On Sunday, August 10, NASCAR returns to Watkins Glen International for the Go Bowling at The Glen. This event marks the 24^th race of the regular season. There are only two races after Watkins Glen before the NASCAR Playoffs begin for the Cup Series.

With three Playoff spots still up for grabs, this weekend’s road course event will be intense to say the least. In addition to the final Playoff spots playing out over the next three races, Shane van Gisbergen returns to the spotlight for this road course race.

However, there’s a wrinkle in this Sunday’s event, and that’s the Xfinity Series phenom Connor Zilisch will participate in this Cup race. Not only is he coming up to challenge the top stars of the sport, but Zilisch is one of the pre-race favorites. In fact, he has the best odds to win this race, behind SVG of course.

In addition to those two drivers, Michael McDowell, Kyle Larson, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell round out the top of the NASCAR betting boards.

With that said, let’s take a look at the latest NASCAR Watkins Glen odds, courtesy of the top sports betting sites, and make our Go Bowling at The Glen predictions for this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Watkins Glen International. You can also compare my picks with what the best handicappers are choosing.

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Go Bowling at The Glen Race Profile

For a long time, Watkins Glen International (WGI) was home to one of only two road-course races held annually on the Cup Series circuit along with the West Coast trip to Sonoma. Now, NASCAR’s premiere circuit has a number of road courses on the docket that makes for exciting racing.

Yet, Watkins Glen seems like the Cup Series is coming back to visit family as it has been a part of the calendar since 1986. The race itself has undergone many different names over its near-40-year existence, including my favorite name – Cream Dips at The Glen (from 2009 to 2011).

Last year, this event was held in the second week of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. However, NASCAR moved WGI back to its usual early-August slot. Watkins Glen International is an asphalt track with a lap length of 2.454 miles and seven turns.

Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen breaks down as follows:

• Total Miles: 220.86 miles
• Total Laps: 90 laps
• Stage 1: 20 laps
• Stage 2: 20 laps
• Final Stage: 50 laps

Go Bowling at The Glen begins at 2pm ET live on USA Network and streamed on HBO MAX.

Previous Go Bowling at The Glen Winners

Tony Stewart holds the record for most all-time wins with five. And, he won all five of those races from 2002 to 2009. Prior to his dominance, Jeff Gordon held the record with four wins, which he did from 1997 to 2001.

The following is a list of the most recent winners at Watkins Glen:

• 2024: Chris Buescher
• 2023: William Byron
• 2022: Kyle Larson
• 2021: Kyle Larson
• 2020: No Race
• 2019: Chase Elliott
• 2018: Chase Elliott
• 2017: Martin Truex Jr.
• 2016: Denny Hamlin
• 2015: Joey Logano

Of active drivers, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott have each won this race two times. There are currently eight active drivers with at least one win at Watkins Glen.

Hendrick Motorsports has the most victories at WGI with 11. Joe Gibbs Racing is second with seven wins. Chevy has dominated at WGI winning 22 times. Ford is a distant second at nine wins. this race two times. There are currently eight active drivers with at least one win at Watkins Glen.

NASCAR Go Bowling at The Glen Odds

Check out the latest Go Bowling at The Glen odds:

Go Bowling at The Glen Favorites

The following drivers are considered by oddsmakers to be the odds-on favorites to win the Go Bowling at The Glen:

Shane van Gisbergen +140         

• Standings: 25
• Win: 3
• Top 5: 3
• Top 10: 4

Here we are, another road course, and another time when Shane van Gisbergen is listed as the odds-on favorite to win the race. If you haven’t guessed by now, or watched many races this season, SVG is the best road course driver in all of NASCAR.

He’s locked up a Playoff spot already due to winning a race this season. His first victory came at Mexico City. However, SVG would go on to win two more times as he also took the checkered flags in Chicago and Sonoma. And yes, all three of those races were on road courses.

Last year, SVG had the lead in the final laps of this race, before Crish Buescher bumped him out of the way. He would go on to finish second.

When you combine his history of road course wins, along with his strong showing at WGI last year, then there’s zero doubt that SVG is the man to beat on Sunday.

Connor Zilisch +500

• Standings: 1 (Xfinity Series)
• Win: 5
• Top 5: 11
• Top 10: 13

*The above stats are for the Xfinity Series.

If there’s one driver that has the swagger to beat SVG, it’s Connor Zilisch. The young phenom has already defeated van Gisbergen on a road course in the Xfinity Series this summer by taking the checkered flag at Sonoma. And, he also finished runner up to SVG at Chicago.  

Zilisch is pulling triple duty this weekend as he races in the Truck Series, Xfinity Series, and Cup Series events at Watkins Glen this weekend. It’s reminiscent of something that Kyle Busch has done in the past and, more recently, Kyle Larson.

Zilisch made his Xfinity debut last year at Watkins Glen and won the race. He also won the ARCA event at WGI, as well.

