For the first time this season, both Richard Childress Racing drivers produced top-10 finishes in a NASCAR Cup Series race.
Austin Dillion took sixth in the Go Bowling at The Glen, for his first top 10 this season, while Kyle Busch finished eighth to winner Shane van Gisbergen for his second top 10 in the last three races.
“We didn’t really worry about tires when we short pitted, and that got us our track position at the end of the Stage,” Dillon said after the race on the 2.45-mile Watkins Glen road course.
“After that, we were able to maintain, and it was fun saving fuel there behind (Chase) Briscoe. I probably should have pushed a little harder because I actually made it back all the way around on fuel. So, I did a good job on saving fuel, which was cool.”
Dillon said his teammate “scared me into the bus stop with like two to go.”
“He just gave up on saving fuel, and he ran out (of fuel) at the (finish) line. That was kind of fun getting him back by the line,” Dillon said.
Busch noted his Chevrolet was a top 10 car for most of the race.
“We made the adjustments and strategy calls we needed to drive forward and make up track position after qualifying 21st, despite battling a car that trended tight throughout the race,” Busch said.
Allmendinger Secures Second Top 10
A.J. Allmendinger is known as one of NASCAR’s best road racers and he once again demonstrated his talent in the Watkins Glen race won by Shane van Gisbergen.
Allmendinger posted a seventh-place finish, his first top 10 since the season’s third race at Circuit of The Americas when he placed ninth.
“That was a crazy race,” Allmendinger said about the 100-lap Go Bowling at The Glen event. “I thought when we started the race the No. 16 … Chevrolet was pretty good. We just still had some of the same issues that we’ve been fighting. After around 12-14 laps, it hits a cliff and gets loose.
“We got some Stage points. Unfortunately, that put us a little behind in strategy. It was just as tough to pass, so I thought we were going to be in for a long day. Trent (Owens, crew chief) made a really good call there. We had a good restart and started moving through the field. I don’t know if that run would have been better if it would have stayed green, but overall, despite being in a hole on strategy, Trent did a great job to get us back in position to at least be on the offensive side. Obviously, you always want more, but it was a good day.”
Cindric Acquires Ford’s Lone Top 10
Austin Cindric was known for his road racing abilities when he joined NASCAR’s Cup Series, and the Team Penske driver produced Ford’s lone top 10 finish in the Go Bowling at The Glen won by Shane van Gisbergen.
Cindric finished ninth, two positions ahead of teammate Ryan Blaney who was involved in an incident with William Byron in the chicane, also known as the bus stop.
“In a lot of ways, we maximized our day with points in most Stages, and earning a top 10 is a really good day for us,” Cindric said. “The strategy definitely got put into a really tight window, and we decided to go for it and get some fuel mileage out of this Ford Mustang and try to hold onto these rear tires. I feel that I may have left one or two spots on the table just trying to make it to the end.”
Blaney said he caved in his Ford’s nose when he hit Byron.
“I was actually surprised how fast the Mustang was after that,” Blaney said. “Overall, we fought from the back a few times to a decent finish and a good points day.”
Blaney is fourth in the driver standings.
Nemechek Records First Top 10 This Season
John Hunter Nemechek hadn’t produced a top 20 finish this year since the third race at Circuit of the Americas, but at Watkins Glen he recorded his first top 10 of 2026.
“Really solid day for us,” Nemechek said. “I feel like we played the first Stage to get Stage points. Had a late pit call but couldn’t get to pit road so we just made the most out of it. Ended up in the back and couldn’t really pass.
“Then we played a really good strategy at the end. Ended up staying out at the end, with like 40 to go, when a lot of guys pitted and they were going to try to make it. We were able to maintain on those tires, not lose that many spots or too much time. We kind of split the Stage and ended coming home 10th. Needed one more lap, probably would have gotten five more cars with everyone running out of gas, and us pushing so hard.”
