“P*ssed” SVG Details Watkins Glen Heartbreak Ahead of Full-Time Cup Season

So close, yet so far. That’s exactly what Shane van Gisbergen would have thought after narrowly missing out on Victory Lane at Watkins Glen International. The Kiwi was within touching distance of his first Cup Series win of the season, but an unforced error allowed Chris Buescher to capitalize on the opportunity and seize his sixth triumph at NASCAR’s highest level. Understandably, SVG was notably disappointed by the result, but he has plenty to look forward to, now that he has joined Trackhouse Racing as a full-time driver for the 2025 season.

While there were plenty of positives that Shane van Gisbergen can take from the result at ‘The Glen’, he has built such a reputation on road courses that any result that isn’t a victory almost feels like a failure for the 35-year-old racing driver.

Shane van Gisbergen experiencing mixed emotions after Watkins Glen outcome

Everything seemed to be going like clockwork. Shane van Gisbergen was on his way to win yet another road course race, his second in his Cup Series career so far. The Kiwi took the lead in the final overtime restart, and his No. 16 Chevy showed good pace to keep Chris Buescher at arm’s length in the closing stages of the race. However, SVG made a rare mistake while entering the bus stop chicane, as his car grazed the wall, affecting its momentum at the wrong time. What followed was heartbreak, as Chris Buescher took advantage of the slip-up to take the lead just before crossing the checkered flag.

Speaking about the last lap incident that cost him the race, Shane van Gisbergen said, “Yeah, I just made an error. The car kind of bounced as I turned in and just misjudged it. I thought I pulled out enough. Just clipped the wall and that put me off through the bus stop.” However, the Kiwi had an optimistic appraisal of his car, going on to say, “I had a great race. Followed Ross the whole time and you know, our cars were very similar and set up and the way we drove. You know, we worked together very close this week and it paid off the way we were driving. But yeah, my WeatherTech Camaro was really really good today but just p*ssed I gave it away.”

He may not have won the race, but Shane van Gisbergen’s runner-up finish at Watkins Glen is an impressive result. It was his highest Cup Series finish since his historic victory at the Chicago Street Course on his debut and will go a long way in preparing him for the full-time role with Trackhouse Racing in 2025. The Kiwi has also secured three Xfinity Series races in the season so far, all on road courses, indicating just how big a force he is to be reckoned with on those tracks.

Shane van Gisbergen will have three more chances to make amends before the 2024 season finally comes to a close. He will be competing at Talladega, Las Vegas, and Martinsville Speedway out of the eight Cup Series races that are remaining and will look to redeem himself after a heartbreaking result at Watkins Glen. Whether he enters Victory Lane remains to be seen, but the experience will help him when he gets behind the wheel of his No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet next season.

Chris Buescher was happy to have spoilt the party for SVG

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Not many drivers go wheel-to-wheel against Shane van Gisbergen on a road course and emerge victorious. However, Chris Buescher did the unthinkable at Watkins Glen International, securing his first win of the season dramatically. He started the race in 24th place and was not amongst the frontrunners at the end of the opening stages. The RFK Racing driver slowly but steadily climbed up the grid through sheer persistence and took his chance when it mattered the most to secure a victory.

Speaking after the race, the 31-year-old acknowledged that SVG performed better, but made a mistake at a vital moment to miss out on Victory Lane. Buescher said, “That was the spot (final lap) that he was better than us, and he missed it. I tried a crossover and wouldn’t cut, and just hard racing there. Just an awesome finish, to be that good for so much the end of the race, all race, to get a win, it’s good. We came here to be the spoiler. We’re going to do that.”

While Buescher isn’t in the playoffs, the result will be a relief for the RFK Racing driver. He hadn’t won a race since the 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400, and questions were being raised about his performances after a disappointing season. With plenty of races remaining before the season finally comes to a close, could Buescher secure more wins in the upcoming races? Time will tell, but if his performance at Watkins Glen is anything to go by, the possibility shouldn’t be ruled out.