Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen International, nicknamed "The Glen", is an automobile race track in the northeastern United States, located in Dix, New York, just southwest of the village of Watkins Glen, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. It is long known around the world as the former home of the Formula One United States Grand Prix, which it hosted for twenty consecutive years (1961–1980). In addition, the site has also been home to road racing of nearly every class, including the World Sportscar Championship, Trans-Am, Can-Am, NASCAR Cup Series, the International Motor Sports Association, and the IndyCar Series. The facility is currently owned by NASCAR.
"The Glen"
38,900[1]
2[a]
NASCAR (2019–present)
International Speedway Corporation (1997–2019)
NASCAR (1997–present)
1956 (as a permanent circuit)
Watkins Glen Grand Prix Circuit (1948–1981)
Watkins Glen International Raceway (1982–2005)
Current:
IMSA SportsCar Championship
6 Hours of Watkins Glen
(1956–1981, 1984–2019, 2021–present)
WeatherTech 240 at the Glen (1984–1991, 2001–2011, 2021)
NASCAR Cup Series
Go Bowling at The Glen
(1957, 1964–1965, 1986–2019, 2021–present)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Mission 200 at The Glen
(1991–2019, 2021–present)
Trans-Am Series (1968–1980, 1984–1985, 1990–1998, 2009, 2012–2013, 2016–2019, 2021–present)
Former:
Formula One
United States Grand Prix
(1961–1980)
IndyCar Series
Grand Prix at The Glen
(1979–1981, 2005–2010, 2016–2017)
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
United Rentals 176
(1996–2000, 2021)
GT World Challenge America
(1992, 1996–1998, 2007–2010, 2018–2019, 2021–2022)
Asphalt and concrete
3.450 miles (5.552 km)
11
1:23.9166 (
Sébastien Bourdais, Dallara DW12, 2017, IndyCar)
Asphalt
2.450 miles (3.943 km)
8
0:59.920 (
Davy Jones, Jaguar XJR-14, 1992, IMSA GTP)
Asphalt
2.428 miles (3.907 km)
8
0:59.920 ( Davy Jones, Jaguar XJR-16, 1991, IMSA GTP)
Asphalt
3.377 miles (5.435 km)
11
1:35.600 ( Chip Robinson, Nissan NPT-90, 1990, IMSA GTP)
Asphalt
3.377 miles (5.435 km)
11
1:34.068 (
Alan Jones, Williams FW07B, 1980, F1)
Asphalt
2.430 miles (3.911 km)
7
1:06.083 (
Denny Hulme, McLaren M8F, 1971, Can-Am)
Asphalt
2.350 miles (3.782 km)
8
1:02.600 ( Denny Hulme, McLaren M8B, 1969, Can-Am)
Asphalt, cobbles, concrete, wood, dirt, steel
4.600 miles (7.403 km)
3:10.800 ( Bill Spear, Ferrari 375 MM, 1954, Sports car)
Asphalt, cobbles, concrete, wood, dirt, steel
6.600 miles (10.622 km)
28 (approximately)
5:13.500 ( Phil Walters, Healey-Cadillac Special, 1950, Formula Libre)
The course was opened in 1956 to host auto races previously held on public roads in and around the village. The circuit's current layout has more or less been the same since 1971, with minor modifications after the fatal crashes of François Cevert (1973) and J.D. McDuffie (1991).
The site has also hosted several music concerts: the 1973 Summer Jam, featuring The Allman Brothers Band, the Grateful Dead, and The Band and was attended by 600,000 fans;[2] and two Phish festivals: Super Ball IX in 2011 and Magnaball in 2015.
History[edit]
Watkins Glen Grand Prix[edit]
Along with the annual SCCA race, the track hosted its first professional race (NASCAR Grand National Division) in 1957. It hosted its first international event with the Formula Libre races from 1958 to 1960. Among the drivers participating were Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss, Phil Hill, and Dan Gurney.