Watkins Glen International Speedway

A legendary road course, Watkins Glen International Speedway was host to Formula 1 Racing before the Winston Cup Series returned in 1986.

Few speedways in North America can match the historical significance of Watkins Glen International Speedway. The vision of law student Cameron Argetsinger, who spent his summer vacations in the small New York town for which the track is named, Watkins Glen opened in 1948 to host a European style sports car race.

Although "The Glen" made its reputation in the 1960s and 1970s as the site of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, the first professional race ever held at the 2.45-mile road course was a Winston Cup event in 1957, when Buck Baker outran Glenn "Fireball" Roberts for the victory.

NASCAR did not hold another race at The Glen until 1964, and after Marvin Panch won the 1965 event in a Ford fielded by the Wood Brothers, 21 years would pass before the Winston Cup Series returned to New York. The late Tim Richmond won the Bud at The Glen in 1986, and NASCAR has been a continuous annual presence ever since. In recent years, the Watkins Glen NEXTEL Cup race has followed the Brickyard 400 in August.

Situated in the Finger Lakes region of New York off County Road 16 in Watkins Glen (between Elmira and Ithaca), the demanding road course has proven popular among fans and drivers alike. Dale Jarrett holds the qualifying record of 122.698 mph, set during time trials for the 2001 Global Crossing at The m 2002, pole winner Ricky Rudd came within two one-thousandths second of matching Jarrett's mark.

NASCAR Flight Jacket NASCAR

NASCAR Uniform Jacket NASCAR

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