Chris Buescher finally closed out a race with a win, beating road course specialist Shane van Gisbergen on the last lap of the Go Bowling at the Glen at Watkins Glen International.

Buescher just missed the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs by failing to win during the regular season, including two weeks ago at Darlington, when he just missed earning a playoff berth.

Here are our winners and losers from the race at Watkins Glen International in New York.

Winners

Chris Buescher

Buescher finally got his first win of the season. It’s something that came close to happening a couple of times this year. More important, he didn’t get rattled when van Gisbergen passed him late. He simply waited for van Gisbergen to make a mistake, then muscled his way past him for the lead and win.

Chase Briscoe

Briscoe was the top finisher among playoff drivers, finishing sixth. That helped put him in 11th place in the playoffs, six points ahead of Denny Hamlin, who is the first person out if the Round of 12 began next week. Briscoe was last among the 16 playoff drivers after Atlanta last week.

Austin Cindric

Who would have thought that two races into the playoffs, Cindric would be sitting comfortably in the standings. He’s 46 points ahead of the cutline and currently in second in the points with one race left before the Round of 12 after a 10th-place finish at Watkins Glen.

More: Who won NASCAR Cup race at Watkins Glen? Winner is Chris Buescher, plus full results

More: NASCAR playoff picture: Cup Series points standings after Watkins Glen

Losers

Denny Hamlin

One of the NASCAR Cup series championship favorites now faces an uphill climb to advance to the next round of the NASCAR playoffs. Hamlin is six points behind Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ty Gibbs for the final Round of 12 spot. He was involved in a Lap 1 wreck with Ryan Blaney and ended up 23rd.

Brad Keselowski

Keselowski’s playoff hopes took a huge hit late in the race when he connected with fellow playoff driver Joey Logano with seven laps left. Keselowski’s car spun into William Byron’s No. 24. Keselowski finished 26th and is now 12 points behind the last playoff spot for the Round of 12.

Martin Truex Jr.

Truex was part of a late crash that left him 20th despite an overall strong day that started with a front row start. That, though, was another crucial hit for his chances to advance in the playoffs. He’s now 14 points below the cutoff for the last spot in the Round of 12, with a trip to Bristol remaining.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Watkins Glen race: Winners, losers include Denny Hamlin