How to watch NASCAR Go Bowling at the Glen 2026: live stream from anywhere (Free streaming options available)
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The NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at the Glen takes place on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York. It is one of the most anticipated road course races of the season and part of a full three-day NASCAR weekend at The Glen running from May 8 to 10.
The dominant storyline heading into the race is Shane van Gisbergen, who has been the undisputed king of NASCAR road courses since joining the Cup Series. The New Zealander won at Watkins Glen in 2025 and claimed five road course victories that season. He was runner-up at COTA earlier in 2026 and arrives as the heavy favorite again on a circuit that suits his aggressive, flowing driving style.
The race starts at 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT on Sunday, May 10 – that is 8:00 PM BST | 9:00 PM CEST | 1:30 AM IST (Monday, May 11) | 5:00 AM AEST (Monday, May 11).
In New Zealand, the race is free to stream live on ThreeNow – ideal for fans wanting to watch van Gisbergen compete on home screens without a paywall.
2026 Go Bowling at the Glen: full weekend schedule
| Session | Date | Time (ET) | TV/Stream |
| Truck Series practice and qualifying | Friday, May 8 | 11:00 AM | FS2 |
| ARCA Menards Series: General Tire 100 | Friday, May 8 | 1:30 PM | FS1 |
| Truck Series: Bully Hill Vineyards 176 | Friday, May 8 | 4:30 PM | FS1 |
| O'Reilly Series practice | Saturday, May 9 | 10:30 AM | The CW App |
| O'Reilly Series qualifying | Saturday, May 9 | 11:35 AM | The CW App |
| Cup Series practice | Saturday, May 9 | 1:00 PM | Prime Video |
| Cup Series qualifying | Saturday, May 9 | 2:10 PM | Prime Video |
| Xfinity Series: Mission 200 at the Glen | Saturday, May 9 | 4:00 PM | The CW |
| NASCAR RaceDay (pre-race) | Sunday, May 10 | 1:30 PM | FS1 |
| Cup Series: Go Bowling at the Glen | Sunday, May 10 | 3:00 PM | FS1 |
Where to watch the Go Bowling at the Glen 2026
Below is a complete overview of where to watch the race in your country.
| Country | Streaming service | Price | Note |
| New Zealand | ThreeNow | Free | Geo-restricted to New Zealand |
| United States | FS1 / Fox One | Included in cable; Fox One from $8.99/month | Live race coverage |
| United States | HBO Max | From $9.99/month | Driver-cam alternate stream |
| United Kingdom | HBO Max | From £9.99/month | Via TNT Sports on HBO Max |
| Global | fuboTV | From $89.99/month | Available in select countries |
How to watch the Go Bowling at the Glen for free
The race is available to stream completely free on ThreeNow in New Zealand, with no subscription required. ThreeNow is geo-restricted and only accessible with a New Zealand IP address. If you are outside New Zealand, a reliable VPN for streaming changes your virtual location so ThreeNow recognizes you as a New Zealand viewer, giving you free access to the live race.
- Choose a VPN with New Zealand servers. We recommend NordVPN. It operates servers across multiple locations, including servers in Auckland, New Zealand, and uses the fast NordLynx protocol for smooth HD live race streaming. Its Smart DNS feature supports devices that do not run VPN apps natively, such as smart TVs and Chromecast.
- Download and install the NordVPN app on your device. NordVPN is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV, all under one subscription.
- Connect to a New Zealand server. Open the NordVPN app and select New Zealand from the server list. This gives you a New Zealand IP address that ThreeNow will recognize. If the stream does not load immediately, try switching to a different New Zealand server.
- Go to ThreeNow in your browser or app. You may need to create a free account. Use a private browsing window and clear cookies if the site shows an error on the first attempt.
- Find the NASCAR Cup Series stream in the sports or live TV section and start watching for free. Keep the VPN active throughout the race to maintain your connection.
Why you need a VPN to watch NASCAR at Watkins Glen for free
ThreeNow carries the full 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season live and free in New Zealand as part of a confirmed broadcast deal. The platform is free to use and ad-supported, with no subscription needed. However, it is geo-restricted to New Zealand due to broadcasting rights, meaning the stream will not load if your device's IP address is detected as being outside the country.
A VPN solves this by routing your traffic through a New Zealand server, making ThreeNow treat your connection as local. It is a legitimate use of VPN technology — ThreeNow is a free, publicly available platform that any New Zealand viewer can access. A VPN simply replicates that access from abroad.
This is particularly useful for New Zealanders living or traveling overseas, as well as international fans who want to catch van Gisbergen's road course campaign at no cost. A VPN also adds privacy protection when streaming from hotel or public Wi-Fi networks. For a full list of tested options, see our guide to the best VPNs for streaming.
Best VPNs to watch NASCAR for free on ThreeNow
These VPNs have been tested for unblocking ThreeNow and other New Zealand streaming platforms, and provide fast, stable performance for live motorsport broadcasts.
- NordVPN – the top pick for unblocking ThreeNow from outside New Zealand. Prices start at $3.49/month, including a strong Auckland server selection. In testing it retained around 83% of base internet speeds, well suited to HD live race streams. The NordLynx protocol minimizes latency, and Smart DNS adds compatibility with devices that cannot run VPN apps. Read our full NordVPN review.
- Surfshark – a strong budget option starting at $1.99/month with unlimited simultaneous device connections. Its New Zealand servers reliably unblock ThreeNow, and WireGuard support keeps speeds around 82% of baseline — more than enough for smooth NASCAR coverage. Read our full Surfshark review.
- Proton VPN – Switzerland-based with 20,300+ servers in 148 countries and confirmed ThreeNow unblocking via New Zealand servers. The premium plan starts at $2.99/month and a free tier is available, making it an accessible option for fans who want secure, private streaming. Read our full Proton VPN review.
About Shane van Gisbergen at Watkins Glen
Shane van Gisbergen's road course dominance is the defining storyline of the 2026 NASCAR season. The New Zealander, who made his NASCAR Cup Series debut by winning at the Chicago Street Course in 2023, went on to claim five Cup Series road course victories in 2025. He won at Watkins Glen in 2025 and has consistently been among the fastest drivers at every road course on the calendar.
