Shane van Gisbergen
(Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

How ARCA Menards Series graduates finished at Watkins Glen

Nearly every driver competing across NASCAR’s top three divisions today has some form of experience on the ARCA Menards Series platform.

Since its inception back in 1953, the ARCA Menards Series has prided itself on being a developmental platform for drivers with NASCAR ambition. With diverse schedules that include superspeedways, short tracks, road courses and dirt tracks, the ARCA Menards Series has everything necessary for drivers to refine their skills behind the wheel.

Below is a breakdown of which previous champions and alums of the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West finished inside the top 10 at Watkins Glen International this past weekend across the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Shane van Gisbergen
Shane van Gisbergen made his lone ARCA Menards Series start at Daytona International Speedway in 2024, where he finished 29th after being collected in an early crash. (Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)

NASCAR Cup Series

1st – Shane van Gisbergen
2nd – Michael McDowell
3rd – Ty Gibbs
4th – Chase Briscoe
5th – Tyler Reddick
6th – Austin Dillon
8th – Kyle Busch
9th – Austin Cindric
10th – John Hunter Nemechek

Connor Zilisch
After Jesse Love passed him in the final corner of the 2023 ARCA Menards Series race at Watkins Glen International, Connor Zilisch returned the favor with a last corner pass on Love in Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event. (Photo: Edd Zurga/ARCA Racing)

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

1st – Connor Zilisch
2nd – Jesse Love
3rd – Taylor Gray
4th – Ross Chastain
5th – Brandon Jones
6th – Brent Crews
7th – Parker Retzlaff
8th – Shane van Gisbergen
9th – Austin Green
10th – Justin Allgaier

Kaden Honeycutt
Kaden Honeycutt completed a weekend sweep between the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the national ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen International, with both wins serving as the first of his career in each division. (Photo: Bryan Bennett/ARCA Racing)

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

1st – Kaden Honeycutt
2nd – Connor Zilisch
3rd – Shane van Gisbergen
4th – Daniel Hemric
5th – Chandler Smith
7th – Brent Crews
8th – Mini Tyrrell
9th – Brenden Queen
10th – Connor Mosack