Shane Van Gisbergen celebrates in the Mobil 1 Victory Lane at Watkins Glen International! – Motorsport America Photo
Please enjoy these exclusive photos from the Mission 200 at the Glen by Motorsport America photographers Fred Hanyon and Joe Proiette!
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Shane Van Gisbergen claimed his fourth NASCAR Cup
Series road course victory of the season Sunday afternoon and second win
of more than 10-seconds on the field … and he made it look effortless.
The 36-year-old New Zealander led a race-best 38 of 90 laps – including
the final 17 – at the historic Watkins Glen International in picturesque
upstate New York, his No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet officially
crossing the finish line by 11.116-seconds ahead of Joe Gibbs Racing’s
Christopher Bell. “Another win. Awesome. It’s the stuff you dream about right?”a smiling Van Gisbergen said.
Van Gisbergen, in his first fulltime season at NASCAR’s elite level, has
been essentially unstoppable on the road courses. His four victories on
the year – also at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma, Calif. – gives him
that rookie win record and he now ties perennial championship contender
Denny Hamlin for most victories in the series this year.
Current regular season championship leader, Hendrick Motorsports’
William Byron finished fourth in the No. 24 Chevrolet. That showing
coupled with his teammate Chase Elliott’s 26th place finish extended
Byron’s lead in the points standings to 42 over Elliott. This marks the
first time this season Elliott finished outside the top-20.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe finished fifth in the No. 19 JGR Toyota,
making a last-lap pass on race polesitter, Team Penske’s Ryan
Blaney. Van Gisbergen’s teammate Daniel Suarez was seventh, followed by
23XI Racing teammates Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. Trackhouse’s Ross
Chastain rounded out the top-10.
The NASCAR Cup Series moves to the Richmond (Va.) Raceway for Saturday
night’s Cook Out 400 (7:30 p.m. ET, USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR
Radio).