Just two weeks ago, Chris Buescher experienced the disappointment of narrowly missing the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. However, on Sunday at Watkins Glen International, Buescher found redemption.

Buescher emerged victorious in The Go Bowling at The Glen, the second race of the 10-race Cup Series playoffs, capturing the win after a heart-pounding overtime finish.

As the final stage neared its conclusion, Buescher was pushing for the lead but faced multiple caution flags that challenged his ability to maintain his position on repeated restarts. The race extended into overtime after a serious multi-car collision occurred with three laps remaining, forcing the RFK Racing driver to aim for the lead once again. Unfortunately, he lost the lead to Shane Van Gisbergen, who aggressively bumped Buescher’s No. 17 Ford ahead of him before managing to pull his No. 16 Chevrolet alongside and then ahead in the restart. Van Gisbergen, the three-time Australian Supercars Champion set to fully transition to NASCAR in 2025, appeared poised for victory.

Nevertheless, Buescher regrouped and caught up to Van Gisbergen just in time for the last lap. After being nudged during the restart, Buescher retaliated by bumping Van Gisbergen as they approached the carousel, allowing him to reclaim the lead and successfully held onto it through the closing turns, marking his first victory on a road course in 36 attempts.

“I thought we lost it there at the end, but to stay so close – that was the corner where he was stronger and he missed it, so I attempted a crossover. He tried to cut back, and it was just hard racing,” Buescher reflected. “It’s an amazing finish. To perform so well throughout the race and finally get the win feels great. Our goal was to be a spoiler and that’s exactly what we did.”

This win marked Buescher’s first victory of the season and the sixth of his NASCAR Cup Series career, preventing any playoff drivers from securing a guaranteed spot in the next round.

The top five finishers included all non-playoff drivers: Van Gisbergen took second, Carson Hocevar came in third, pole-sitter Ross Chastain finished in fourth, and Zane Smith rounded out the top five in fifth place.

“I gave him a little nudge to take the spot, knowing it might come back to me,” Van Gisbergen admitted. “I was trying to push ahead but made a mistake. Our Camaro was fantastic and the fastest car out there all day, it just didn’t pan out.”

Chase Briscoe was the lead playoff driver in sixth place, with Austin Cindric being the only other playoff contender to finish in the Top 10 at 10^th. Most playoff drivers faced challenges, with many involved in at least one incident. Michael McDowell finished seventh, Corey LaJoie took eighth, and Ryan Preece landed in ninth.

Check out the complete results from The Go Bowling at The Glen here. Below is a gallery featuring recaps and highlights from Sunday’s action.

Watkins Glen a Challenge for Most NASCAR Playoff Drivers

The second race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs proved to be tumultuous for the majority of the 16 playoff drivers. Only two – Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric – managed to finish in the Top 10, while reigning champion Ryan Blaney ended in last place after crashing out on the first lap.

William Byron, who won the previous year at Watkins Glen, struggled and finished 34th after a late incident nearly wrecked his Chevrolet, while Denny Hamlin faced a second consecutive misfire in a playoff race, placing him below the 12-driver cutline along with former champions Martin Truex Jr. (2017) and Brad Keselowski (2012).

The four lowest-ranked drivers in the standings will be eliminated from contention following next week’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Buescher Clinches NASCAR Playoff Win at Watkins Glen in Overtime

In a gripping final lap of overtime, Chris Buescher overtook Shane Van Gisbergen to win the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International, competing against non-playoff rivals.

Dramatic Overtime Finish at Watkins Glen

During a restart with three laps remaining, Tyler Reddick and Kyle Busch collided, causing their cars to spin and prompting the caution flag to come out.

Kyle Larson attempted to block Todd Gilliland, both vying for position in the Top 15, which led to Gilliland colliding with Chase Elliott and Josh Berry. In the chaos, Martin Truex Jr. crashed into the wall, while Reddick and Busch made hard contact in Turn 3.

As a result, Chris Buescher and Carson Hocevar led the field in the overtime restart.

Byron and Keselowski Collide in Late Restart at Watkins Glen

On a restart with six laps left in The Go Bowling at The Glen, William Byron was thrown into the catchfence before landing atop Brad Keselowski’s car. Both playoff drivers were competing against Joey Logano for spot when Logano and Keselowski made contact in Turn 4, which forced Keselowski’s No. 6 Ford into Byron. As a result, Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet crashed into the wall and then landed on Keselowski, causing his hood to enter the window of Keselowski’s car.

