the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, has recorded five wins across 11 races in 2026 but qualified only 15th at Watkins Glen on Saturday. Elliott, who won at Texas last Sunday for his second victory of the season, will start 27th. The top four in points entering race 12 are Reddick at 526, Hamlin at 417, Elliott at 409, and Ryan Blaney fourth at 371.
Sources: NASCAR.com, NASCAR.com (Sunday Setup)
Van Gisbergen on the Playoff Bubble with Watkins Glen a Must-Win Opportunity
Shane van Gisbergen enters Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen outside the NASCAR Cup Series top 16, sitting 27 points behind Chase Briscoe, who holds the final playoff position in 16th place with 242 points. Briscoe is only 7 points ahead of Joey Logano in 17th, while Ross Chastain sits 26 points behind Briscoe. Van Gisbergen, the defending Watkins Glen winner with dominant road-course credentials, faces an ideal opportunity to close the gap or secure an automatic playoff berth with a race victory. A win Sunday would lock him into the 16-driver playoff field regardless of points.
Sources: NASCAR.com (Sunday Setup), Motorsport.com
Preece Responds to Texas Penalty, RFK Racing Files Formal Appeal
Ryan Preece addressed NASCAR’s decision Saturday to dock him 25 points and fine him $50,000 for his contact with Ty Gibbs during the Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. Speaking at Watkins Glen, Preece said he was surprised by the punishment and is eager to present his case when RFK Racing’s formal appeal is heard. NASCAR’s ruling under Sections 4.3 and 4.4.A cited team radio audio in which Preece made threatening comments during a caution period before making contact with Gibbs on lap 101, sending the No. 54 Toyota into the SAFER barrier. No appeal hearing date has been set.
Sources: NASCAR.com, RACER
Watkins Glen Cup Race Extended to Record 100 Laps, New Track Limits Add Strategic Wrinkle
Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen marks the longest NASCAR Cup Series race in Watkins Glen history at 100 laps, extended from the previous standard of 90, with stages of 20, 30, and 50 laps. New barrier-backed track limit enforcement at key sections of the 2.45-mile circuit adds a strategic element for drivers pushing for extra speed through the corners. Saturday’s single combined practice session, shortened by damp conditions, left teams with limited long-run data ahead of the historic distance. The race is also NASCAR’s first visit to Watkins Glen in May, having previously been held in mid-summer.
Sources: NASCAR.com (Sunday Setup), NASCAR.com
Cindric Fastest in Shortened Watkins Glen Practice as Wet Track Limits Teams’ Setup Data
Austin Cindric set the fastest lap in Saturday’s sole NASCAR Cup Series practice session at Watkins Glen International, posting 122.147 mph in the No. 2 Team Penske Ford. Damp conditions forced NASCAR officials to combine the originally scheduled pair of practice sessions into a single 50-minute run. Carson Hocevar was second-quickest at 122.073 mph, with Ty Gibbs third at 122.032 mph. The condensed session gave teams limited data on tire wear and long-run pace ahead of the 100-lap race. Cindric qualified third in Saturday afternoon’s session behind pole-winner Shane van Gisbergen and Michael McDowell, turning a lap of 123.452 mph.
Sources: RACER, NASCAR.com
Hocevar Trades Fire Suit for Tuxedo at Met Gala Following Talladega Win
Carson Hocevar stepped away from race preparations briefly when he attended the Met Gala in New York City on Monday, May 4, roughly one week after claiming his first NASCAR Cup Series victory at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26. The Spire Motorsports driver gained widespread attention for his animated post-race celebration at Talladega, which drew broad national attention. Hocevar, 22, is currently sixth in the Cup standings with 333 points and has been one of the breakout stories of the 2026 season. At Watkins Glen this weekend, he was second-quickest in Saturday’s combined practice at 122.073 mph.
Sources: NASCAR.com
William Byron Makes 300th Cup Start at Watkins Glen, All with Hendrick Motorsports
William Byron will make his 300th NASCAR Cup Series start on Sunday at Watkins Glen International, one day before his 29th birthday. The milestone makes Byron the ninth driver in the sport’s modern era to reach 300 Cup starts all with one organization, and the fourth to do so with Hendrick Motorsports, where he has driven the No. 24 Chevrolet since 2018. Byron won at Watkins Glen in 2023 and has a strong record across his seven previous starts there: two top-five finishes, four top tens, 66 laps led, and an average starting position of 8.6.
Sources: NASCAR.com, NASCAR.com (Gallery)
Cup Series Standings (Top 16)
1. Tyler Reddick — 526 pts
2. Denny Hamlin — 417 pts
3. Chase Elliott — 409 pts
4. Ryan Blaney — 371 pts
5. Chris Buescher — 345 pts
6. Carson Hocevar — 333 pts
7. Ty Gibbs — 330 pts
8. Kyle Larson — 318 pts
9. Brad Keselowski — 311 pts
10. William Byron — 308 pts
11. Bubba Wallace — 304 pts
12. Ryan Preece — 298 pts
13. Christopher Bell — 291 pts
14. Daniel Suárez — 271 pts
15. Austin Cindric — 248 pts
16. Chase Briscoe — 242 pts (bubble)
Manufacturer Standings
1. Toyota — 513 pts
2. Chevrolet — 440 pts
3. Ford — 381 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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