The summer of SVG took a small hiatus, but today it made an emphatic return during the dog days of summer at Watkins Glen. 

Ryan Blaney tried every method he could to hold off the 36-year-old rookie, leading the most laps he’d ever led at a road course, but to no avail. The masterclass on the rights and lefts was simply too much for the Penske veteran. By the time SVG crossed the finish line, 2nd and 3rd were nowhere in sight. 

What meant more for van Gisbergen was the opportunity to win in front of his father, whom he hasn’t seen since Christmas. His fourth straight win on a road course ties Chase Elliott’s record at second all time, just two away from Jeff Gordon’s record six. 

It was another day that started positive for the #88, as the team qualified second behind Blaney to begin the weekend. As the race looked to drop the green, everyone was eager to see how the #12 would fight against the proven commodity of SVG. 

Blaney impressed immediately by getting the jump on van Gisbergen, showing the new restart zone’s impressive ability to avoid the usual chaos during Watkins Glen restarts. 

Kyle Larson reported a brake issue before spinning out in 24th, forcing the #5 team to head down pit road, ending their day prematurely. 

Van Gisbergen attempted to implement his patented crossover move in the esses, but was shut down by the driver of the #12. Blaney used the momentum to hold down the lead, and stayed there until the first pit cycles would throw him and SVG out in 7th and 8th respectively. Last year’s winner, Chris Buescher, took advantage and coasted to a stage one victory. 

Buescher started stage two by cleaning the tandem of Blaney and SVG, but the two engulfed him quickly, resuming their fight at the front. Things would get wacky quick, as a Josh Berry spin and slam into the turn five wall wouldn’t bring out a caution…..until it did. 

By the time NASCAR threw the yellow for debris, maybe 2 minutes after the initial wreck, Chase Elliott had already made it to a closed pit road. Interesting…

Either way, the cars reracked and went back at it. Van Gisbergen wouldn’t give Blaney any favors on the lap 32 restart, clearly him and cementing himself in the lead after a long battle through two stages. 

It didn’t last long, as John Hunter Nemechek got a generous shove from Ty Gibbs, sending him careening into the wall rear first, bringing out the second natural caution of the race. Blaney grabbed the stage win, his sixth of the year. 

A slow pit stop for van Gisbergen resulted in a sub 10th place restart, but as the cars began to race again on lap 45, the kiwi started to make hay. 

As Blaney and William Byron battled amongst each other up front, SVG counted the drivers he began to pass. By lap 52, van Gisbergen was once again at Blaney’s bumper, harassing him for first position. 

SVG completed the pass and rocketed to first once again, and this time, simply nobody could touch him. 

Van Gisbergen proceeded to spend the next eight or so laps executing to perfection. Dialed in with him was his pit crew, who executed a perfect stop in the clutch and sent him back onto the track with 27 laps to go. 

Weaving through traffic and watching as the cars in front began to take their final trip to pit road, van Gisbergen began to finally cycle back out to first. 

Behind him was none other than the #17 of Buescher, who had bested him a year prior when van Gisbergen was driving the #16 for Kaulig Racing. 

The equipment is different and the poise is higher. SVG simply could not be touched by Buescher, and sailed to a more than 11 second lead by the time he reached the checkered flag. 

As van Gisbergen began burnouts, second and third were still flying across the finish line.

“Oh man, good to get that one back. Thank you everyone for coming out,” said van Gisbergen. 

When asked if he’d imagined five Cup series wins and a new multi year extension was something he would’ve imagined years ago, he kept it candid. 

“This is the stuff you dream of. I’m just a very lucky guy who gets to drive for a bunch of amazing people,” van Gisbergen said. “The day just went flawlessly.” 

Flawless indeed, and with yet another win under his belt, SVG holds a second place spot in playoff standings, only a mere two points behind first place Denny Hamlin. 

While it can still be easy to point to his 25th place in the regular season standings, the fact of the matter is that he’s improving on the ovals every time he drives them. 

A proven talent in motorsports like van Gisbergen only needs time to master a new discipline. Sooner rather than later, he may find himself competing for wins weekly. Until then, I’m sure he’ll settle for being the King of the Road. 

The Cup Series returns next week from Richmond Raceway with the green flag dropping at 4:30 PM PST.