Watkins Glen's 2026 NASCAR Race is Complete. Next Cup Race in 2027
The last NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International in 2026 was the Go Bowling at The Glen on Sunday, May 10, 2026. The next NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen will appear here once NASCAR's 2027 schedule is released.
About Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen International opened in 1956 as a permanent successor to the Watkins Glen street circuit that hosted Formula One U.S. Grand Prix races from 1961 to 1980. The 2.45-mile, 11-turn road course in upstate New York joined the Cup Series in 1986 and has been a regular schedule fixture since. Watkins Glen's mix of high-speed straights, fast esses, and an elevation-changing back section makes it one of the most technically demanding road courses on the Cup schedule. The track is widely considered a road-course specialist's venue. Drivers with sports-car or open-wheel backgrounds tend to outperform their typical NASCAR results here. Watkins Glen also hosts IMSA sports-car racing and other professional series throughout the racing season.
Watkins Glen hosted Formula One's U.S. Grand Prix from 1961 to 1980, the longest-running F1 race in the United States until the modern Austin and Miami events.
Top Performers at Watkins Glen
| Rank | Driver | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | Avg Fin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shane Van Gisbergen | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1.3 |
| 2 | Christopher Bell | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9.2 |
| 3 | AJ Allmendinger | 15 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 10.6 |
| 4 | Tyler Reddick | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 11.0 |
| 5 | Kyle Busch | 21 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 12.0 |
| 6 | Austin Cindric | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12.8 |
| 7 | Daniel Suárez | 9 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 12.8 |
| 8 | Zane Smith | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13.3 |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 13.5 |
| 10 | Chase Briscoe | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 14.0 |
Recent Winners at Watkins Glen
Road Course Context
Watkins Glen is one of 10 road courses on the 2026 Cup schedule. Historically, Shane Van Gisbergen leads all Cup drivers at this venue with a 1.3 average finish across 3 starts. Drivers who excel on road courses tend to carry that form here. Check their track type stats in S-EDGE™.
Scorzia Edge™ Preview — Watkins Glen
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