Fortunately, both drivers were unharmed.

However, each vehicle incurred significant damage.

Chris Buescher was in the lead when the race restarted and quickly distanced himself from Carson Hocevar and Shane Van Gisbergen until a caution was issued. Buescher is set to once again take the front when the green flag waves with just three laps remaining, potentially creating one last restart.

Playoff drivers collide during Stage 3 in NASCAR playoff race at Watkins Glen

Denny Hamlin found himself three-wide with fellow playoff competitors Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski on Lap 47 of The Go Bowling at The Glen. Keselowski ended up getting pushed on the tight course, resulting in him spinning Hamlin, who then hit the outside wall, triggering the caution flag.

During the yellow flag, Keselowski, Larson, and Hamlin made their way to pit road, alongside playoff drivers Austin Cindric, Harrison Burton, and Joey Logano. Others like Zane Smith, Kyle Busch, Todd Gilliland, and Daniel Hemric also came in for fuel and tires.

Chastain triumphs in Stage 2 of NASCAR race at Watkins Glen as playoff drivers face issues

At the start of this stage, an incident involving Suarez and Tyler Reddick took place, causing a multi-car pile-up that led to Reddick spinning out. However, Reddick was able to recover, and the race continued without a pause, though both drivers lost several positions. Suarez, who was towards the back of the lead lap, spun again on Lap 38 of 40.

Prior to Suarez’s spin, playoff driver Brad Keselowski had visited pit road for gasoline and tires but was penalized due to an uncontrolled tire. Kyle Larson faced penalties at the conclusion of the stage for interference.

The results for Stage 2 were:

1. Ross Chastain
2. Shane Van Gisbergen
3. Joey Logano
4. Ty Gibbs
5. William Byron
6. Harrison Burton
7. Chase Briscoe
8. Alex Bowman
9. Ryan Preece
10. Denny Hamlin

Truex claims victory in Stage 1 of NASCAR playoff race at Watkins Glen

After a challenging start to the season, Martin Truex Jr. bounced back to win the first stage of the Go Bowling at The Glen. Pole winner Ross Chastain led the initial 18 laps of the 20-lap stage but chose to pit before the stage concluded, allowing Truex to take the lead and maintain it for the final two laps. Truex had finished 35th in the previous weekend’s race at Atlanta.

The top eight spots in Stage 1 were filled by playoff drivers. Alex Bowman finished in second place, Chase Briscoe was third, Daniel Suarez fourth, and Austin Cindric took fifth. Chase Elliott followed in sixth, with Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson, Erik Jones, and Daniel Hemric rounding out the top 10.

Denny Hamlin, who fell a lap down after being involved in an opening lap incident, received a free pass to get back on the lead lap.

Blaney involved in early incident during NASCAR playoffs at Watkins Glen

Even before the first lap concluded, several cars were involved in a crash after Kyle Busch was spun in the inner loop due to contact from Corey LaJoie. Ryan Blaney, the reigning champion, was heavily impacted and his No. 12 Team Penske Ford was towed off the track, leading to an early end to his race and impacting his playoff standing. Denny Hamlin also sustained damage but managed to reach pit road, where his Joe Gibbs Racing team worked on repairs to his No. 11 Toyota.

Christopher Bell also spun off into the grass during this incident but seemed to avoid significant damage. Bubba Wallace, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Ryan Preece also got caught up in the incident.

The NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen begins

The second playoff race is underway on the road course at Watkins Glen International, with pole sitter Ross Chastain and playoff driver Martin Truex Jr. leading the charge.

When does the NASCAR playoff race at Watkins Glen start?

The Go Bowling at The Glen starts at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York.

Which channel is broadcasting the NASCAR playoff race at Watkins Glen?

USA Network is airing the Go Bowling at The Glen along with a pre-race show starting at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Will the NASCAR playoff race at Watkins Glen be live streamed?

The Go Bowling at The Glen can be streamed live on the NBC Sports website and its app. Additionally, it is available on Fubo.

How many laps will the NASCAR playoff race at Watkins Glen consist of?

The Go Bowling at The Glen spans 90 laps around the 2.45-mile road course, resulting in a total distance of 220.5 miles. The race comprises three segments (laps per stage):

• Stage 1: 20 laps
• Stage 2: 20 laps
• Stage 3: 50 laps

What is the weather prediction for the NASCAR race at Watkins Glen?

Expect clear skies with some clouds – nearly perfect racing weather this afternoon at Watkins Glen, with temperatures in the mid-80s and gentle winds blowing from the south at 5 mph.