Now, we know that Zilisch will have one of the best cars in the Xfinity Series with his usual spot at JR Motorsports. And, both SVG and Michael McDowell are coming down to that race to challenge him.

However, I do have some concerns over Zilisch’s Trackhouse Racing car for the Cup Series. With that said, I’m a big fan of this youngster and picked him to win the Xfinity Series Championship at the start of the season. I’m doubling down on that prediction.

As for Sunday’s race, let’s take the cautious approach and pick the 19-year-old to finish in the Top 10 with a race-winning ceiling.

Michael McDowell +1100

• Standings: 23
• Win: 0
• Top 5: 2
• Top 10: 3

Although McDowell has two Top 5s in road races this year, his only two of the season, I have a hard time picking him to win this race or finish in the Top 5 this weekend. McDowell was 27^th at Iowa last weekend and 32 and Chicago over a month ago. These aren’t great results for a driver that’s supposed to be a favorite this Sunday.

Also, he has just two Top 10s in his 15 WGI starts. Granted, both came in the last three races at this venue. I put McDowell’s ceiling at a Top 10 finish this weekend, but I am fading him when it comes to betting.

Kyle Larson +1200 

• Standings: 3
• Win: 3
• Top 5: 11
• Top 10: 14

Currently, Kyle Larson sits third in the standings and is second in the Cup Series with three wins. However, it’s a bit surprising that he’s behind McDowell and Zilisch on the betting boards for this Cup race.

Larson has two wins, three Top 5s, and five Top 10s in 10 WGI starts. He won this race in 2021 and 2022, and has four Top 8s in the last six WGI races. Last year, he finished 12^th.

I think Larson has an outside shot at winning this race on Sunday. I really like his value at +200 odds to finish in the Top 5.

William Byron +1400       

• Standings: 1
• Win: 2
• Top 5: 8
• Top 10: 12

William Byron is coming off a surprising Iowa Corn 350 win last weekend, where he and his team played a masterful fuel-mileage game. The victory bumped him back up to the top spot in the driver standings.

There’s a strong chance that Byron can carry over the momentum from the last race to this weekend’s event. In six WGI starts, Byron has one win, one Top 5, and three Top 10s. He won this race in 2023. Last year, he finished 34^th.

Byron has +250 odds to finish in the Top 5 and -150 odds to finish in the Top 10. I think a Top 5 finish is a bit of a risk considering the talent in this field on Sunday. But a Top 10 finish still offers small value even at a negative betting line.

Chase Elliott +1400

• Standings: 2
• Win: 1
• Top 5: 7
• Top 10: 12

Chase Elliott fell from first to second in the driver standings after his teammate Byron won the Iowa race last weekend. However, Elliott is one of my favorite drivers this weekend.

In eight WGI starts, Elliott has two wins, four Top 5s, and four Top 10s. He also has four Top 4s in the last six Cup races at this venue. Additionally, his 10.6 average finish is second best among all Cup drivers with more than one start at this venue.

Like Byron, Elliott has a -150 line for a Top 10 finish. I say smash that bet. I love his +250 odds for a Top 5 result as I think the #9 car will challenge for the win on Sunday.

The Best Go Bowling at The Glen Betting Value

The following drivers are my NASCAR picks for the best betting value in the Go Bowling at The Glen based on their previous success at the Watkins Glen International:

Christopher Bell +1400

• Standings: 5
• Win: 3
• Top 5: 8
• Top 10: 13

The one driver with a better average finish at WGI than Elliott, is Christopher Bell. In four starts at this road course, Bell has one Top 5, three Top 10s, and an 8.0 average finish. He was 14^th in this race last year and 3^rd in 2023.

Christopher Bell’s -150 odds for a Top 10 result offer great value considering he has a 75% Top 10 finishing rate at this track.

Bell won the COTA race this year, was 5^th at Sonoma, and 2^nd at Mexico City this season. So, he’s showed a strong run at road courses already this year. I think Bell could be a sneaky play to win this race, and also a solid Top 5 option at +250 odds.

AJ Allmendinger +1600

• Standings: 18
• Win: 0
• Top 5: 1
• Top 10: 5

AJ Allmendinger needs a Hail Mary to make the Playoffs. Well, don’t look now, because Watkins Glen could be the place where his lottery ticket is a winner.

In 13 WGI starts, Allmendinger has one win, five Top 5s, eight Top 10s, and a 10.8 average finish. He had transmission issues last year, and it caused him a DNF. That result snapped a two-race streak of Top 4 finishes and a five race streak of Top 15 finishes.

At -140 odds to finish in the Top 10 this weekend, I love the value here. Allmendinger has the third most Top 10 finishes among active, full-time Cup drivers.

