Watkins Glen International Raceway

Watkins Glen International Raceway
Track Diagram

Watkins Glen International
2790 Country Route 161
Watkins Glen, NY 14891

With its rise from ragged infancy in 1948 to its position as America's premier racing facility surely qualifies The Glen as an astounding and unlikely success story, which continues to be written sixty years later.

Competition moved to a temporary course in 1953, and 2.3-mile permanent circuit was built in 1956. The following year, The Glen hosted its first professional race, a NASCAR Grand National Stock Car event won by Buck Baker over Fireball Roberts.

.Corning Enterprises, a newly-chartered subsidiary of Corning Glass Works, purchased the track in early 1983 and formed a partnership with International Speedway Corporation forming Watkins Glen International.

On August 9, 1986, fans witnessed Tim Richmond's triumph at the return of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. The Bud at The Glen grew to become New York State's largest motorsports event and saw some of NASCAR's finest take the checkered flag including, Martin, Wallace, and in 1998, Jeff Gordon, won his second consecutive Glen race before a record crowd.

In 1991, Terry Labonte won the first NASCAR Busch Grand National race at the Glen beginning an impressive streak of four wins in six years, including three consecutive wins in '94 through '96.

1992 saw a major reconfiguration of The Glen's back straightaway. The addition of the Inner Loop increased the length of the long course to 3.4 miles and the short course to 2.45 miles. The new turns enhanced competition while adding quality spectator viewing.

In 1997, International Speedway Corporation, whose holdings include Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Darlington Raceway and Phoenix Int'l Raceway, became sole owner of the historic road course, exercising a stock option buy-out of Corning Incorporated. The sale completed Corning's mission of rebuilding the race track while revitalizing the Southern Finger Lakes Region.
1998 saw a first time combination event featuring the Lysol 200 NASCAR Busch Series and the Bully Hill Vineyards 150 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as the "Festival of Speed and Sound" weekend at Watkins Glen International. A weekend filled with great racing and live musical entertainment.

Watkins Glen International celebrated the 58th anniversary of road racing in Watkins Glen during the 2006 racing season. Throughout sixty years of change, Watkins Glen has embodied more than giant crowds and great speeds. The racing community continues to return to Watkins Glen for broader reasons. Watkins Glen has become a racing institution, the premier road racing facility in the United States.

Track Facts Information:

Track Size: 2.45 road course, 11 turns

Degree of Banking: Ranging from 6 to 10 degrees

Policy Information:

The following security policies apply only during The Glen NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and Indy Grand Prix weekends. Guests are subject to search during all events.

Unfortunately, items not allowed in the grandstands will not be allowed to accumulate along the grandstand fence lines.

The following items will be allowed through the gates and into the grandstand areas:

• 6'x6'x12' soft sided cooler
  
• Food and beverages
• seat cushion
• camera*
• scanner*
• binocular*s
• *These items should either be carried around your neck or in a clear plastic bag.
  

All bags are subject to search when you enter the grandstand areas.

If an event is postponed and/or rescheduled for any reason, the determination of the new date and time for the event would be made by the sanctioning body (i.e., NASCAR, IRL, Grand American, SCCA, SVRA, HSR). The sanctioning body makes every effort to conduct an event on the day it is scheduled and if a postponement is necessary, they will announce the new date and time. Tickets for the event will be honored on the date the race is held. All ticket sales are final; we regret no refunds will be allowed.