What to Expect in the Cup Series Race at Watkins Glen

What’s Happening?

After a string of wild oval races, NASCAR returns to turning left and right as they up north to upstate New York where the famous Watkins Glen Speedway resides. One of NASCAR’s longest tenured road courses, Watkins Glen International is a road course that races like an intermediate. Many NASCAR regulars go to this track yearly looking to close the gap between themselves and the King of the Road, Shane van Gisbergen. They’ll have to be on their a-game today as SVG starts today’s race from the Busch Light Pole alongside Cup Regular Michael McDowell.

Who will reign supreme at the Glen today? Only time will tell. Here’s what to expect in today’s Go Bowling at the Glen.

It's time to tackle the twists and turns of @WGI! pic.twitter.com/sRw3lyqI5Q

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 10, 2026

Fast Notes:

• Defending winner of the race and NASCAR’s King of the Road, Shane van Gisbergen took the pole for today’s race. It is his first pole at Watkins Glen and his first Cup Series pole since Sonoma last season. SVG is the overwhelming favorite to win today as last year, he won 5 of the 6 road course races on the schedule. Winless up tot his point in 2026, the No. 97 team is going to try to get it done today.
• It has been a tough 2026 for Michael McDowell. While his Spire teammates Carson Hocevar and Daniel Suarez have shown considerable speed to start the year, McDowell has spent most of it playing catchup as the odd man out. That said, whenever NASCAR storms into a road course, McDowell gets a little pep in his step. Of the regulars, he’s one of the better road racers, having won a road course race a few years back at Indianapolis. He starts on the outside pole here today. Can he become the second Spire driver to win this year or will he still be chasing SVG by the drop of the checkered flag?
• Yesterday’s winner, Connor Zilisch has likewise had a rough start to his rookie campaign in 2026. He’s hoping to turn that around here today. Like his teammate SVG, Zilisch is known to be good on road courses and has had considerable success at the Glen in the past. Is this where his first Cup victory comes? He’s rolling off in the 5th position, right behind teammate Ross Chastain.
• There have been a lot of changes with Kyle Busch and his number 8 team in the last couple of weeks. That included a crew chief change followed by a top 10-15 run at Texas before Busch’s temper got the best of him in the closing laps as he doored John Hunter Nemechek. If Wild Thang can remain calm, is this the first step in the right direction for the team to salvage an abysmal 2026 season?
• The layout for this year’s Go Bowling at the Glen is as follows: 20-50-100. Teams were given 6 sets of Goodyear Eagles and the expected fuel window is between 36 and 40 laps. But look for many of the front runners to flip the stage near each stage’s end, shooting for glory rather than stage points.
• Coverage for the 2026 running of the Go Bowling at the Glen NASCAR Cup Series Race begins on FS1 at 3 PM ET/12 PM PT.

Starting Lineup

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