Kyle Larson’s Late-Race Luck Earns Him Xfinity Win at Watkins Glen: In the moments after claiming the checkered flag for the Sunoco Go Rewards 200 at the Glen Saturday afternoon, Kyle Larson smiled and conceded he was a bit fortunate. (Read more)(8-20-2022)
On a restart with five laps to go in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen International, #17-William Byron and #54-Ty Gibbs spun out in the inner loop, allowing #88-Kyle Larson grab the lead. Larson would lead the final four laps of the race en route to his first win since 2018.
#16-AJ Allmendinger snuck by the spin and earned a second-place finish. #18-Sammy Smith placed third, his first top-five finish in the series. #9-Noah Gragson and #48-Kaz Grala rounded out the top five.
#1-Sam Mayer finished sixth, with #98-Riley Herbst, #2-Sheldon Creed, #8-Josh Berry and #51-Jeremy Clements filling out the top 10.
#18-Smith won the opening stage, his first stage win. #17-Byron picked up the stage win in Stage 2.
There were 15 lead changes among seven drivers and eight cautions for 23 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was 77.651 mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Drivers Points Standings, Owners Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Watkins Glen Paint Schemes
Race Fast Facts – Watkins Glen:
Kyle Larson won the Sunoco Go Rewards 200, his 13th victory in 110 Xfinity Series races.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in 2022.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in seven races at Watkins Glen International.
AJ Allmendinger (second) posted his third top-10 finish in four races at Watkins Glen International. It is his 19th top-10 finish in 2022.
Sammy Smith (third) posted his first top-10 finish of the year.
Sheldon Creed (eighth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Xfinity Series Standings after Watkins Glen (Race 22 of 33):
1)#54-Ty Gibbs (5 wins, 28 playoff points)
2)#9-Noah Gragson (3 wins, 25 playoff points)
3)#7-Justin Allgaier (3 wins, 21 playoff points)
4)#16-AJ Allmendinger (3 wins, 17 playoff points, regular season championship leader)
5)#8-Josh Berry (2 wins, 16 playoff points)
6)#21-Austin Hill (2 wins, 11 playoff points)
7)#19-Brandon Jones (1 win, 6 playoff points)
8)#98-Riley Herbst 613, +129
9)#1-Sam Mayer 609, +125
10)#11-Daniel Hemric 551, +67
11)#10-Landon Cassill 534, +50
12)#39-Ryan Sieg 523, +39
Currently below cutline
13)#2-Sheldon Creed 484, -39
14)#23-Anthony Alfredo 443, -80
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.
Cars to the rear: #08-Andy Lally, #4-Bayley Currey, #5-Brandon Brown, #7-Justin Allgaier, #38-Patrick Gallagher, #66-Timmy Hill, #78-Scott Heckert, #88-Kyle Larson (all for unapproved adjustments).
Pit Stall Selections
In a blistering lap, #17-William Byron will start from the pole in the Sunoco Go Rewards 200 Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen. Byron’s lap sets a new track record at 125.021 mph.
Five-time 2022 winner, #54-Ty Gibbs will start second (124.506 mph), nearly three-tenths of a second off Byron’s pole-winning lap. #88-Kyle Larson will start third (123.772 mph), with #16-AJ Allmendinger (123.675 mph)and #07-Cole Custer (123.426 mph) rounding out the top five.
#98-Riley Herbst, #1-Sam Mayer, #21-Sam Mayer, #11-Daniel Hemric and #7-Justin Allgaier complete the top 10.
Did Not Qualify: #6-Spencer Pumpelly, #32-Austin Wayne Self, #47-Stanton Barrett
See the complete Starting Lineup
Qualifying Results
Qualifying Fast Facts – Watkins Glen
William Byron won the Pole Award for the Sunoco Go Rewards 200 with a lap of 70.548 seconds, 125.021 mph – a new track record.
This is his third pole in 36 NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
This is his first pole and second top-10 start in 2022.
This is his first pole in two races at Watkins Glen International.
Ty Gibbs (second) posted his 17th top-10 start of 2022 and his first in two races at Watkins Glen
International.
Kyle Larson(i) (third) posted his fifth top-five start at Watkins Glen International. It is his second in two races this season.
Austin Hill (eighth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Practice for the Sunoco Go Rewards 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen International is complete. After 20 minutes, the top five, slowest, news and notes:
#16-AJ Allmendinger 122.696 mph
#54-Ty Gibbs 122.298 mph
#17-William Byron 122.288 mph
#07-Cole Custer 121.724 mph
#88-Kyle Larson 121.585 mph
Slowest: #47-Stanton Barrett 116.854 mph
Most laps run: #26-Connor Mosack, 15
Notes: Around halfway through the session, #02-Blaine Perkins looped around on track. #39-Ryan Sieg never turned a lap.
See full Watkins Glen Practice Results.
Qualifying Order
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tire Notes
There are 42 teams/drivers on the entry list for the NASCAR Xfinity Series at The Glen 200 at Watkins Glen is posted. Four cars will miss the race after qualifying on Saturday.
Notables: #02-Blaine Perkins, #5-Brandon Brown, #6-Spencer Pumpelly, #07-Cole Custer, #13-Timmy Hill, #17-William Byron, #18-Sammy Smith, #26-Connor Mosack, #32-Austin Wayne Self, #34-Jesse Iwuji, #38-Patrick Gallagher, #44-Stefan Parsons, #45-Josh Bilicki, #47-Stanton Barrett, #68-Kright Wright, #78-Scott Heckert, #88-Kyle Larson, #92-Ross Chastain
See the full entry list on the Watkins Glen Entry List page.
TandemDraft Stats: Xfinity Series Edition-Watkins Glen
