The 2026 Go Bowling at The Glen was an NASCAR Cup Series race held on May 10, 2026, at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York. Contested over 100 laps on the road course, it was the 12th race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. This was the final points Cup career race of Kyle Busch, before his death on May 21, 2026.
Shane van Gisbergen won the race. Michael McDowell finished 2nd, and Ty Gibbs finished 3rd. Chase Briscoe and Tyler Reddick rounded out the top five, and Austin Dillon, A. J. Allmendinger, Kyle Busch, Austin Cindric, and John Hunter Nemechek rounded out the top ten.
Report Background
Watkins Glen International (nicknamed "The Glen") is an automobile race track located in Watkins Glen, New York at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. It was long known around the world as the home of the Formula One United States Grand Prix, which it hosted for twenty consecutive years (1961–1980), but the site has been home to road racing of nearly every class, including the World Sportscar Championship, Trans-Am, Can-Am, NASCAR Cup Series, the International Motor Sports Association and the IndyCar Series.
Initially, public roads in the village were used for the race course. In 1956 a permanent circuit for the race was built. In 1968 the race was extended to six hours, becoming the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen. The circuit's current layout has more or less been the same since 1971, although a chicane was installed at the uphill Esses in 1975 to slow cars through these corners, where there was a fatality during practice at the 1973 United States Grand Prix. The chicane was removed in 1985, but another chicane called the "Inner Loop" was installed in 1992 after J.D. McDuffie's fatal accident during the previous year's NASCAR Winston Cup event.
On August 20, 2025, NASCAR unveiled the schedule with the race in May. That same year, on December 3, the race was extended by 10 laps, going from 90 to 100 laps.
Entry list (R) denotes rookie driver. (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Driver Team Manufacturer 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 7 Daniel Suárez Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 35 Riley Herbst 23XI Racing Toyota 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford 41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Chevrolet 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 66 Josh Bilicki (i) Garage 66 Ford 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 78 Katherine Legge Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 88 Connor Zilisch (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 97 Shane van Gisbergen Trackhouse Racing ChevroletOfficial entry list
Practice Austin Cindric was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 1:12.208 seconds and a speed of .
Practice results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Time 1 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 1:12.208 122.147 2 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 1:12.252 122.073 3 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:12.276 122.032 Official practice results
Qualifying Shane van Gisbergen scored the pole for the race with a time of 1:11.165 and a speed of .
Qualifying results Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Time 1 97 Shane van Gisbergen Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 1:11.165 123.937 2 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 1:11.424 123.488 3 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 1:11.445 123.452 4 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 1:11.449 123.445 5 88 Connor Zilisch (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 1:11.483 123.386 6 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 1:11.522 123.319 7 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 1:11.523 123.317 8 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:11.582 123.215 9 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:11.583 123.214 10 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:11.615 123.159 11 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 1:11.620 123.150 12 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 1:11.654 123.092 13 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:11.664 123.074 14 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 1:11.668 123.067 15 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 1:11.699 123.014 16 7 Daniel Suárez Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 1:11.723 122.973 17 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 1:11.739 122.946 18 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 1:11.755 122.918 19 41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Chevrolet 1:11.847 122.761 20 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:11.854 122.749 21 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:11.890 122.687 22 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 1:11.941 122.600 23 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:11.961 122.566 24 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 1:11.972 122.548 25 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:11.999 122.502 26 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 1:12.060 122.398 27 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:12.067 122.386 28 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:12.095 122.339 29 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet 1:12.122 122.293 30 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 1:12.124 122.289 31 10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 1:12.148 122.249 32 35 Riley Herbst 23XI Racing Toyota 1:12.260 122.059 33 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford 1:12.264 122.052 34 21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford 1:12.614 121.464 35 4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford 1:12.637 121.426 36 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 1:13.199 120.493 37 66 Josh Bilicki (i) Garage 66 Ford 1:14.090 119.044 38 78 Katherine Legge Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 1:16.497 115.299 Official qualifying results
