2021 Go Bowling at The Glen
# 2021 Go Bowling at The Glen

The 2021 Go Bowling at The Glen was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on August 8, 2021, at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York. Contested over 90 laps on the 2.45-mile (3.94 km) road course, it was the 23rd race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.

## Report

### Background

Watkins Glen International (nicknamed "The Glen") is an automobile race track located in Watkins Glen, New York at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. It was long known around the world as the home of the Formula One United States Grand Prix, which it hosted for twenty consecutive years (1961–1980), but the site has been home to road racing of nearly every class, including the World Sportscar Championship, Trans-Am, Can-Am, NASCAR Cup Series, the International Motor Sports Association and the IndyCar Series.

Initially, public roads in the village were used for the race course. In 1956 a permanent circuit for the race was built. In 1968 the race was extended to six hours, becoming the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen. The circuit's current layout has more or less been the same since 1971, although a chicane was installed at the uphill Esses in 1975 to slow cars through these corners, where there was a fatality during practice at the 1973 United States Grand Prix. The chicane was removed in 1985, but another chicane called the "Inner Loop" was installed in 1992 after J.D. McDuffie's fatal accident during the previous year's NASCAR Winston Cup event.

The circuit is known as the Mecca of North American road racing and is a very popular venue among fans and drivers. The facility is currently owned by International Speedway Corporation.

**Entry list**

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - |
| 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | R. C. Enerson | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | James Davison | Petty Ware Racing | Ford |
| 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 77 | Justin Haley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | Kyle Tilley | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Qualifying

Brad Keselowski was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.

### Starting Lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 4 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 6 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 7 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 8 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 9 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 10 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 13 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 15 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 20 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 23 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 24 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 25 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 26 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 27 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 28 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 29 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 77 | Justin Haley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 32 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 78 | Kyle Tilley | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 34 | 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 35 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet |
| 36 | 51 | James Davison | Petty Ware Racing | Ford |
| 37 | 15 | R. C. Enerson | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet |
| Official starting lineup |||||

## Race

Brad Keselowski was awarded the pole. Keselowski spun early while leading as teammate Joey Logano won the first stage. Martin Truex Jr. would win the second stage and led the most laps. Keselowski returned to the lead, but spun again and collected Logano, causing small damage to both cars. Kyle Larson made contact with Christopher Bell, sending him spinning. Larson then took the lead from Truex and held off teammate Chase Elliott for his fifth win and second road win of the season.

### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 20

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 8 |
| 4 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 5 |
| 7 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||

Stage Two Laps: 20

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 8 |
| 4 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 4 |
| 8 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 3 |
| 9 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 50

Larson's victory put him in a tie with Hamlin for the regular-season points lead.

| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 4 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 56 |
| 2 | 11 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 38 |
| 3 | 9 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 90 | 44 |
| 4 | 20 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 90 | 39 |
| 5 | 6 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 90 | 43 |
| 6 | 15 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 37 |
| 7 | 7 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 90 | 39 |
| 8 | 5 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 90 | 37 |
| 9 | 27 | 14 | Chase Briscoe (R) | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 90 | 34 |
| 10 | 13 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 34 |
| 11 | 14 | 21 | Matt DiBenedetto | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 90 | 30 |
| 12 | 12 | 42 | Ross Chastain | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 30 |
| 13 | 17 | 1 | Kurt Busch | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 24 |
| 14 | 3 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 90 | 23 |
| 15 | 16 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 24 |
| 16 | 8 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 90 | 21 |
| 17 | 24 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 90 | 20 |
| 18 | 19 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 90 | 19 |
| 19 | 18 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 18 |
| 20 | 10 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 21 |
| 21 | 25 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 90 | 16 |
| 22 | 2 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 90 | 27 |
| 23 | 26 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 90 | 14 |
| 24 | 29 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 90 | 13 |
| 25 | 28 | 6 | Ryan Newman | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 90 | 12 |
| 26 | 31 | 38 | Anthony Alfredo (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 89 | 11 |
| 27 | 22 | 43 | Erik Jones | Richard Petty Motorsports | Chevrolet | 89 | 11 |
| 28 | 23 | 37 | Ryan Preece | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 89 | 9 |
| 29 | 30 | 77 | Justin Haley (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 89 | 0 |
| 30 | 33 | 78 | Kyle Tilley | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 89 | 7 |
| 31 | 21 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 88 | 6 |
| 32 | 35 | 00 | Quin Houff | StarCom Racing | Chevrolet | 88 | 5 |
| 33 | 34 | 52 | Josh Bilicki | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 88 | 4 |
| 34 | 37 | 15 | R. C. Enerson | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 88 | 3 |
| 35 | 1 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 87 | 2 |
| 36 | 32 | 53 | Garrett Smithley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Chevrolet | 87 | 0 |
| 37 | 36 | 51 | James Davison | Petty Ware Racing | Ford | 41 | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 7 among 7 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 4 for 6
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 2 hours, 10 minutes and 57 seconds
* Average speed: 101.031 miles per hour (162.594 km/h)

## Media

### Television

NBC Sports covered the race on the television side as part of a Radio style Broadcast for the race. Rick Allen and Steve Letarte called the race from the broadcast booth. MRN broadcaster Mike Bagley called the race from the Esses, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the call from Turn 5, and Jeff Burton had the call from a platform located off Turn 10 that covers Turns 6–7. Parker Kligerman and Dillon Welch handled the pit road duties from pit lane.

NBCSN :

| Booth announcers | Turn Announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - | - |
| Lap-by-lap: Rick Allen Color-commentator: Steve Letarte | Esses Announcer: Mike Bagley Turn 5 Announcer: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Turn 6–7 Announcer: Jeff Burton | Parker Kligerman Dillon Welch |

### Radio

Motor Racing Network had the radio call for the race, which was simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle covered the action when the field raced down the front straightaway. Dave Moody called the race when the field raced thru the esses. Kurt Becker covered the action when the field raced thru the inner loop and turn 5 and Kyle Rickey covered the action in turn 10 & 11. Steve Post & Kim Coon called the action from the pits for MRN.

MRN :

| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - | - |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle | Esses: Dave Moody Inner loop & Turn 5: Kurt Becker Turn 10 & 11: Kyle Rickey | Steve Post Kim Coon |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | Kyle Larson | 917 |
| 1 | 2 | Denny Hamlin | 917 (–0) |
| | 3 | William Byron | 786 (–131) |
| | 4 | Kyle Busch | 779 (–138) |
| | 5 | Joey Logano | 760 (–157) |
| | 6 | Chase Elliott | 749 (–168) |
| | 7 | Martin Truex Jr. | 740 (–177) |
| | 8 | Ryan Blaney | 712 (–205) |
| 1 | 9 | Kevin Harvick | 710 (–207) |
| 1 | 10 | Brad Keselowski | 678 (–239) |
| | 11 | Alex Bowman | 633 (–284) |
| | 12 | Tyler Reddick | 630 (–287) |
| | 13 | Austin Dillon | 615 (–302) |
| | 14 | Kurt Busch | 576 (–341) |
| | 15 | Christopher Bell | 571 (–346) |
| | 16 | Chris Buescher | 495 (–422) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| | Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| | 1 | Chevrolet | 852 |
| 1 | 2 | Toyota | 789 (–63) |
| 1 | 3 | Ford | 787 (–65) |
