Watkins Glen International is the fifth of six road courses on the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series schedule; joining Circuit of The Americas (Winner: Tyler Reddick), Sonoma Raceway (Martin Truex Jr.), Chicago Street Race (Shane van Gisbergen) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course (Michael McDowell). After this weekend, the only road course left on the 2023 schedule will be the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL on Oct. 8, 2023.
This weekend will mark the 40th running of a NASCAR Cup Series race on the historic 2.45-mile multi-elevational Watkins Glen International road course located near Watkins Glen, New York in the Finger Lakes region of the state. Racing in the Watkins Glen area began on the streets of the city, but after several events were held, a permanent facility was opened in 1956. The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International was on August 4, 1957 and won by owner/driver Buck Baker with an average speed of 83.064 mph driving a 1957 Chevrolet. Over the years, the Cup Series has changed the race length at Watkins Glen three times. The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen was scheduled for 101.2 miles in 1957, the second race was 161.7 miles (1964), and the third race was 151.8 miles (1965). Every race since has been scheduled for 220.5-miles (90 laps).
The previous 39 NASCAR Cup Series races at Watkins Glen International have produced 22 different poles winners and 24 different race winners. NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt (1990, ’92, ‘96), Mark Martin (1993, ’94, ‘95) and Jeff Gordon (1998, ’03, ‘14) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Watkins Glen International with three poles each. Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch (2011 and 2017) and Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott (2019 and 2022) lead all active drivers in poles at Watkins Glen with two each. This weekend, four of the 22 NASCAR Cup Series pole winners at Watkins Glen International are entered in the Go Bowling at The Glen.
Active WGI Pole Winners (4) | Poles | Seasons |
Chase Elliott | 2 | 2022, 2019 |
Kyle Busch | 2 | 2017, 2011 |
Denny Hamlin | 1 | 2018 |
AJ Allmendinger | 1 | 2015 |
NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart leads the NASCAR Cup Series in victories at Watkins Glen International with five wins (2002, ’04, ’05, ’07 and ’09); one win shy of tying the series record for most road course wins at a single track at six held by NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison at Riverside Raceway (1971, ’73, ’75, ’79, ’81 sweep).
Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott (2018, 2019) and Kyle Larson (2021, 2022) and Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch (2008, 2013) lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in wins at Watkins Glen International with two victories each. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson is the most recent winner at the 2.45-mile track, winning last season’s event by a scant .882-second over second-place AJ Allmendinger. Eight of the 24 NASCAR Cup Series winners at Watkins Glen International are active this weekend, and three of the eight are looking for their first win of the 2023 season – Chase Elliott, AJ Allmendinger and Kevin Harvick.
Active WGI Race Winners (8) | Wins | Seasons |
Kyle Larson | 2 | 2022, 2021 |
Chase Elliott | 2 | 2019, 2018 |
Kyle Busch | 2 | 2013, 2008 |
Martin Truex Jr | 1 | 2017 |
Denny Hamlin | 1 | 2016 |
Joey Logano | 1 | 2015 |
AJ Allmendinger | 1 | 2014 |
Kevin Harvick | 1 | 2006 |
All the NASCAR Cup Series on-track activity begins with practice and Busch Light Pole Qualifying at 12:30 p.m. ET on the USA Network.
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