Shane Van Gisbergen claimed his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory at Watkins Glen International on May 10, 2026, winning the Go Bowling at The Glen after a stunning late-race charge. Starting from the pole position—the same weekend he celebrated his 37th birthday—Van Gisbergen overcame a pit strategy gamble that left him three laps short on fuel. His crew chief, Stephen Doran, delayed the final stop during a lap 61 caution, allowing SVG to build a cushion before pitting with 24 laps remaining.

From there, Van Gisbergen made up 29 seconds over 18 laps, slicing through more than 20 cars before overtaking Ty Gibbs in the Bus Stop chicane on lap 93. He finished 7.29 seconds ahead of Michael McDowell, securing the seventh Cup win of his career and the first of the 2026 season. It was also his first victory driving the No. 97 car, a number previously used by his father in New Zealand.

The win moved Van Gisbergen from 19th to 16th in the Cup standings, just inside the playoff cutoff. Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks hailed him as the best road-course racer the sport has ever seen, noting SVG has now won six of the last seven Cup road and street course races. With next year’s Watkins Glen race shifting to September and entering the playoff window, Van Gisbergen’s dominance here could have even greater implications in 2027.