William Byron on Sunday proved once again that when a Hendrick Motorsports entry dials everything in, they are nearly unbeatable.
Byron led 63 of 90 laps en route to a dominant win at the Go Bowling at the Glen. Byron benefitted from a pit-lane violation committed by then-leader Michael McDowell on the first round of green-flag pit stops, assumed the lead on McDowell's pass through and never looked back. Pole-sitter Denny Hamlin never could muster enough to mount a serious challenge to the No. 24 machine, which had opened up a three-second lead by the final lap.
"I did a lot of driving in iRacing this week, got a new simulator at home, so thanks to those guys," Byron said after his first career road course win.
After the elation of last week's win, McDowell had a nightmare of a day, as the team was penalized on pit road again later in the race for having a man over the wall too early. They later retired the car with engine failure.
While it was all smiles for the No. 24 team, Hendrick teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott were snake-bitten in upstate New York. Larson was in the mix for the win going into the second and final round of green-flag pit stops, but a speeding penalty shuffled him back toward the middle of the field. Larson wound up 26th after an incident with Austin Dillon going into the final corner of the race.
Elliott — in must-win mode to make the playoffs — brought out the only caution of the day on lap 55 when he ran out of fuel on the backstretch. Elliott started 15th and the team opted for an alternative pit strategy hoping things would break their way, but a miscalculation on when to refuel doomed the No. 9.
Go Bowling at the Glen results
William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford
Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota
Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford
Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford
Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford
Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford
Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Mike Rockenfeller (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Andy Lally (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford
Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Josh Bilicki (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford
Cole Custer (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford
Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Updated NASCAR Cup Series playoff bubble
Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski are now locked into the playoffs on points after their finishes Sunday. Bubba Wallace remains on the cut line, but extended his lead by four points to 32 ahead of Ty Gibbs. Daniel Suárez had entered the weekend in 17th, 28 points behind Wallace, but an early spin compromised his race and he fell back in the points.
16. Bubba Wallace +32 17. Ty Gibbs -32 18. Daniel Suárez -43 19. A.J. Allmendinger -72 20. Alex Bowman -96
Go Bowling at the Glen starting lineup
Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota
Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford
Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota
Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford
Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford
Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Mike Rockenfeller (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford
Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford
Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
Andy Lally (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford
Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Cole Custer (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford
Josh Bilicki (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford
Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Go Bowling at the Glen TV/streaming schedule
All times Eastern
Saturday12:30-1:30 p.m.: Practice (USA, NBC Sports app)1:30-2:30 p.m.: Qualifying (USA, NBC Sports app)
Sunday3-6:30 p.m.: Go Bowling at the Glen (USA, NBC Sports app)
Go Bowling at the Glen details
Track: Watkins Glen International Raceway (11-turn, 2.45-mile, permanent racing facility) in New YorkLength: 90 laps for 221 milesStages: 20, 20, and 50 laps with no breaks2022 winner: Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Go Bowling at the Glen top drivers and best bets
Chase Elliott's only chance at a playoff spot is a win in one of the next two races, and given that he's the winningest active driver on road courses with seven, he's the favorite this weekend at Watkins Glen, according to BetMGM. Kyle Larson has won the past two races at Watkins Glen and enters the weekend at 5½-to-1 odds. Current points leader Martin Truex Jr. has six career road-course wins to his name and is 7-to-1 entering the weekend. Tyler Reddick, who won earlier in the season at Circuit of the Americas, enters the weekend with 9-to-1 odds.
Best odds to win
• Chase Elliott +300• Kyle Larson +550• Martin Truex Jr. +700• Tyler Reddick +900
Yahoo Sports' Nick Bromberg wrote earlier in the week on the betting forecast and suggests good mid-tier odds on Chris Buescher (+2200), who has won the past two races on the trot, and Austin Cindric (+2400), who has bagged a pair of top-10s on road courses this season at COTA and the Chicago street race. If you want to take flyer on a long shot, Bromberg notes that Erik Jones (+25000) has four top-10s at Watkins Glen in five career starts there.
Go Bowling at the Glen entry list
Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing ChevroletAustin Cindric (2), Team Penske FordAustin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing ChevroletKevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing FordKyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletBrad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing FordCorey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports ChevroletKyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing ChevroletChase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletAric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing FordDenny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaRyan Blaney (12), Team Penske FordChase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing FordAndy Lally (15), Rick Ware Racing FordA.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing ChevroletChris Buescher (17), RFK Racing FordMartin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaChristopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaHarrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing FordJoey Logano (22), Team Penske FordBubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing ToyotaWilliam Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJustin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing ChevroletMichael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports FordTodd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports FordRyan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing FordMike Rockenfeller (42), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletErik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletTyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing ToyotaRicky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing ChevroletAlex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletCole Custer (51), Rick Ware Racing FordTy Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaTy Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports ChevroletJosh Bilicki (78), Live Fast Motorsports FordDaniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Go Bowling at the Glen weather
The forecast is partly cloudy for Saturday's Cup Series practice and qualifying runs, but a 52% chance of rain looms for race day. NASCAR's short-track and road-course packages include windshield wipers and grooved tires that can run on damp asphalt but not with rain coming down or standing water on the track.