Watkins Glen’s incredible closing run Sunday by Shane van Gisbergen and the NASCAR All-Star Race this weekend at Dover Motor Speedway represent the complete opposite ends of certainty in the Cup Series.

After winning for the sixth time in seven road races, van Gisbergen has established himself as perhaps the greatest road-course driver in NASCAR history, though Fox Sports announcer Mike Joy mentioned Dan Gurney — a five-time winner in the 1960s.

That’s good company for van Gisbergen to keep, though the New Zealander has won seven of his 14 starts (50%) compared to Gurney’s five of 16 (31.3%).

If van Gisbergen shows up in adequate equipment at the next two road courses, he will be the prohibitive favorite at San Diego and Sonoma in consecutive weekends to end June.

Folks may have thought his Chicago Street Race win in 2023 was a one-off fluke, but the masterful pedal work and curvy asphalt ownership by the veteran driver has been obvious from Race 1.

The 37-year-old No. 97 pilot just has a driving style that is a cut above — far better, really — anyone else’s when it comes to his heel-toe technique.

“I just don’t see anyone coming up the ranks who are volunteering to learn that style and stick with it,” Denny Hamlin said on his podcast, adding that there’s a “large likelihood” that van Gisbergen wins the remaining two road events.

A successful future isn’t as guaranteed on Sunday in Delaware at the Monster Mile, which is hosting its first All-Star Race in a 350-lapper — a race length as out of sorts and odd as the concrete track’s situation.

What lies ahead for the one-mile track, a high-banked, Bristol-on-steroids oval that challenges drivers from the first green flag, is completely up in the air for now.

Dover’s future grew cloudy when NASCAR put a refurbished North Wilkesboro Speedway back on the schedule in 2023 for the past three All-Star Races.

The joy in Wilkes County, N.C., multiplied when it received its first points race since 1996 with the scheduled 450-lapper on July 19 — another odd distance.

The feeling around NASCAR is that North Wilkesboro is heading up the elevator toward the penthouse.

However, that’s not the popular opinion regarding Dover, as NASCAR removed a points race for an exhibition one in the daytime.

Unlike North Wilkesboro, has Dover taken the elevator to the ground floor, awaiting a ding, a door opening and an exit from the building?

Track president and general manager Mike Tatoian doesn’t think so and is excited about Sunday’s first All-Star Race in the Northeast.

“The reason why we like it is because we’ve never had it before,” he told the Delaware News Journal. “Any time you get a new product, I think it’s good for the fans. … We’ll get a points race back.

“But as it relates to what happens in 2027 and 2028 and beyond, I really don’t know what is in store. I know we’ll have a race. I don’t know if it’ll be a points race or an All-Star Race.”

The drivers want one major change: a bigger All-Star champion’s check than $1 million, the same amount of the winning purse since 2003.

“I would like to see the prize money go up, to match the inflation for the past two years,” RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski said. “I know the TV money (for NASCAR) has.”

It may not go as far it did, but a seven-figure payday is still worth it.

Dover is certainly banking on it.

–Field Level Media

Minnesota United have been slowed on offense in some recent matches, but containing the Loons might not be an easy chore for the New England Revolution.

The teams meet Saturday evening in Foxborough, Mass.

“A very challenging team. They have their uniqueness,” New England coach Marko Mitrovic said of the Loons. “They have physical presence on the field as well. It’s going to be a very different game. They are a team that is very aggressive to press you high on the field. … They don’t hesitate to finish their attacks.”

Minnesota (6-4-3, 21 points) endured its second shutout loss in a four-match span in league play with Wednesday’s 1-0 home setback to the Colorado Rapids. The Loons have scored 16 goals in 13 matches this season.

“We have to find the moments we can control the game with the ball,” Mitrovic said.

New England (7-4-1, 22 points) is coming off its only home loss of the season with Wednesday night’s 3-0 setback to Nashville.

“It’s a new day for us,” Mitrovic said. “It’s always a new day.”

New England is 6-1-0 at home, with Saturday’s outing concluding a four-match MLS homestand.

These teams are meeting for the first time since 2023, and this marks the Loons’ first visit to New England in nearly four years.

“We have two more games to look forward to until the break and we need to take care of business,” Minnesota coach Cameron Knowles said.

Minnesota forward Tomas Chancalay played parts of the past three seasons for New England.

“Now he’s coming back here and it’s probably a known environment for him,” Mitrovic said.

Minnesota will be without Columbian midfielder James Rodriguez, who has been slated to depart to prepare for a World Cup assignment.

With rapid-fire nature of the schedule, Minnesota has been cognizant of the workload for certain players, such as defender Michael Boxall, whose playing time continues to be monitored.

“We just want to be cautious with that and make sure we don’t push him too hard,” Knowles said.

The Revolution are waiting on the conditions of defender Ilay Feingold and forward Luca Langoni, who has a team-leading six assists. Those players have been out for at least a week due to undisclosed lower-body injuries.

“Both of them are day-by-day,” Mitrovic said.

–Field Level Media

Minnesota United have been slowed on offense in some recent matches, but containing the Loons might not be an easy chore for the New England Revolution.

The teams meet Saturday evening in Foxborough, Mass.

“A very challenging team. They have their uniqueness,” New England coach Marko Mitrovic said of the Loons. “They have physical presence on the field as well. It’s going to be a very different game. They are a team that is very aggressive to press you high on the field. … They don’t hesitate to finish their attacks.”

Minnesota (6-4-3, 21 points) endured its second shutout loss in a four-match span in league play with Wednesday’s 1-0 home setback to the Colorado Rapids. The Loons have scored 16 goals in 13 matches this season.

“We have to find the moments we can control the game with the ball,” Mitrovic said.

New England (7-4-1, 22 points) is coming off its only home loss of the season with Wednesday night’s 3-0 setback to Nashville.

“It’s a new day for us,” Mitrovic said. “It’s always a new day.”

New England is 6-1-0 at home, with Saturday’s outing concluding a four-match MLS homestand.

These teams are meeting for the first time since 2023, and this marks the Loons’ first visit to New England in nearly four years.

“We have two more games to look forward to until the break and we need to take care of business,” Minnesota coach Cameron Knowles said.

Minnesota forward Tomas Chancalay played parts of the past three seasons for New England.

“Now he’s coming back here and it’s probably a known environment for him,” Mitrovic said.

Minnesota will be without Columbian midfielder James Rodriguez, who has been slated to depart to prepare for a World Cup assignment.

With rapid-fire nature of the schedule, Minnesota has been cognizant of the workload for certain players, such as defender Michael Boxall, whose playing time continues to be monitored.

“We just want to be cautious with that and make sure we don’t push him too hard,” Knowles said.

The Revolution are waiting on the conditions of defender Ilay Feingold and forward Luca Langoni, who has a team-leading six assists. Those players have been out for at least a week due to undisclosed lower-body injuries.

“Both of them are day-by-day,” Mitrovic said.

–Field Level Media