Go Bowling at The Glen

Watkins Glen International is one of the great road courses in North American motorsports: 2.45 miles of flowing, high-speed corners cut through the western New York hills. Since 1986, Cup cars have returned to The Glen for one of the most beloved weekends on the schedule, and the seven-turn layout with its signature 'Boot' chicane and sweeping Turn 1 produces racing that rewards commitment over caution. Tony Stewart's five wins at The Glen are the track record, with Jeff Gordon close behind at four. More recently, Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, and William Byron have traded victories on this high-speed circuit, with Buescher's 2024 win coming after a three-wide final-lap battle that defined everything great about road course racing. Unlike the tighter, slower Sonoma layout, Watkins Glen is about maintaining momentum through long sweepers and committing to the brakes into The Boot. Tire wear is significant over the 90-lap race, and teams that execute clean pit stops and time their final strategy calls correctly tend to find themselves in contention at the end. Road course specialists love this place, and the fans who pack the hillsides make it one of the best spectator venues on tour.