William Byron puts on clinic for fifth win of season at Watkins Glen Cup Series race
The State Newspaper reporter Lou Bezjak provided real-time updates and analysis during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International Raceway. See those musings in the section below.
Unofficial results
Pos. | Car | Driver | Time behind | Best Time | Best Speed |
1 | 24 | William Byron | -- | 71.861 | 122.737 |
2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | 2.632 | 71.852 | 122.752 |
3 | 20 | Christopher Bell | 3.118 | 71.892 | 122.684 |
4 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger | 4.066 | 71.666 | 123.071 |
5 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | 4.482 | 71.965 | 122.56 |
6 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | 5.047 | 72.019 | 122.468 |
7 | 17 | Chris Buescher | 9.212 | 72.082 | 122.361 |
8 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 13.773 | 72.104 | 122.323 |
9 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | 17.32 | 72.284 | 122.019 |
10 | 22 | Joey Logano | 21.626 | 72.384 | 121.85 |
11 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | 22.738 | 72.23 | 122.11 |
12 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23.231 | 72.408 | 121.81 |
13 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 23.65 | 72.266 | 122.049 |
14 | 8 | Kyle Busch | 23.985 | 72.205 | 122.152 |
15 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | 24.226 | 72.336 | 121.931 |
16 | 2 | Austin Cindric | 27.402 | 72.61 | 121.471 |
17 | 41 | Ryan Preece | 28.827 | 72.317 | 121.963 |
18 | 1 | Ross Chastain | 30.082 | 72.302 | 121.988 |
19 | 42 | Mike Rockenfeller | 31.075 | 72.502 | 121.652 |
20 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | 31.097 | 72.246 | 122.083 |
21 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | 31.34 | 72.47 | 121.706 |
22 | 99 | Daniel Suarez | 32.08 | 72.583 | 121.516 |
23 | 48 | Alex Bowman | 38.476 | 72.452 | 121.736 |
24 | 31 | Justin Haley | 39.639 | 72.37 | 121.874 |
25 | 15 | Andy Lally | 40.7 | 72.745 | 121.245 |
26 | 5 | Kyle Larson | 42.767 | 71.693 | 123.025 |
27 | 78 | Josh Bilicki(i) | 45.021 | 72.998 | 120.825 |
28 | 51 | Cole Custer(i) | 45.196 | 72.846 | 121.077 |
29 | 43 | Erik Jones | 45.758 | 72.424 | 121.783 |
30 | 10 | Aric Almirola | 54.425 | 72.607 | 121.476 |
31 | 3 | Austin Dillon | 61.118 | 72.106 | 122.32 |
32 | 9 | Chase Elliott | -1 | 71.984 | 122.527 |
33 | 21 | Harrison Burton | -1 | 72.948 | 120.908 |
34 | 77 | Ty Dillon | -1 | 73.319 | 120.296 |
35 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | -7 | 72.298 | 121.995 |
36 | 34 | Michael McDowell | -16 | 71.789 | 122.86 |
Running commentary
Stage 3
Lap 90: After a summer slump, William Byron turns in a dominant performance and wins the Go Bowling at The Glen. It was Byron’s series-high fifth win of the year. Before this season, he had won only four races. It also was his first road-course win.
Byron led 66 of the 90 laps.
Lap 76: Michael McDowell’s day started off strong but they he had two pit-stop penalties. Then, McDowell said the motor shut off and had to make an unscheduled pit stop. Moments later, McDowell team pushes his car to the garage and his day is done.
Lap 73: Aric Almirola spins coming into Turn 7 but no caution. Almirola was 28th at the time.
Lap 70: The top-five with 20 laps are William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, AJ Allmendinger and Ty Gibbs.
Lap 58: William Byron retakes the lead. He has led a race-high 34 laps so far.
Lap 56: Another driver runs out of gas as race leader Bubba Wallace, who also is in mix for playoff spot, runs out of fuel.
Lap 55: Chase Elliott, who needs a win to make the playoffs, runs out of gas bringing out the first caution of the day. He is now a lap down.
