Three races left before the playoffs, one more road-course throwdown, and Watkins Glen’s ready to take the points standings, turn them sideways, and launch them into the gravel. This 2.45-mile, high-speed chessboard has crowned legends, humbled champions, and made rookies look like rockstars. Shane van Gisbergen is chasing a fourth straight road-course win, Bell has the résumé to spoil it, and Connor Zilisch’s hype train is pulling into the station at full throttle. Behind them? A whole field of desperate playoff hunters. Let’s load the card.

 

 

 

Go Bowling at The Glen: The Favorites

Shane van Gisbergen (+135 at Caesars Sportsbook)

Three-for-three on right-turn tracks this year. P2 here last season. Perfect 1.0 average finish on road/street courses in 2025. Trackhouse keeps handing him rocket ships, and SVG just keeps cashing tickets. The chalk is deserved — either play him or be prepared to watch him lead 40 laps while you stew in regret.

Christopher Bell (+1600 at Caesars Sportsbook)

Since 2022, Bell’s averaged an 8.3 finish here with two top-10s in his last three Glen starts. Quietly one of the most efficient road racers in Cup, and Gibbs gives him pit-crew speed to steal track position late. If SVG flinches, Bell’s the guy who will be there to make him pay.

Connor Zilisch (+550 at BetMGM Sportsbook) – Bet at Your Own Risk

The hype is real — and so are the caveats. Zilisch won last year’s Xfinity Glen race, and the kid’s a legit road-course killer in the lower series. But this is Cup. His three starts include two DNFs and an 11th at Atlanta. Yes, the raw speed is there in Trackhouse equipment, but he’s priced like he’s already hoisted the Cup trophy here. Proceed knowing you’re buying talent, not experience.

 

 

 

Go Bowling at The Glen: Mid-Tier Targets

Chris Buescher (+2000 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

Last year’s Glen winner. Three top-10s in his last four starts here. Buescher’s perched on the playoff bubble, which means no playing safe — expect aggressive calls to stay up front. At 20-1, he’s the most proven “value” in the field.

A.J. Allmendinger (+2500 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

One of the best road-course drivers in the garage. A Glen win, five top-5s, and eight top-10s in 13 career starts. Back full-time with Kaulig, Dinger’s got the racecraft and late-braking guts to make anyone nervous. At 25-1, this is value on a driver who can control a race if the pit windows line up.

 

 

 

Go Bowling at The Glen Longshots Worth a Look

Kyle Busch (+4000 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

Two Glen wins. 13 top-10s. Only two top-5s all year, both on road courses. Rowdy’s 73 points out of the playoff cut — this is a must-win. If the No. 8 has pace, Busch will make life miserable for anyone between him and the checkered flag.

Joey Logano (+8000 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

A Glen win, a 9.3 average finish here since 2022, and two top-10s in that stretch. Not flashy, but he’s consistent and opportunistic. At 80-1, you’re buying a veteran who knows how to be there when the chaos hits.

 

 

 

Go Bowling at The Glen YOLO Dart of the Week

Zane Smith (+35000 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

P5 in his only Glen start, and sitting at a price so long you’d think he was racing a rental. Needs the perfect storm — cautions in his favor, leaders tripping over each other — but he’s proven he can run here. At 350-1, why not?

 

 

 

Go Bowling at The Glen Props That Pop

Ty Gibbs – Top 10 Finish (-105 at Caesars Sportsbook)

Three straight road/street races with top-10 pace, including P2 in Chicago, P7 at Sonoma, and P5 here in 2023. Still in must-win/max-points mode — he’ll be pressing all day.

A.J. Allmendinger – Top 5 (+325 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

Eight top-10s, five top-5s, and a win here in 13 starts. Full-time in Cup again, and still one of the most technically sound road racers in the field. If pit strategy lands in his lap, he’s in the mix.

Zane Smith over Carson Hocevar (+135 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Hocevar’s last three road-course finishes: 32nd, 35th, 34th. Smith’s beaten him head-to-head in back-to-back road races and grabbed a P5 here last year. Track history + recent form = plus-money value.

 

 

 

Go Bowling at The Glen Final Thoughts

SVG’s still the king until someone knocks him off, but Bell’s Glen numbers are too strong to ignore, and Zilisch is the hype ticket that could hit — or crash early. Buescher and Dinger bring real mid-tier upside, Busch and Logano are live veteran grenades, and Zane Smith is the YOLO lottery ball. Stack the outrights, add the props, and let Watkins Glen’s mayhem work for you.