Austin Cindric +5000

• Standings: 17
• Win: 1
• Top 5: 1
• Top 10: 4

Austin Cindric is another driver to keep an eye on this weekend. He certainly has just as good of a chance to finish in the Top 10 as his Penske teammates (Logano, Blaney) do.

In fact, with one Top 10, three Top 16s, and a 13.0 average finish, Cindric is a sneaky wager for a Top 10 result at +260 odds. That’s where his value lays for this Sunday’s race.

The Go Bowling at The Glen Longshot

Denny Hamlin (+8000) is my longshot driver this weekend. I’ve said it a few times this season already, but anytime I can get one of the best Cup Series drivers at this large of a betting line, then I am taking a flier on him.

Hamlin sits 4^th in the standings, but first in Playoff points due to his Cup Series leading four victories on the season.

What surprises me the most about Hamlin’s large line for this weekend’s race, is the fact that he’s had modest success at this track in his career. In 18 WGI starts, Hamlin has one win, six Top 5s, and nine Top 10s. Five of his six Top 5s have come in the eight WGI races including his win in 2016.

Take a flier on Hamlin to win the race, and put a few units on his +325 odds to finish in the Top 10.

Go Bowling at The Glen Predictions

I’m excited for this Watkins Glen race. In fact, the entire weekend promises to be some thrilling road racing. With that said, my Top 5 divers for this weekend are SVG, Zilisch, Elliott, Larson and Bell or Byron.

I would love to see Zilisch win, but I think he has a better shot at winning the Truck or Xfinity Series race instead. As much as I root for Larson, he’s not in Playoff mode as of yet. But watch out when he gets into that mode because he will be a hard driver to stop in the postseason. I don’t believe Byron will win two in a row. Elliott offers great value this weekend, but anyone who picks against SVG winning is just crazy.

It will take a bad car or wreck SVG not to win. However, if he does slip up, I like one of the Hendrick drivers to Go Bowling at The Glen and get a strike.

Bet: Shane van Gisbergen (+140)

NASCAR Go Bowling at The Glen Prop Bets

Let’s take a look at some of the more popular NASCAR prop bets for the Go Bowling at The Glen:

Either To Finish In The Top 3 at Watkins Glen

As you can see from above, I like Hendrick Motorsports this weekend. I think Elliott, Larson and Byron are going to be the biggest threats to upstaging van Gisbergen.

In 18 combined starts between Elliott and Larson, they have four wins and seven Top 5s. They also have an 11.2 average finish. This duo had won four WGI races in a row from 2019 to 2022. I think one of them will comfortably finish inside the Top 3.

Bet: Chase Elliott or Kyle Larson (+170)

The Best Top 5 Bet for the Go Bowling at The Glen

Chase Elliott (+250) is my favorite driver for Sunday’s race, outside of SVG. He has the second-best average finish for full-time Cup Series drivers (10.6), two wins and four Top 5s in eight WGI starts. That’s a 50% Top 5 finishing rate for this race.

Yes, SVG is the best road course driver now, but Elliott was until van Gisbergen took over that title.

Bet: Chase Elliott (+250)

The Best Top 10 Bet for the Go Bowling at The Glen

I really like Christopher Bell to finish in the Top 10. In four starts at this venue, Bell has one Top 5 and three Top 10s. His 8.0 average finish is the best among full-time Cup drivers. Furthermore, he has a 75% Top 10 finishing rate.

Additionally, Bell won at COTA this spring and finished runner-up at Mexico City. He was also 5^th at Sonoma just last month. That’s three strong results in road races so far this season.

I believe there’s still value with Bell’s -140 Top 10 odds.

Bet: Christopher Bell (-140)

Winning Manufacturer

• Chevrolet (-400)
• Toyota (+450)
• Ford (+750)

Chevy has 22 Watkins Glen wins, which is by far the most victories for any manufacturer. Chevrolet has also won five of the last six races at this venue. And, this is all before you even factor SVG into the equation.

Last year, Chevy was only a -150 favorite to win. They’ve nearly tripled their odds for this weekend’s race. That’s the SVG effect!

Bet: Chevrolet (-400)

Team of Race Winner

• Trackhouse Racing (-150)
• Hendrick Motorsports (+400)
• Joe Gibbs Racing (+550)
• Spire Motorsports (+1000)
• RFK Racing (+1400)
• 23XI Racing (+1600)
• Kaulig Racing (+1800)
• Team Penske (+1800)
• Richard Childress Racing (+2500)
• Front Row Motorsports (+8000)

Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch are both driving for Trackhouse Racing this weekend, which makes them a large favorite for this prop bet. Yet, there’s still some value with the -150 odds considering that SVG and Zilisch are the top two pre-race favorites. Ironically, they will be competing against each other in the Xfinity Series, as well.

If you want to take a flier, then jump on Hendrick Motorsports who has the most team wins at WGI and has won five of the last six races at this road course.

Bet: Trackhouse Racing (-150)