NASCAR Weekend at Watkins Glen: Your Unfiltered Guide to the Action

Watkins Glen is a track that somehow manages to blend equal parts history, charm, and utter chaos into a 2.45-mile road course. For NASCAR fans, Watkins Glen International is sacred ground, not just for its picturesque setting in upstate New York but for the hard-hitting racing it delivers. With the 2025 Watkins Glen race weekend right around the corner, buckle up. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual observer, this guide covers everything you need to know.

What Makes Watkins Glen International Legendary?

First off, Watkins Glen isn’t just another slot on NASCAR’s schedule. Known as “The Glen,” this track oozes history. It first hosted a NASCAR Cup race in 1957 and has been a staple of the circuit since the mid-1980s. NASCAR’s 2.45-mile, eight-turn configuration here is unique. Unlike other series that use the larger 11-turn course with its famous “boot” section, NASCAR sticks to the trimmed-down layout. Why? Probably because eight turns are plenty when you’ve got 3,400-pound stock cars throwing sparks and swapping paint.

Expectations for the 2025 Race Weekend at the Glen

This year’s race weekend at Watkins Glen isn’t just another stop on the NASCAR calendar. It’s the last road course race of the regular season, which means desperation city for drivers who haven’t quite punched their playoff tickets yet. Cue the frantic overtakes and fender-benders as everyone fights to get into the postseason. And let’s be honest, there’s always one driver who tries a boneheaded move in Turn 1. You know it’s coming.

Here’s the Weekend Lineup:

Friday, August 8

• Craftsman Truck Series Practice & Qualifying: 11:35 AM – 1:30 PM on FS1
• Craftsman Truck Series Race – Mission 176 at Watkins Glen: 5 PM on FS1 & MRN

Mission 176 at Watkins Glen:
Craftsman Truck Series (Entry List)

(i) indicates drivers ineligible for playoff points earnings

• 1. William Sawalich (i), No. 1 (TRICON Garage, Toyota)
• 2. William Lambros, No. 2 (Reaume Brothers Racing, Ford)
• 3. (TBD), No. 02 (Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet)
• 4. Toni Breidninger, No. 5 (TRICON Garage, Toyota)
• 5. Kyle Busch (i), 07 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 6. Sammy Smith (i), 7 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 7. Grant Enfinger (i), 9 (CR7 Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 8. Corey Heim, No. 11  (TRICON Garage, Toyota)
• 9. Jake Garcia, No. 13 (ThorSport Racing, Ford)
• 10. Tanner Gray, No. 15 (TRICON Garage, Toyota)
• 11. Giovanni Ruggiero, No. 17 (TRICON Garage, Toyota)
• 12. Tyler Ankrum, No. 18 (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, Chevrolet)
• 13. Daniel Hemric, No.19 (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, Chevroelt)
• 14. (i) (TBD), No. 22 (Reaume Brothers Racing, Ford)
• 15. Dawson Sutton, No. 26 (Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet)
• 16. Frankie Muniz, No. 33 (Reaume Brothers Racing, Ford
• 17. Layne Riggs, No. 34 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 18. Chandler Smith, No. 38 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 19. Matt Mills, No. 42 (Niece Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 20. Ross Chastain, No. 44 (Niece Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 21. Connor Zilisch (i) No. 45 (Niece Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 22. Christopher Bell (i) No. 52 (Halmar-Friesen Racing, Toyota)
• 23. Timmy Hill, No. 56 (Hill Motorsports, Toyota)
• 24. Wesley Slimp, No. 62 (Halmar-Friesen Racing, Toyota)
• 25. Chris Buescher (i), No. 66 (ThorSport Racing, Ford)
• 26. Derek White, No.69 (Motorsports Business Management, Ford)
• 27. Brent Crews, No. 70 (Brent Crews Racing, Toyota)
• 28. Rajah Caruth, No. 71 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 29. Parker Kligerman, No. 75 (Henderson Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 30. Spencer Boyd, No. 76 (Freedom Racing Enterprises, Chevrolet)
• 31. Andres Perez De Lara, No. 77 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 32. Connor Mosack, No. 81 (ThorSport Racing, Ford)
• 33. Matt Crafton, No. 88 (ThorSport Racing, Ford)
• 34. Jack Wood No. 91 (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, Chevrolet)
• 35. Ty Majeski, No. 98 (ThorSport Racing, Ford)
• 36. Ben Rhoad, No. 99 (ThorSport, Racing, Ford)

