The Cup Series returns to Watkins Glen International to cap off a triple header weekend after taking a couple of weeks off for the Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo.

With four more races in the regular season, only three of the 16 playoff spots are open. While Kyle Larson leads the way with four race wins, Denny Hamlin has been consistent all season and leads in the points standings.

Reigning Cup Series champion Chase Elliott is also making a bid to be the road course king. He has won the past two races at Watkins Glen but his efforts to make it three in a row have gotten a bit harder after NASCAR officials assessed a major penalty to the Hendrick Motorsports number nine team. Elliott’s car failed the pre-race inspection process twice; as a result he will have to start the race from the back of the field and will not have his crew chief Alan Gustafson on the pit box for the race.

Elliott and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell were charged with violating the NASCAR rule book in relation to the rear window air deflectors. Bell is also starting the race from the back of the field without his crew chief Adam Stevens.

A major penalty, Bell, Elliott, and their car owners have all been docked 10 points and the teams were fined $25,000.

This is also a special day for the NBC Sports broadcasting crew who leaves the broadcast booth to take up spots around the track for a radio styled broadcast.

In his final race at Watkins Glen in the number two Penske Racing car, Brad Keselowski sits on the pole with team mate Joey Logano starting alongside on the front row. The third Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney starts third.

The starting lineup for the Go Bowling at The Glen:
Brad Keselowski

Joey Logano
Ryan Blaney
Kyle Larson
Kevin Harvick
Denny Hamlin
Christopher Bell – moved to the back of the field
Aric Almirola
Martin Truex Jr
Alex Bowman
Chase Elliott – moved to the back of the field
Ross Chastain
Tyler Reddick
Matt DiBenedetto
William Byron
Austin Dillon
Kurt Busch
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Cole Custer
Kyle Busch
Daniel Suarez
Erik Jones
Ryan Preece
Chris Buescher
Michael McDowell
Bubba Wallace
Chase Briscoe
Ryan Newman
Corey LaJoie
Justin Haley
Anthony Alfredo
Garrett Smithley
Kyle Tilley
Josh Bilicki
Quin Houff
James Davison
RC Enerson

During the Truck Series race on Saturday, the race was shortened as a result of lightening. Reports are that there is a chance of some wet weather during the race today.

Stages one and two are 20 laps each with stage three lasting 50 laps for a total of 90 laps around the near two and a half mile track.

NASCAR has called for a competition caution on lap 10.

Brad Keselowski brings the field down for the green flag start of the race before a sold out crowd and jumps out in front for the lead with team mate Joey Logano right behind him.

Brad Keselowski leads laps one.

The top five are Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr. Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell are up to 28 and 29 after starting the race from the back of the field.

Ryan Newman spins out but the track stays green

Lap four, Chase Elliott has moved up 12 spots since the race start. Brad Keselowski has a lead of a third of a second on Joey Logano with Kyle Larson in third over a second back; Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr round out the top five.

Lap seven, Brad Keselowski continues to lead the race but is getting a challenge form Joey Logano with Kyle Larson looking to make it a three way battle. Martin Truex Jr has passed Denny Hamlin for fourth. Chase Elliott has entered the top 20.

Lap nine, Brad Keselowski has led every lap so far with team mate Joey Logano in second; Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five. Chase Elliott is in 19th place.

Lap 10, Brad Keselowski spins out and falls to sixth place. Joey Logano is the new leader.

At the end of lap 10, NASCAR displays the yellow flag for the competition caution.

Some of the drivers come down pit road for service including Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott.

Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 13 with Kyle Larson alongside. Logano gets out in front for the lead.

The top five are Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, Martin Truex, Jr, Denny Hamlin, and Tyler Reddick. Brad Keselowski restarts the race in 17th after the pit stop and Chase Elliott is in 21st.

Lap 14, Joey Logano leads the race but Kyle Larson is looking to challenge and take the lead.

Joey Logano’s team reports a radio issue. He can hear his spotter but cannot talk to the crew.

Lap 16, Joey Logano has a quarter of a second lead on Kyle Larson; Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.

Lap 17, Kyle Larson has been unable to make any headway on leader Joey Logano.

Some drivers are coming down pit road for service short of the end of the stage. Drivers can pit under green and not lose a lap.

Lap 19, Kyle Larson made a move on leader Joey Logano with no success; Denny Hamlin is the third place driver after Martin Truex Jr made a pit stop milliseconds before pit road closed.

Brad Keselowski is reporting a brake issue.

Joey Logano wins stage one for his fourth stage win of the season.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Joey Logano
Kyle Larson
Denny Hamlin
Tyler Reddick
William Byron
Kyle Busch
Alex Bowman
Chase Elliott
Austin Dillon
Erik Jones

Drivers come down pit road for service with Kurt Busch winning the race off of pit road after taking fuel only.

