Shane van Gisbergen Enters as the Driver to Beat at The Glen
Watkins Glen always brings out the best in NASCAR’s road course stars, and the 2026 Go Bowling at The Glen is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races of the season. With playoff pressure building and several elite drivers thriving on technical tracks, fans could be in for another classic in upstate New York.
The biggest favorite entering the weekend is Shane van Gisbergen. The Trackhouse Racing driver completely dominated Watkins Glen in 2025, leading 38 laps and winning by more than 11 seconds over Christopher Bell. It was one of the most impressive road course performances of the modern NASCAR era and further cemented SVG as the driver to beat whenever the series turns right and left.
Sportsbooks have once again placed van Gisbergen near the top of the board for 2026, alongside drivers like Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, and Chase Elliott. Watkins Glen rewards precision braking, tire management, and patience through the esses, all areas where those drivers excel.
One team getting plenty of attention heading into the race is 23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. The organization has quietly become one of the strongest road course programs in the garage, especially with Tyler Reddick behind the wheel. Reddick has consistently shown elite speed on road circuits and has developed into a legitimate weekly contender. Bubba Wallace also posted a solid top-10 finish at Watkins Glen last season, proving the organization has improved its overall road racing package.
Can Michael Jordan’s team actually win at The Glen? Absolutely.
Reddick may be the best chance 23XI has ever had to grab a signature road course victory at Watkins Glen. His aggressive corner entry style fits the track perfectly, and Toyota teams have shown excellent pace throughout the season. If pit strategy falls their way and they avoid late-race chaos, 23XI Racing could realistically challenge van Gisbergen for the win.
Still, beating SVG on a road course is easier said than done. The New Zealander has become NASCAR’s road racing specialist, and his confidence at Watkins Glen is sky high after last year’s dominant performance.
Projected favorites for the 2026 Go Bowling at The Glen include:
- Shane van Gisbergen: around +350
- Tyler Reddick: around +600
- Christopher Bell: around +700
- Chase Elliott: around +850
- Kyle Larson: around +900
If recent history tells us anything, expect aggressive strategy calls, late cautions, and one of the best pure driving races on the NASCAR calendar. Watkins Glen rarely disappoints.