Winners and losers from NASCAR’s Watkins Gle...

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

However regardless of the calm predominant occasion on Sunday, there have been nonetheless loads of storylines to comply with all through the weekend. Here is a have 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 12 months, and he is now accomplished it twice. The New Zealander — and Cup rookie — won his fourth consecutive road/street course race. He as soon as once more dominated, demoralizing the field and giving him an amazing 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 greatest 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 high 20 streak involves an unceremonious finish 

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

Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs

Elliott has been quiet, however constant this 12 months, however his run of high 20 finishes is now over, and it isn’t even due to an incident or mechanical gremlin. Watkins Glen was only a unhealthy 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 recreation all the day.

WINNER: William Byron solidifies his place atop the standings 

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs

Because of the misfortune of Elliott, a tough outing for Denny Hamlin, and a brake concern 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 massive win soured by scary fall

Connor Zilisch taken away through stretcher, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs

Connor Zilisch is the brightest younger star in NASCAR, however after his sixth Xfinity win of the 12 months on Saturday, one thing utterly sudden occurred. Zilisch fell from his car in Victory Lane, breaking his collarbone in a scary moment that left everyone holding their breath. The younger phenom should cope with the harm 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

Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs

Buescher didn’t go back-to-back at Watkins Glen, however a stage win and a third-place end was sufficient to present him a terrific factors day. He’s now 34 factors above the cut-line after getting into the race 23 factors up. He additionally gained floor on Alex Bowman, which is crucial if he wants to get off the hot seat before Daytona, where anyone in the field can win.

LOSER: Austin Hill returns from suspension, and causes chaos

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

When Hill returned from his one-week suspension for reckless driving, he promised not to change. Effectively, the Richard Childress Racing driver definitely 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 massive accident that resulted in a 45-minute red flag to repair the track’s walls. 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 discipline, there was no escaping ‘Heim Time’

Corey Heim, TRICON Storage Toyota

Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs

The Truck race at Watkins Glen featured Cup stars Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, Buescher, and rising star Zilisch. And yet, there was no stopping Corey Heim. The TRICON driver earned his sixth win of the 12 months, and at this level, anybody moreover him successful 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 Staff Ford

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs

Though race management has defined their reasoning earlier than, it is nonetheless a foul 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 collection officers waited. Sheldon Creed wrecked arduous within the Xfinity race, and replays present automobiles scattering to keep away from him whereas issues remained inexperienced. Maybe that’s the reason so many automobiles piled into the McDowell wreck, as they have been conditioned {that a} wreck is not an automated yellow. That is a harmful recreation to be taking part in, particularly at a high-speed highway course.