James Davison was caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.

After staying out on the track, Ricky Stenhouse Jr brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Martin Truex Jr alongside. Chase Briscoe makes it a three wide battle with Martin Truex Jr taking the lead.

The top five are Martin Truex Jr, Chase Briscoe, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Kevin Harvick, and Ryan Blaney.

All 37 drivers who started the race are in the race and on the lead lap.

Lap 24, Christopher Bell takes fifth from Ryan Blaney.

Lap 25, Martin Truex Jr has pulled out to a lead of over a second nad a half on Chase Briscoe; Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Kevin Harvick, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.

The caution flag comes out on lap 26 when Ryan Blaney spins out and James Davison is stopped on the track.

A few drivers come down pit road for service including Brad Keselowski whose crew spends time working on the splitter.

Martin Truex Jr brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 27 with Truex taking the lead. Kevin Harvick passes Chase Briscoe for second after Briscoe had a bad restart.

Lap 28, the top five are Martin Truex Jr, Kevin Harvick, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, and Matt DiBenedetto.

James Davison is off the track.

Lap 29, Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell make contact but the track stays green. Briscoe hit Bell after Briscoe got off the track.

Lap 30, third place driver Christopher Bell started the race from the back of the field with inspection issues. Bell passes Kevin Harvick for second, over two seconds behind Martin Truex Jr.

Lap 31, Chase Elliott makes an unscheduled trip down pit road with flat spotted tires.

Lap 31, the top five are Martin Truex Jr with a two and a half second lead, Christopher Bell, Kevin Harvick, Chase Briscoe, and Matt DiBenedetto.

Team mates Tyler Reddick and Austin Dillon find themselves on opposite ends of the cut line, separated by nine points.

Lap 36, Martin Truex Jr continues to lead the race by less than two seconds over Christopher Bell; Kevin Harvick, Chase Briscoe,and Ross Chastain round out the top five.

Several drivers are reporting handling issues in the cars.

Bubba Wallace’s 23XI owner Michael Jordan is on the pit box today. Bubba comes down pit road for service with three laps remaining in stage two.

Lap 37, Martin Truex Jr has increased his lead to two and a half seconds on Christopher Bell.

James Davison returns to the track 12 laps down.

Lap 38, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin battle for position with Hamlin taking eighth and Logano back to ninth.

With a lead of over two seconds, Martin Truex Jr wins stage two for his fifth stage win of the season.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Martin Truex Jr
Christopher Bell
Kevin Harvick
Chase Briscoe
Kyle Larson
Ross Chastain
Matt DiBenedetto
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano
Kyle Busch

With 50 laps remaining in the race, the drivers cannot complete the race without making a pit stop for fuel.

While the leaders stay out, several drivers come down pit road for service.

Martin Truex Jr brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 44. Turex jumps out in front for the lead but Christopher Bell is quickly on his bumper.

The top five are Martin Truex Jr, Christopher Bell, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, and Ross Chastain.

Kyle Larson passes Kevin Harvick for third.

Ross Chastain passes Kevin Harvick for fourth.

Lap 45, Martin Truex Jr leads the race with Christopher Bell on his bumper making a challenge for the lead; Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.

Lap 46, Kyle Larson has pulled upt to Christopher Bell’s bumper; looking to make it a three way battle for the lead with Martin Truex Jr.

Martin Truex Jr was the last driver not named Chase Elliott to win a race at Watkins Glen.

Lap 47, the top three drivers – Martin Truex Jr, Christopher Bell, and Kyle Larson – are three seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

Christopher Bell and Martin Truex Jr battle for the lead with Kyle Larson on their bumper. Truex holds on to the lead with Bell in second and Larson in third.

James Davison is back off the track. He is the only driver in the race, not on the lead lap.

Lap 50, Martin Truex Jr holds on to the lead with Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson close behind; Ross Chastain and Kevin Harvick roud out the top five.

Lap 51, Christopher Bell moves up closer to leader Martin Truex Jr looking to challenge for the lead once again.

After restarting the race from the back of the field, Chase Elliott is just outside the top 10 in eleventh.

Erik Jones spins out but the track stays green with Jones off the racing surface. Jones gets the car moving again.

Lap 54, Christopher Bell continues to challenge Martin Truex Jr for the lead with Kyle Larson closely behind.

The top three drivers are separated by less then a second.

Kyle Larson makes contact with Christopher Bell and Bell spins out. The track stays green as Bell gets moving again and Kyle Larson takes second.