Saturday, August 9

• Xfinity Series Practice & Qualifying: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM on the CW App
• Cup Series Practice & Qualifying: 12:05 PM – 2 PM on TruTV & HBO Max
• Xfinity Series Race – Mission 200 at Watkins Glen: 3 PM on the CW & MRN

Mission 200 at Watkins Glen:

NASCAR Xfinity Series (Entry List)

• 1. Sheldon Creed, No. 00 (Haas Factory Team, Ford)
• 2. Carson Kvapil, No. (JR Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 3. Jesse Love, No. 2 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 4. Parker Retzlaff, No. 4 (Alpha Prime Racing, Chevrolet)
• 5. Preston Pardus, No. 07 (SS GreenLight Racing, Chevrolet)
• 6. Justin Allgaier, No. 7 (JR Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 7. Sammy Smith, No. 8 (JR Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 8. Shane van Gisbergen (i) No. 9 (JR Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 9. Daniel Dye, No. 1o (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 10. Michael McDowell (i) No. 11 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 11. Garrett Smithley, No. 14 (SS GreenLight Racing, Chevrolet)
• 12. Christian Eckes, No. 16 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 13. William Sawalich, No. 18 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 14. Riley Herbst (i), No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 15. Brandon Jones, No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 16. Austin Hill, No. 21 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 17. Kaz Grala (i), No. 24 (Sam Hunt Racing, Toyota)
• 18. Harrison Burton, No. 25 (AM Racing, Ford)
• 19. Dean Thompson, No. 26 (Sam Hunt Racing, Ford)
• 20. Jeb Burton, No. 27 (Jordan Anderson Racing, Chevrolet)
• 22. Kyle Sieg, No. 28 (RSS Racing, Ford)
• 23. Austin Green, No. 32 (Jordan Anderson Racing, Chevrolet)
• 24. (i) TBD, No. 35 (Joey Gase Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 25. Ryan Sieg, No. 39 (RSS Racing, Ford)
• 27. Anthony Alfredo, No. 42 (Young’s Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 28. Brennan Poole, No. 44 (Alpha Prime Racing, Chevrolet)
• 29.  Stefan Parsons (i), No. 45 (Alpha Prime Racing, Chevrolet)
• 30. Nicholas Sanchez, No. 48 (Big Machine Racing, Chevrolet)
• 31. Jeremy Clements, No. 51 (Jeremy Clements Racing, Chevrolet)
• 32. Austin J. Hill, No. 53 (Joey Gase Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 33. Taylor Gray, No. 54 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 34. Thomas Annunizata, No. 70 (Cope Family Racing, Chevrolet)
• 35. Ryan Ellis, No. 71 (DGM Racing X JIM, Chevrolet)
• 36. Connor Zilisch, No. 88 (JR Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 37. Josh Bilicki, No. 91 (DGM Racing X JIM, Chevrolet)
• 38. Matt DiBenedetto, No. 99 (Viking Motorsports, Chevrolet)

Sunday, August 10

• Cup Series Race – Go Bowling at the Glen: 2 PM on USA & MRN

Go Bowling at the Glen:

NASCAR Cup Series (Entry List)

