Xfinity Fastest Lap: Larson Recovers for Fastest Lap at Watkins Glen

While Shane van Gisbergen has cleaned up on the road courses this season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Kyle Larson has claimed the lion's share of Xfinity Fastest Lap awards in those events in 2025.

Larson earned his third road course Xfinity Fastest Lap of the 2025 Cup Series season on Sunday during the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. Larson previously earned the award at Circuit of The Americas and Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, as well as at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Like at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Larson's fastest lap at Watkins Glen came on a day that didn't go as planned for the No. 5 team. In the Mexico City race, an early accident removed Larson from contention, but his team repaired the car and he returned to the track to set the Xfinity Fastest Lap in that event.

At Watkins Glen, Larson clocked the Xfinity Fastest Lap with a time 73.203 seconds. That lap came after he spent time in the garage following a spin while fighting brake issues early in the race. Larson ultimately finished 39th, 15 laps down.

All three of NASCAR's National Series were in action over the weekend at Watkins Glen. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Connor Zilisch set the fastest lap with a time of 72.843 seconds on lap 25. Zilisch went on to win the race, and only a green-flag pit stop to "flip" the first stage and cycle back to the lead to start Stage Two prevented a potential maximum 61-point outing.

Zilisch has now earned two Xfinity Fastest Lap awards, as he previously claimed the honor at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Zilisch currently leads the Xfinity Series points standings, but suffered a broken collarbone after falling in victory lane on Saturday.

Andres Perez de Lara set the Xfinity Fastest Lap in Friday's Mission 176 at The Glen for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. He finished 21st, but set the fastest lap with a time of 72.761 seconds on lap 47.

Perez de Lara is currently 17th in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings. On Monday, it was announced that Perez de Lara will move to Niece Motorsports for the remainder of the 2025 season.

Next weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series head to Richmond Raceway. The Craftsman Truck Series eero 250 takes place on Friday, August 15, with the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 racing on Saturday, August 16.

-Photo credit: Jim Fluharty/HHP for Chevy Racing