Winners and losers from NASCAR’s Watkins Glen triple-header

All three nationwide divisions of NASCAR have been racing at Watkins Glen this weekend. And whereas the winners have been no shock, there have been loads of surprising moments. The Truck race went into triple extra time, the Xfinity race featured a 45-minute pink flag, and the Cup race — effectively, that race additionally occurred. 

However regardless of the calm major occasion on Sunday, there have been nonetheless loads of storylines to observe all through the weekend. This is a take a look at the most important winners and losers from Watkins Glen:

WINNER: SVG and Trackhouse make historical past at The Glen

Shane van Gisbergen is the one driver to win a race by over 10 seconds this yr, and he is now completed it twice. The New Zealander — and Cup rookie — gained his fourth consecutive street/road course race. He as soon as once more dominated, demoralizing the sphere and giving him an excellent shot at advancing deeper into the playoffs than anybody would have anticipated. Nevertheless it was additionally a giant day for Trackhouse, as Daniel Suarez earned his finest end since March and the workforce put all three drivers inside the highest ten (in the identical race) for the primary time.

LOSER: Chase Elliott’s prime 20 streak involves an unceremonious finish 

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet

Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Pictures

Elliott has been quiet, however constant this yr, however his run of prime 20 finishes is now over, and it isn’t even due to an incident or mechanical gremlin. Watkins Glen was only a dangerous day for Elliott, which is wild contemplating the truth that he has two wins there. He completed twenty sixth, and the No. 9 workforce simply appeared off their sport the whole day.

WINNER: William Byron solidifies his place atop the standings 

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Pictures

Due to the misfortune of Elliott, a tough outing for Denny Hamlin, and a brake challenge for Kyle Larson, Byron has slipped away with the common season factors lead. After ending fourth at Watkins Glen, he now holds a 42-point benefit with simply two races to go.

LOSER: Zilisch’s large win soured by horrifying fall

Connor Zilisch taken away by way of stretcher, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Pictures

Connor Zilisch is the brightest younger star in NASCAR, however after his sixth Xfinity win of the yr on Saturday, one thing utterly surprising occurred. Zilisch fell from his automobile in Victory Lane, breaking his collarbone in a scary second that left everybody holding their breath. The younger phenom must cope with the damage as he tries to hold on to the common season title, however we’re all simply grateful it wasn’t any worse.

WINNER: Chris Buescher strengthens his place on the recent seat

Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford, Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford, Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Pictures

Buescher didn’t go back-to-back at Watkins Glen, however a stage win and a third-place end was sufficient to offer him a terrific factors day. He’s now 34 factors above the cut-line after coming into the race 23 factors up. He additionally gained floor on Alex Bowman, which is essential if he desires to get off the recent seat earlier than Daytona, the place anybody within the subject can win.

LOSER: Austin Hill returns from suspension, and causes chaos

Watch: Contact from Hill sends McDowell onerous into the wall, creating ‘Huge One’ at Watkins Glen

When Hill returned from his one-week suspension for reckless driving, he promised to not change. Nicely, the Richard Childress Racing driver actually wasn’t mendacity. At one level, he shoved Zilisch out of the best way to take the lead of the Xfinity race, and later triggered a large accident that resulted in a 45-minute pink flag to restore the monitor’s partitions. Hill hooked Michael McDowell into the guardrail whereas attempting to make a really daring transfer on the fringe of the monitor within the battle for second. To his credit score, he did take accountability for it, however that race will solely strengthen the adverse emotions some within the storage have about Hill.

WINNER: Even in a stacked Truck subject, there was no escaping ‘Heim Time’

Corey Heim, TRICON Storage Toyota

Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Pictures

The Truck race at Watkins Glen featured Cup stars Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, Buescher, and rising star Zilisch. And but, there was no stopping Corey Heim. The TRICON driver earned his sixth win of the yr, and at this level, anybody in addition to him profitable the title could be a shocker. If titans of the game could not put a cease to his domination, then the Truck regulars do not appear to have a lot of an opportunity both.

LOSER: NASCAR race management ready too lengthy to name yellows all weekend

Sheldon Creed, Haas Manufacturing facility Group Ford

Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Pictures

Though race management has defined their reasoning earlier than, it is nonetheless a nasty look. NASCAR was ready far too lengthy to throw yellows at Watkins Glen. There was the Josh Berry incident within the Cup race, which ought to have been an automated yellow, however sequence officers waited. Sheldon Creed wrecked onerous within the Xfinity race, and replays present vehicles scattering to keep away from him whereas issues remained inexperienced. Maybe that’s the reason so many vehicles piled into the McDowell wreck, as they have been conditioned {that a} wreck is not an automated yellow. That is a harmful sport to be taking part in, particularly at a high-speed street course.