Race
Race results
Stage results
Stage One Laps: 20
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 102 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 93 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 84 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 75 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 66 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 57 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 48 97 Shane van Gisbergen Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 39 35 Riley Herbst 23XI Racing Toyota 210 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 1
Stage Two Laps: 30
Pos Driver Team Manufacturer Points1 97 Shane van Gisbergen Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 102 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 93 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 84 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 75 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 66 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 57 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 48 88 Connor Zilisch (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 39 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 210 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 1
Final Stage results Stage Three Laps: 50
Pos Grid Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points1 1 97 Shane van Gisbergen Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 100 682 2 71 Michael McDowell Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 100 363 10 54 Ty Gibbs Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 100 424 9 19 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 100 355 15 45 Tyler Reddick 23XI Racing Toyota 100 416 25 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 100 387 12 16 A. J. Allmendinger Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 100 368 21 8 Kyle Busch Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 100 359 3 2 Austin Cindric Team Penske Ford 100 3910 17 42 John Hunter Nemechek Legacy Motor Club Toyota 100 3211 7 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 100 3412 14 17 Chris Buescher RFK Racing Ford 100 3013 16 7 Daniel Suárez Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 100 2414 30 60 Ryan Preece RFK Racing Ford 100 2315 19 41 Cole Custer Haas Factory Team Chevrolet 100 2216 20 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 100 2117 22 34 Todd Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 100 2018 33 38 Zane Smith Front Row Motorsports Ford 100 1919 24 43 Erik Jones Legacy Motor Club Toyota 100 1820 5 88 Connor Zilisch (R) Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 100 2121 8 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 100 2022 35 4 Noah Gragson Front Row Motorsports Ford 100 1523 23 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 100 1424 27 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 100 1325 28 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 100 1226 32 35 Riley Herbst 23XI Racing Toyota 100 1327 4 1 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet 100 2028 11 77 Carson Hocevar Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 100 929 18 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 100 930 26 6 Brad Keselowski RFK Racing Ford 100 731 29 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet 100 632 34 21 Josh Berry Wood Brothers Racing Ford 100 533 31 10 Ty Dillon Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 99 434 37 66 Josh Bilicki (i) Garage 66 Ford 99 035 38 78 Katherine Legge Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet 99 236 13 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 97 137 36 51 Cody Ware Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 90 138 6 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 85 10Official race results
Race statistics Lead changes: 6 among 4 different drivers Cautions/Laps: 4 for 12 laps Red flags: 0 Time of race: 2 hours, 29 minutes, and 11 seconds Average speed:
Media
Television The race was carried by FS1 in the United States. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and Kevin Harvick called the race from the broadcast booth. Jamie Little, Regan Smith and Josh Sims handled the pit road for the television side. Larry McReynolds provided insight on-site during the race.
FS1Booth announcersPit reportersIn-race analystLap-by-lap: Mike JoyColor-commentator: Clint BowyerColor-commentator: Kevin Harvick Jamie LittleRegan SmithJosh Sims Larry McReynolds
Radio Motor Racing Network had the radio call for the race, which was also be simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Mike Bagley and former crew chief Todd Gordon covered the action when the field raced down the front straightaway. Dave Moody called the race when the field raced thru the esses. Kyle Rickey covered the action when the field raced thru the inner loop and turn 5 and Tim Catafalmo covered the action in turn 6 & 7. Steve Post, Brienne Pedigo and Jason Toy called the action from the pits & garage area for MRN.
MRNBooth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters Lead announcer: Alex HaydenAnnouncer: Mike Bagley<br/ >Announcer: Todd Gordon Esses: Dave Moody Inner loop & Turn 5: Kyle RickeyTurn 6 & 7: Tim Catafalmo Steve PostBrienne PedigoJason Toy
Standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Tyler Reddick 567 2 Denny Hamlin 438 (–129) 3 Chase Elliott 422 (–145) 4 Ryan Blaney 405 (–162) 5 Chris Buescher 375 (–192) 1 6 Ty Gibbs 372 (–195) 1 7 Carson Hocevar 342 (–225) 8 Kyle Larson 332 (–235) 9 Brad Keselowski 318 (–249) 1 10 Bubba Wallace 313 (–254) 1 11 Christopher Bell 311 (–256) 2 12 William Byron 309 (–258) 13 Ryan Preece 296 (–271) 14 Daniel Suárez 295 (–272) 1 15 Austin Cindric 287 (–280) 3 16 Shane van Gisbergen 283 (–284)Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings Pos Manufacturer Points 1 Toyota 547 2 Chevrolet 495 (–52) 3 Ford 409 (–138)
Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.
References