Ryan Blaney earned the Busch Light Pole Award in Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at Watkins Glen International by recording the fastest lap, stopping Shane van Gisbergen from capturing a fourth straight road-course pole. Blaney’s strong qualifying effort positioned him to lead the field at Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen race.
Blaney drove his No. 12 Team Penske Ford to a lap speed of 122.568 mph on the New York road course, marking his second Busch Light Pole Award of the current season and the 12th pole in his Cup Series career. His qualifying speed secured the No. 1 starting position for the race scheduled at 2 p.m. ET and broadcast on USA Network, HBO Max, and other platforms.
Shane van Gisbergen and Others Fill the Front Rows
Shane van Gisbergen narrowly missed out on capturing the top spot, posting the second-fastest qualifying speed of 122.512 mph in the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. He will line up alongside Blaney on the front row for the race start. Chase Briscoe secured the third position, followed by Ross Chastain in fourth and Kyle Busch completing the top five.
With only three races remaining in the regular NASCAR Cup season, the competition to secure a spot in the 16-driver playoff field is intensifying.
Spire Motorsports Leads Initial Practice Sessions
Before qualifying, Justin Haley topped the practice charts, showcasing strong performance that put him first among drivers in the early NASCAR Cup Series activities at Watkins Glen. Haley posted the fastest lap at 121.364 mph, leading a Spire Motorsports 1-2 finish in practice.
His teammate Michael McDowell was a mere one-thousandth of a second slower, at 121.362 mph in the No. 71 Chevrolet. Defending race winner Chris Buescher followed closely in third place with the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford, just 0.004 seconds behind Haley. Ty Gibbs and Kyle Larson rounded out the top five positions during practice.
William Byron Excels in Consistency Ahead of Playoff Push
William Byron, who leads the Cup Series points and secured a victory last week at Iowa Speedway, posted the best consecutive 10-lap averages, demonstrating his strong form as the playoffs approach.
“I was really happy with how the car felt out there, and the team gave me a great Ford to work with.” —Ryan Blaney, NASCAR driver
Looking Ahead to Sunday’s Race at Watkins Glen
The results from qualifying and practice set the stage for an intense battle at Watkins Glen, where drivers are eager to solidify their playoff chances. Blaney’s pole-winning lap demonstrates his potential to compete for victory, but van Gisbergen and others remain strong challengers on this demanding road course. As the series approaches its postseason, consistent performance and strategic racing will be key to securing a spot in the championship hunt.
