Last Updated: Sunday, May 10 at 9:10 a.m. ET.
🏁Go Bowling at The Glen: Key takeaways
- Best post-qualifying bet: Michael McDowell Top 3 (+550) — strong road racer qualified second.
- Best pre-qualifying bet: Christopher Bell (+1000) — Arguably second-most consistent road racer in Cup Series.
- Best pre-qualifying value: Chase Elliott (-120) over Kyle Larson — Fade the feast-or-famine Larson.
- Best pre-qualifying prop bet: William Byron Top 5 (+185) — A prior winner here in good form overall.
- Track: Raw speed meets technicality at Watkins Glen.
- Weather: Cool conditions expected under cloudy skies.
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Go Bowling at The Glen odds: Favorites & full field
The Go Bowling at The Glen runs at 3 p.m. ET on FS1. Below are the latest outright odds, followed by the picks and market-by-market best bets we like this week.
| Driver |  |
|---|---|
| Shane Van Gisbergen | -135 |
| Connor Zilisch | +390 |
| Christopher Bell | +900 |
| Tyler Reddick | +1200 |
| Ty Gibbs | +1400 |
| Chris Buescher | +1800 |
| Michael McDowell | +2000 |
| Austin Cindric | +2200 |
| Chase Elliott | +2500 |
| Ross Chastain | +2500 |
| Carson Hocevar | +3000 |
| Ryan Blaney | +3500 |
| Chase Briscoe | +3500 |
| William Byron | +4000 |
| Kyle Larson | +4500 |
Odds as of 5-10.
Check out the full Go Bowling at The Glen qualifying order here.
Best bets card (updated Sunday)
- Top 3: Michael McDowell (+550)
- Outright: Christopher Bell (+1000)
- Top 5: William Byron (+185)
- Matchup: Chase Elliott (-120) over Kyle Larson
Who's hot? Who's not?
- 🔥 Denny Hamlin — Top 10 in seven of last nine overall.
- ❄️ Joey Logano — 30th or worse in three straight races.
Track breakdown: What wins at Watkins Glen?
- Watkins Glen is not as technical as road courses like COTA, with only 11 turns on the short circuit used by the Cup Series, so road specialists don't hold as big an edge.
- NASCAR will be limiting the amount of run-off space with tire barriers, which could make it more difficult to pass. Therefore, maintaining track position is even more important than usual.
Key stats & driver profiles to target
- Chevrolet has won six of the last seven Cup Series races at Watkins Glen.
- Top 5 starting positions have accounted for 67.5% of all Cup Series wins here.
Drivers to watch
- Kyle Busch is second among active drivers in average starting position at Watkins Glen.
- Alex Bowman has qualified Top 10 in back-to-back Go Bowling at the Glens.
Odds movement & market notes
- William Byron missed the Top 10 in qualifying and drifted from +1400 to +4000.
- It was a poor Saturday for Hendrick overall, with Chase Elliott (+1600 to +2500), Kyle Larson (+1800 to +4500), and Alex Bowman (+4000 to +9000) all going the wrong way.
- Ty Gibbs (+2500 to +1400) took money after qualifying 10th.
- Shane Van Gisbergen could get longer if he qualifies poorly, but that's been rare for him. However, Connor Zilisch fared poorly in qualifying at COTA and saw his odds spike from the +285 range to around +750 on race day.
- Road course sharpies Michael McDowell and AJ Allmendinger should see their odds drop on race day if they qualify well.
Outright picks: Winners to bet
Pick: Christopher Bell to win (+1000)
Underrated road racer can spring a mild upset.
- Track Fit: Second here in 2025.
- Recent Form: Top 5 in four straight road races.
- Market Value: Playable down to +700.
Risk: SVG has proven tough to beat at similar venues.
Pick made on Saturday, 5-9.
Best top finish bets
Pick: Michael McDowell to finish Top 3 (+550)
Great value following P2 qualifying effort.
- Track Fit: Led laps in three of last four races here.
- Recent Form: Sixth in average rating on road courses since 2023.
- Market Value: I'd play it all the way down to +400.
Risk: Has never run Top 3 here.
Pick made on Sunday, 5-10.
Most laps run in the top five at Watkins Glen in the NextGen era (362 possible laps) pic.twitter.com/OhmKHqkR4Q
— NASCAR Insights (@NASCARInsights) May 6, 2026
Pick: William Byron to finish Top 5 (+185)
Has recent enough road course wins to run back to.
- Track Fit: Took the 2023 edition of this race.
- Recent Form: Top 10 in six of last eight overall.
- Market Value: +150 is the lowest I'd go.
Risk: Missed the Top 5 in four of last five road races.
Pick made on Saturday, 5-9.
Best matchup & head-to-head bets
Pick: Chase Elliott (-120) over Kyle Larson
Elliott doesn't need to run back to Gen 6 form to prevail.
- Matchup Advantage: Elliott holds edge in average rating here, and at all road courses.
- Key Stat: Larson has missed Top 5 in six of last seven road races.
Risk: Elliott missed the Top 10 in three straight here.
Pick made on Saturday, 5-9.
How to watch the Go Bowling at The Glen
| Location: | Watkins Glen International, Dix, NY |
| Date: | Sunday, May 10, 2026 |
| Start time: | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | FS1 |
Check out the full weekend schedule for the 2026 Go Bowling at The Glen.
Watkins Glen weather
Overcast conditions are expected on a 60-degree day in Dix, NY. There's a 20% chance of precipitation, so NASCAR will make preparations with rain tires and windshield wipers at the ready.
Previous Go Bowling at The Glen winners
| Year | Winner | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Shane Van Gisbergen | Chevrolet |
| 2024 | Chris Buescher | Ford |
| 2023 | William Byron | Chevrolet |
| 2022 | Kyle Larson | Chevrolet |
| 2021 | Kyle Larson | Chevrolet |
Go Bowling at The Glen betting FAQ
When is the 2026 Go Bowling at The Glen?
The 2026 Go Bowling at The Glen will be held on Sunday, May 10 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1.
Where will the 2026 Go Bowling at The Glen be held?
Watkins Glen International in Dix, NY will host the 2026 Go Bowling at The Glen.
Who is the 2026 Go Bowling at The Glen favorite?
Shane Van Gisbergen is the -135 favorite.
Who won the Go Bowling at The Glen last year?
Shane Van Gisbergen is the defending champion of this race.
How do Go Bowling at The Glen prop bets work?
If you don't want to wager on and outright winner, consider bets on drivers to finish in the Top 3, 5, or 10. There are also numerous head-to-head driver matchup props on offer.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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