• 1. Ross Chastain, No. 1 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
• 2. Austin Cindric, No. 2 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 3. Austin Dillon, No. 3 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 4. Noah Gragson, No. 4 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 5. Kyle Larson, No. 5 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 6. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 7. Justin Haley, No. 7 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 8. Kyle Busch, No. 8 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 9. Chase Elliott, No. 9 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 10. Ty Dillon, No.10 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 11. Denny Hamlin, No. 11, (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 12.  Ryan Blaney, No. 12 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 13. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 (Kauling Racing, Chevrolet)
• 14. Chris Buescher, No. 17 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 15. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 16. Christopher Bell, No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 17. Josh Berry, No. 21 (Woods Brothers Racing, Ford)
• 18. Joey Logano, No. 22 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 19. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 (23XL Racing, Toyota)
• 20. William Byron, No. 24 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 21. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 22. Riley Herbst, No. 22 (23XL Racing, Toyota)
• 23. Zane Smith, No. 39 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 24. Cole Custer, No. 41 (Haas Factory Team, Ford)
• 25. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
• 26. Erik Jones, No. 43 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
• 27. JJ Yeley (i), No. 44 (NY Racing Team, Chevrolet)
• 28. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 (23XL Racing, Toyota)
• 29. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No.47 (HYAK Motorsports)
• 30. Alex Bowman, No. 48 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 31. Cody Ware, No. 51 (Rick Ware Racing, Ford)
• 32. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 33. Ryan Preece, No 60 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 34. Josh Bilicki (i), No. 66 (Garage 66, Ford)
• 35. Michael McDowell, No. 71 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 36. Carson Hocevaar, No. 77 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 37. Katherine Legge, No.78 (Live Fast Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 38. Connor Zilisch (i), No. 87 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
• 39. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
• 40. Daniel Suarez, No. 99 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)

Why This Race Really Matters

Every race matters, sure, but Watkins Glen has a habit of amplifying storylines. For drivers like A.J. Allmendinger, Shane van Gisbergen, and Tyler Reddick, Watkins Glen could be their salvation before the playoff field locks in. Meanwhile, you’ve got road course specialists trying to show up full-timers, and yes, the chaos factor always adds an extra layer of unpredictability. Remember Chris Buescher’s gutsy win last year in overtime? Yeah, we’re still talking about it.

The Drivers to Watch

Here are the names you need to keep an eye on during the weekend:

Chris Buescher

Coming off last year’s win, can he make it two-for-two at the Glen?

 Shane van Gisbergen

This road course ace has quietly become a superstar in NASCAR circles.

A.J. Allmendinger

If anyone’s going to pull off a road course miracle, it’s this guy right here.

Michael McDowell

Consistent and crafty, he always finds a way to stay relevant on road course layouts.

 Some Interesting Facts About Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen International Raceway, located in the heart of Dix, New York, or “The Glen” as it has become affectionately known, is a road course that stretches approximately 2.45 miles in length and has an asphalt surface. The track has banking ranging on average from 6 to 10 degrees into turns, high-speed corners, and unique elevations. The track features two layouts: the long-course layout, also referred to as “The Boot,” and the short-course or NASCAR layout.

The inaugural NASCAR Cup Series Race was held there on August 10, 1986, and was won by Hendrick Motorsports’ Tim Richmond.  More recent winners across the Craftsman, Xfinity, and Cup Series at Watkins Glen include names like Connor Zilisch, Austin Hill, and Chris Buescher. Will one of them be seen in the top ten or capture the checkered flag this Sunday? Only time will tell. 

Why Watkins Glen Always Delivers

There’s something magical about Watkins Glen. It doesn’t matter if you’re watching from the grandstands while clutching an overpriced soda or streaming it on your phone while dodging chores. Watkins Glen races demand attention. From the high-speed straights to the nail-bitingly tight corners, every lap feels unpredictable. Pair that with drivers who know they’ve got everything to lose, and this weekend could deliver one of the most memorable races of the year.

Final Thoughts

Watkins Glen isn’t just another pit stop for NASCAR. It’s where drama unfolds, where underdogs rise, and where loyal fans lose their minds. If you’re not hyped for this weekend yet, you should question your life choices. Want even more updates or a deeper breakdown of the race weekend? Stay tuned.