Larson continues to Show the Way, wins at Watkins Glen

The NASCAR Cup Series made a triumphant return to Watkins Glen International for the Go Bowling at the Glen. Chase Elliott comes in as the defending winner of the race back in 2019, after WGI did not host racing in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. It was a picture-perfect day at one of the most prestigious road courses in America. Four races remain until playoff time for the NASCAR Cup Series. Just hours before the race, Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell failed pre-race inspection and had to start from the rear for the race.

Brad Keselowski led the field to the green flag and led the opening laps. On lap 10, Keselowski went spinning from the lead and fell back to sixth. This would bring out the caution and this would be the competition caution as well. Joey Logano led the field at the restart on lap 13 with Kyle Larson second and Martin Truex Jr third. Larson tries to battle Logano and almost had a shot with two laps to go, both almost made contact. Keselowski continues to have issues as he slides through a turn again. Joey Logano would go on to win stage one. 

Stage 1 Top 10:

1. Joey Logano 
2. Kyle Larson 
3. Denny Hamlin 
4. Tyler Reddick 
5. William Byron 
6. Kyle Busch 
7. Alex Bowman
8. Austin Dillon 
9. Chase Elliott 
10. Erik Jones 

At the start of stage two, Chase Briscoe was challenged for the lead but it would be Martin Truex Jr who jumps out in front to begin the stage. Ryan Blaney went around on lap 25 as well as James Davison coming to a stop. With that, this brings out the third caution of the race. On lap 29, Chase Briscoe made contact with Christopher Bell a lap after the restart, both pulled away with minimal damage and no smoke from a tire rub. Chase Elliott flat-spotted his tires, causing him to pit with ten last left in stage two. Martin Truex Jr pulled away to a three-second lead over his teammate, Christopher Bell, and went on to win stage two. 

Stage Two Results

1. Martin Truex Jr 
2. Christopher Bell
3. Kevin Harvick 
4. Chase Briscoe 
5. Ross Chastain 
6. Kyle Larson 
7. Matt Dibenedetto 
8. Denny Hamlin 
9. Joey Logano
10. Kyle Busch 

The start of stage three was on lap 44 as Martin Truex Jr took off with the. Kyle Larson pushed hard to try and get around Kevin Harvick for third. Larson got to third a lap later. Ross Chastain then got around Harvick for fourth. Christopher Bell went to battle MTJ for the lead coming to lap 46 and Larson almost made it three-wide. MTJ held on for now. On lap 53, Erik Jones went spinning as there is a tight battle for the lead. Truex, Bell, and Larson all together as Larson make contact with Bell, spinning the 20! During pit stops, on lap 56, Brad Keselowski continues to have braking issues and goes spinning, then collects his teammate Joey Logano. 

Larson came out in front of Truex and was told to save his tires and pace himself to the end. Daniel Suarez lost power on his #99 Good Sam Chevrolet and strolled down to his pit stall. Chase Elliott has been quiet since starting from the rear, but has made it all the way to fourth and is chasing Kyle Busch with 20 laps to go. Elliott got around Busch as Larson led with Truex second. Larson had pulled away to almost a five-second lead with ten laps to go. Elliott meanwhile has caught MTJ as they battle for second. With nine to go, Elliott gets by Truex through the bus stop and goes to second, making it a Hendrick Motorsports 1-2. Elliott worked on putting down fast laps while Larson worked his way through lapped traffic. Coming to three to go, Larson had to weave through about five cars in one standing, and thanks to that, Elliott was now only back by two and a half seconds. Elliott now had to deal with the lapped traffic that Larson just dealt with. Larson had the lead by two and a half seconds and would cruise on to win at Watkins Glen! 

This is Larson’s fifth win of 2021 and his second career win on a road course, his first coming earlier this season at Sonoma. The regular season points battle for the lead is tied between Larson and a winless Denny Hamlin. 

Final Standings:

1. Kyle Larson 
2. Chase Elliott 
3. Martin Truex Jr 
4. Kyle Busch 
5. Denny Hamlin 
6. William Byron 
7. Christopher Bell 
8. Kevin Harvick 
9. Chase Briscoe 
10. Tyler Reddick 
11. Matt Dibenedetto 
12. Ross Chastain 
13. Kurt Busch 
14. Ryan Blaney 
15. Austin Dillon 
16. Aric Almirola 
17. Chris Buescher 
18. Cole Custer 
19. Ricky Stenhouse Jr 
20. Alex Bowman 
21. Michael McDowell 
22. Joey Logano 
23. Bubba Wallace 
24. Corey Lajoie
25. Ryan Newman 
26. Anthony Alfredo
27. Erik Jones 
28. Ryan Preece
29. Justin Haley
30. Kyle Tilley
31. Daniel Suarez
32. Quin Houff
33. Josh Bilicki
34. R.C. Enerson
35. Brad Keselowski
36. Garrett Smithley
37. James Davison