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The Go Bowling at The Glen race delivered plenty of excitement and unpredictable moments, as NASCAR often does. Chris Buescher emerged as the winner after a dramatic final lap where he managed to overtake Shane van Gisbergen, who had seemed poised to win. The victory came after a close maneuver that involved a slight contact with van Gisbergen.
In an interview with Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass, Buescher humorously reflected on the moment van Gisbergen came toward him. He joked that he might have felt a bit of fear, given van Gisbergen's imposing presence. Despite the close and intense finish, Buescher asserted that he didn’t think his move was “dirty” and did not anticipate that van Gisbergen would be upset.
“Yeah, I didn’t feel like there was anything that was dirty about it,” Chris Buescher told FOX Sports.
“I didn’t expect him coming over to be mad about anything. On that note, I think that’s the one guy out here that’s bigger than me. So if there’s that moment where I feel like he is mad coming over I better take note, right?”
Shane van Gisbergen made a crucial mistake at a critical moment, and 31-year-old Chris Buescher took full advantage of it. Buescher maintains that his move during their duel was not "dirty," despite the aggressive driving from both sides. The final mistake by van Gisbergen ultimately determined the outcome of the race, deciding who would emerge as the winner.
“I figured so. I didn’t feel like anything was dirty there at the end,” he continued.
“Like we talked about, there was a little pushing and shoving on both sides. Ultimately it was, he had a big error there into the bus stop and we just took advantage of it and really had to be aggressive to get to the hole.”
Chris Buescher explained that while some people might not enjoy seeing him win, he appreciated Shane van Gisbergen coming over to acknowledge the race. Buescher felt that it was a great race overall, highlighting that both drivers were competitive but that the final laps involved nothing out of the ordinary; just solid, hard racing.
Shane van Gisbergen reacts: I knew Chris [Buescher] was really going to send it and push me
Shane van Gisbergen chose not to place blame on others after the disappointing moment in the race, stressing that he was the one who made the error that ultimately cost him the win. The 35-year-old New Zealander carefully observed the situation, knowing that Chris Buescher was right behind him. It seems that the pressure and intense desire to win were factors that led to the mistake he made during the race.
Van Gisbergen highlighted that the race was fantastic overall and praised some of the other NASCAR drivers who also delivered impressive performances. Despite his strong showing, he emphasized that winning is always the goal, and unfortunately, it eluded him this time.
"Driver error," said SVG.
"I knew Chris [Buescher] was really going to send it and push me if he could get there. As I turned in, got a bit loose and clipped the inside wall and just driver error. I'm gutted ... The race was awesome with Ross [Chastain] and Chris and the others at the end. I'm gutted we couldn't get it. I had a lot of fun, but I'm pretty angry at myself."
To take the lead, Shane van Gisbergen gave Chris Buescher a little bump to move him out of the way, fully expecting that Buescher would try to do the same if he got back on Van Gisbergen's tail. Van Gisbergen admitted that while he knew pushing hard would likely lead to a return bump, he was still left feeling frustrated with how things turned out.
Prominent figures in the NASCAR world reacted to the recent race, particularly to the battle between Shane van Gisbergen and Chris Buescher. Dale Earnhardt Jr. took to social media to praise the incredible finish. He was impressed by the passion Buescher displayed throughout the race. At no point did the 31-year-old Buescher consider giving up, and the pressure to win didn’t derail his plans. His determination and strong desire for victory were crucial. Chris not only impressed Dale but also captivated NASCAR fans, who were taken by surprise by the dramatic outcome.
“Incredible finish. Unreal performance and determination from [Chris Buescher],” Earnhardt wrote.
We will see what the future holds and what we can expect when it comes to the next races, but the last race gives us optimism that there will be similar battles and incredible situations. NASCAR once again offered the fans what they wanted.
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