Lap 55, the top five are Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, William Byron, and Chase Briscoe as green flag pit stops begin.

Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski make contact when Keselowski spins out with more brake issues. Logano has some heavy damage near the rear tire well.

Lap 57, leaders Martin Truex Jr and Kyle Larson come down pit road for service. Denny Hamlin is the new leader with Chase Elliott over a second back.

Kyle Larson beats Martin Truex Jr off of pit road.

Lap 59, the current leaders still need to make their pit stops.

Lap 6Denny Hamlin leads the race with Chase Elliott in second; Elliott makes his green flag pit stop and gives second over the Kurt Busch.

Lap 61, the top five are Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Daniel Suarez, Cole Custer, and Corey LaJoie. Kyle Larson is currently in sixth with Martin Truex Jr in seventh.

The top four drivers – Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Daniel Suarez, and Cole Custer – still need to make their pit stops.

Lap 63, leader Denny Hamlin makes his pit stop. Kurt Busch is the new leader.

Daniel Suarez and Cole Custer come down pit road. Kyle Larson is in second.

Daniel Suarez is moving very slowly on pit road. He is reporting that he has no power.

Lap 65, Kurt Busch makes his pit stop. Kyle Larson is the new leader.

The top five are Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr, Corey LaJoie, Kyle Busch, and William Byron.

Lapp 66, Chase Elliott passes team mate William Byron for fifth.

Lap 67, Kyle Larson leads the race with Martin Truex Jr in second; Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, and William Byron round out the top five.

Denny Hamlin’s car is dumping fuel out of the filler.

Lap 68, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a two second lead on Martin Truex Jr; third place driver Kyle Busch is 10 seconds back.

Lap 70, the top 10 drivers are separated by over 20 seconds.

Chase Elliott gets around Kyle Busch for third.

After getting around Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott is slowly closing the gap on Martin Truex Jr. Kyle Larson is now two and a half seconds in front of Martin Truex Jr.

Lap 75, Kyle Larson has a three second lead on Martin Truex Jr; Chase Elliott is in third seven and a half seconds back.

Lap 74, Kyle Larson leads the race; Martin Truex Jr, Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, and William Byron round out the top five.

While Kyle Larson is expanding the gap on the field, Chase Elliott is closing the gap on leader Kyle Larson.

Lap 76, Kyle Larson has increased his lead to nearly three and a half seconds on Martin Truex Jr; Chase Elliott is less than six seconds back in third.

Lap 77, Kyle Larson now has a lead of over four second on Martin Truex Jr with Chase Elliott six seconds back.

Lap 79, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a four and a half second lead on Martin Truex Jr but Chase Elliott has closed the gap to under five and a half seconds.

Ten to go, Chase Elliott has caught up to second place driver Martin Truex Jr. Elliott takes second and is now five and a half seconds behind leader Kyle Larson.

There are 26 cars on the lead lap. Jamnes Davison is out of the race.

Seven to go, Kyle Larson has a five second lead on Chase Elliott; Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Busch, and William Byron round out the top five.

Chase Elliott is running laps just a wee bit faster than Kyle Larson but the gap is still five seconds with just six laps remaining in the race.

Five to go, Kyle Larson encounters slower traffic. His lead is now under five seconds over Chase Elliott.

With just 26 cars on the lead lap, there are a lot of slower cars in front of the leaders.

Four to go, Kyle Larson’s lead is again five seconds on Chase Elliott; Martin Truex Jr is in third seven and a half seconds back.

With numerous lapped cars in front of him, Kyle Larson’s lead is down to under three seconds.

Three to go, Kyle Larson’s lead is down to just two seconds on Chase Elliott.

Kyle Larson takes the white flag with a three second lead on Chase Elliott.

Breaking the Chase Elliott dominance, Kyle Larson wins his first career win at Watkins Glen for his fifth race win this season.

With the win, Kyle Larson is tied with Denny Hamlin in the points standings with 917.

The unofficial results of the Go Bowling at The Glen:
Kyle Larson
Chase Elliott
Martin Truex Jr
Kyle Busch
Denny Hamlin
William Byron
Christopher Bell
Kevin Harvick
Chase Briscoe
Tyler Reddick
Matt DiBenedetto
Ross Chastain
Kurt Busch
Ryan Blaney
Austin Dillon
Aric Almirola
Chris Buescher
Cole Custer
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Alex Bowman
Michael McDowell
Joey Logano
Bubba Wallace
Corey LaJoie
Ryan Newman
Anthony Alfredo
Erik Jones
Ryan Preece
Justin Haley
Kyle Tilley
Daniel Suarez
Quin Houff
Josh Bilicki
RC Enerson
Brad Keselowski
Garrett Smithley
James Davison