There is a 0% chance of rain for the day.

Who is on pole for the NASCAR playoff race at Watkins Glen?

Ross Chastain achieved the fastest time in Saturday’s qualifying session and will start from pole in Sunday’s race. Martin Truex Jr. secured second place and will also be on the front row.

What does the lineup look like for NASCAR’s Go Bowling at The Glen in Watkins Glen?

Car number in parentheses; (P)=playoff driver

• 1. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
• 2. (19) Martin Truex Jr. (P), Toyota
• 3. (16) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet
• 4. (48) Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet
• 5. (2) Austin Cindric (P), Ford
• 6. (13) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
• 7. (22) Joey Logano (P), Ford
• 8. (99) Daniel Suarez (P), Chevrolet
• 9. (10) Noah Gragson, Ford
• 10. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford
• 11. (24) William Byron (P), Chevrolet
• 12. (14) Chase Briscoe (P), Ford
• 13. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
• 9. (9) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet
• 15. (54) Ty Gibbs (P), Toyota
• 16. (45) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota
• 17. (20) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota
• 18. (7) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet
• 19. (71) Zane Smith, Chevrolet
• 20. (5) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet
• 21. (41) Ryan Preece, Ford
• 22. (11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota
• 23. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
• 24. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford
• 25. (43) Erik Jones, Toyota
• 26. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
• 27. (31) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet
• 28. (6) Brad Keselowski (P), Ford
• 29. (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
• 30. (12) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford
• 31. (4) Josh Berry, Ford
• 32. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota
• 33. (21) Harrison Burton (P), Ford
• 34. (50) Juan Pablo Montoya, Toyota
• 35. (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota
• 36. (51) Justin Haley, Ford
• 37. (38) Todd Gilliland, Ford
• 38. (15) Kaz Grala, Ford

Who was the winner of the latest NASCAR Cup race at Watkins Glen?

On August 20, 2023, William Byron, who started in second place, dominated the race by leading 66 out of 90 laps, ultimately finishing 2.632 seconds ahead of Denny Hamlin.

What are the current driver standings as we approach the NASCAR playoff race at Watkins Glen?

The bottom four drivers will be cut from the competition following the third playoff race next weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway.

x-indicates drivers who have secured spots in the next playoff round.

1. Ryan Blaney, Team Penske 2,071

1. Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing  2,066

1. Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing  2,059

1. William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports  2,059

1. x-Joey Logano, Team Penske  2,054

1. Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports  2,053

1. Austin Cindric, Team Penske  2,053

1. Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports  2,050

1. Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing 2,048

1. Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports  2,041

1. Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing  2,028

1. Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing  2,027

1. Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing  2,026

1. Harrison Burton, Wood Brothers Racing  2,011

1. Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing .2,008

1. Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing  2,006

How is the NASCAR Cup Series playoff system structured?

A total of sixteen drivers have qualified for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs – fourteen have earned their spots through regular season victories, while two drivers without wins made it based on points.

The playoffs consist of 10 races, culminating in the championship race at Phoenix Raceway on November 10. The structure includes three rounds, with three races in each round before the final event. The four drivers with the least points will be eliminated after the third, sixth, and ninth races, leaving four finalists to compete for the championship.

A playoff driver who wins a race in any of the three rounds advances automatically to the next round. However, if a non-playoff driver wins, progression is based on the points that each playoff driver has accumulated in those three races.

What is the complete schedule for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?

Below is the schedule, including dates, venues, start times, and TV broadcasts for each of the 10 playoff races (All times in Eastern)

• Sunday, Sept. 8: Atlanta Motor Speedway. Winner: Joey Logano

• Sunday, Sept. 15: Watkins Glen International, USA, 3 p.m.

• Saturday, Sept. 21: Bristol Motor Speedway, USA, 7:30 p.m.

• Sunday, Sept. 29: Kansas Speedway, USA, 3 p.m.

• Sunday, Oct. 6: Talladega Superspeedway, NBC, 2 p.m.

• Sunday, Oct. 13: Charlotte Roval, NBC, 2 p.m.

• Sunday, Oct. 20: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NBC, 2:30 p.m.

• Sunday, Oct. 27: Homestead-Miami Speedway, NBC, 2:30 p.m.

• Sunday, Nov. 3: Martinsville Speedway, NBC, 2 p.m.

• Sunday, Nov. 10: Phoenix Raceway, NBC, 3 p.m.