The 2021 Cup Series champion from Elk Grove, California, led a race-high 462 of 500 laps and secured his spot into the Playoff's Round of 12 with his fifth Cup Series victory of 2024 at Thunder Valley.
The 31-year-old Bowman from Tucson, Arizona, posted a pole-winning lap at 126.720 mph in 15.142 seconds, which was enough to claim his fifth Cup Series pole position and first at Thunder Valley.
Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race is the final event in the Round of 16 Cup Series Playoffs. At the conclusion of the race, four drivers will be eliminated from championship contention.
The following drivers are currently below the cutline:
The 30-year-old Wallace from Mobile, Alabama, will remain at 23XI Racing on a new multiyear basis as he is currently campaigning in his seventh consecutive season in the Cup Series division.
The 2015 Xfinity Series champion led 19 of 92 over-scheduled laps and bumped his way past van Gisbergen on the final lap during an overtime shootout to score his first Cup Series victory both of the 2024 season and his first on a road course venue at The Glen.
The 2018 Daytona 500 champion from Welcome, North Carolina, is scheduled to achieve a milestone start in his 11th full-time season in NASCAR's premier series.
Todd Gilliland is poised to achieve a milestone start in this weekend’s Cup Playoff event at Watkins Glen International, he will make his 100th career start in NASCAR’s premier series.
