Kyle Larson wins Go Bowling at The Glen to further secure NASCAR playoff positioning

Kyle Larson continues to impress on NASCAR’s Cup Series, adding a second road course win on Sunday, August 8th. Larson won the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International, securing his fifth checkered flag of the season. Chase Elliott came in second and the top five was rounded out by Martin Truex, Jr., Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin.

It was a relatively clean race that Larson was able to finish strong. Truex led 34 laps while Larson was next with 27 laps led. Larson is nearly doubled up on the next driver for laps led this season. He entered Sunday’s race with 1,441 laps led, compared to second-place Denny Hamlin at 771.

Hamlin leads the points race, but Larson is projected to hold the No. 1 spot in the playoffs. Eligible drivers get bonus points for race wins, stage wins, regular season standings, and more, which has boosted Larson from second to first and Truex from seventh to second in the projected playoff. Truex and Joey Logano each claimed a stage win in the race.

Elliott entered the day as the favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook — installed at +200 — but he was moved to the back of the field due to a failed pre-race inspection. The betting public had been all over him, with 28% of handle and 19% of bets. Larson was second in odds at +450 and received 10% of pre-race handle and 7% of bets.