Major issues for @chaseelliott!
He runs out of fuel in the bus stop. pic.twitter.com/Xfr7R6F8C1— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 20, 2023
Lap 54: Green flag pit stops begin as drivers think they can make it through the rest of the way on fuel. Michael McDowell has another pit road penalty with too many crew members over the wall, second big mistake from him today.
Lap 52: Ty Gibbs, who has running up front most of day, dropped back from third to fourth as he overdrove it and Kyle Larson was able to pass him.
Stage 2
Lap 40: William Byron wins stage two for his eighth stage win of the year, most among Cup drivers. There is yet to be a caution in the race. Denny Hamlin is second followed by Ty Gibbs, Kyle Larson and AJ Allmendinger. Chase Elliott is seventh. After the pass-through penalty, Michael McDowell is 11th.
Lap 22: Michael McDowell is penalized for pit road penalty, driving through too many pit boxes. It is a pass-through penalty. You are only allowed to drive through three pit boxes. William Byron is the race leader.
Stage 1
Lap 20: Michael McDowell continues his hot streak and wins stage one at the Go Bowling at The Glen. Will Byron, Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs and Kyle Busch round out the top five.
Lap 17: Green flag pit stops start with three laps left in the stage.
Lap 5: Daniel Suarez spun after jumping over one of the curbs. He didn’t have any contact with any other car. Race continues. Michael McDowell, last week’s surprise winner, is currently in front after passing Denny Hamlin.
Early issues for the No. as he exits the bus stop! pic.twitter.com/APbihNdy0x
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 20, 2023
Green flag 3:23 p.m.: Pole sitter Denny Hamlin leads the field to the green and we are under way.
3:10 p.m.: Engines fired for the Go Bowling at The Glen.
2:26 p.m.: It is the question that is asked almost every time for the past month - Is this the week Chase Elliott breaks through for his first win of the season? Elliott can’t get into the playoffs unless he wins this week or next. The betting network, Action Network, says Elliott is their favorite to win this week. In six Cup races at Warkins Glen, Elliott has won twice and has four top-10 finishes.
2:17 p.m.: Officials at Watkins Glen announce grandstand seats for Sunday’s race is a sellout. It is the eighth straight sellout.
2:12 p.m.: Pre-race coverage starts on USA Network at 2:30 p.m. Here is list of other key times before the green flag drops:
Invocation: 3:01 p.m. Canadian National Anthem: 3:02 p.m. National Anthem: 3:03 p.m. Command: 3:09 p.m. Green Flag: 3:20 p.m.
2 p.m.: A little more than an hour before the green flag drops at Watkins Glen. There will be a few drivers going to the back of the field because of unapproved changes. Brad Keselowski had a faulty ECU unit had to be replaced. Corey LaJoie had a broken left front shock. Aric Almirola, Justin Haley and Cole Custer also will be headed to the back of the field.
NASCAR race at Watkins Glen
Race: Go Bowling at The Glen
Place: Watkins Glen International
Date: Sunday, August 20
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Purse: $7,154,312
TV: USA, 2:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 220.5 miles (90 Laps)
Stages: Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 20), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 40), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 90)
Starting lineup for race at Watkins Glen
1. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
2. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet
3. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford
4. (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
5. (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
6. (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
7. (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota
8. (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota
9. (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
10. (7) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet
11. (22) Joey Logano, Ford
12. (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota
13. (17) Chris Buescher, Ford
14. (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet
15. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
16. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
17. (2) Austin Cindric, Ford
18. (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
19. (19) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota
20. (31) Justin Haley, Chevrolet
21. (42) Mike Rockenfeller, Chevrolet
22. (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
23. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
24. (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford
25. (38) Todd Gilliland, Ford
26. (14) Chase Briscoe, Ford
27. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford
28. (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
29. (15) Andy Lally, Ford
30. (41) Ryan Preece, Ford
31. (43) Erik Jones, Chevrolet
32. (21) Harrison Burton, Ford
33. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford
34. (51) Cole Custer, Ford
35. (78) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet
36. (77) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet