Watkins Glen International facts for kids
| "The Glen" | |
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Grand Prix Circuit (1992–present)
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Short Circuit (1992–present)
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| Location | Watkins Glen, New York |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (UTC−04:00 DST) |
| Coordinates | 42°20′13″N 76°55′37″W / 42.337°N 76.927°W |
| Capacity | 38,900 |
| FIA Grade | 2 |
| Owner | NASCAR (2019–present) International Speedway Corporation (1997–2019) |
| Operator | NASCAR (1997–present) |
| Opened | 1956 (as a permanent circuit) |
| Former names | Watkins Glen International Raceway (1982–2005) Watkins Glen Grand Prix Circuit (1948–1981) |
| Major events | Current: IMSA SportsCar Championship 6 Hours of Watkins Glen (1956–1981, 1984–2019, 2021–present) WeatherTech 240 at the Glen (1984–1991, 2001–2012, 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) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Mission 176 at The Glen (1996–2000, 2021, 2025) 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) GT World Challenge America (1992, 1996–1998, 2007–2010, 2018–2019, 2021–2022) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (with Inner Loop Chicane) (1992–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt and concrete |
| Length | 3.450 mi (5.552 km) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:23.9166 ( Sébastien Bourdais, Dallara DW12, 2017, IndyCar) |
| Short Circuit (with Inner Loop Chicane) (1992–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.450 mi (3.943 km) |
| Turns | 8 |
| Race lap record | 0:59.920 ( Davy Jones, Jaguar XJR-14, 1992, IMSA GTP) |
| Short Circuit (with Esses Chicane) (1979–1991) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.428 mi (3.907 km) |
| Turns | 8 |
| Race lap record | 0:59.920 ( Davy Jones, Jaguar XJR-16, 1991, IMSA GTP) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1971–1974, 1986–1991) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 3.377 mi (5.435 km) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:35.600 ( Chip Robinson, Nissan NPT-90, 1990, IMSA GTP) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (with Esses Chicane) (1975–1985) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 3.377 mi (5.435 km) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:34.068 ( Alan Jones, Williams FW07B, 1980, F1) |
| Sports Car Circuit (1971) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.430 mi (3.911 km) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Race lap record | 1:06.083 ( Denny Hulme, McLaren M8F, 1971, Can-Am) |
| Original Grand Prix Circuit (1956–1970) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.350 mi (3.782 km) |
| Turns | 8 |
| Race lap record | 1:02.600 ( Denny Hulme, McLaren M8B, 1969, Can-Am) |
| Second Public Road Course (1953–1955) | |
| Surface | Asphalt, cobbles, concrete, wood, dirt, steel |
| Length | 4.600 mi (7.403 km) |
| Race lap record | 3:10.800 ( Bill Spear, Ferrari 375 MM, 1954, Sports car) |
| Original Public Road Course (1948–1952) | |
| Surface | Asphalt, cobbles, concrete, wood, dirt, steel |
| Length | 6.600 mi (10.622 km) |
| Turns | 28 (approximately) |
| Race lap record | 5:13.500 ( Phil Walters, Healey-Cadillac Special, 1950, FL) |
Watkins Glen International, also known as "The Glen", is a famous car race track in New York, United States. It's located near the village of Watkins Glen, which is where it gets its name.
This track is well-known for hosting many different types of races. For twenty years, from 1961 to 1980, it was the home of the Formula One United States Grand Prix. It has also hosted races like the World Sportscar Championship, Trans-Am, Can-Am, NASCAR, IMSA, and the IndyCar Series. Today, NASCAR owns the track.
The permanent race track opened in 1956. Before that, races were held on public roads around the village. The track's main design has been mostly the same since 1971, with small changes made for safety after some sad accidents.
Watkins Glen International has also been a place for big music concerts. In 1973, the Summer Jam brought together 600,000 fans to see bands like The Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead. More recently, the band Phish held festivals there in 2011 and 2015.
Contents
Track Layouts: How The Glen Changed Over Time
The Watkins Glen International race track has changed its shape several times. People usually talk about five main layouts throughout its history. Currently, two main layouts are used: the "Boot" layout (which is the longer course) and the "NASCAR" layout (which is the shorter course).
Early Races on Public Roads
The very first races at Watkins Glen were organized by Cameron Argetsinger. His family had a summer home nearby. With local support, the first Watkins Glen Grand Prix happened in 1948. It used a 6.6-mile (10.6 km) course on public roads.
For a few years, the races went right through the town, with people watching from the sidewalks. However, after a car accident in 1952, where a car left the road and caused injuries, the races moved. They went to a new, safer spot on a wooded hill outside of town. The original street course is now a historic landmark.
A second public road layout, about 4.6 miles (7.4 km) long, was used from 1953 to 1955.
Building the Permanent Grand Prix Course
The first permanent race track was built in 1956. It was called the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course. This new track was 2.35 miles (3.78 km) long and was used until 1970.
The Shorter Course Layout
In 1971, the track got a big update. Some old turns were removed and a new straight section was added for the pit area and start/finish line. This made "The 90" turn into Turn 1.
When the 1971 Six Hours of Watkins Glen race happened, the full track changes weren't done yet. So, the race used a shorter layout. This became known as the 1971 Six Hours Course.
When NASCAR races returned to the track in 1986, they also used this shorter layout. The IMSA series eventually started using it too. In 1992, the short course was made a little longer with a new section called the "Inner Loop."
The Longer "Boot" Course
The biggest change to the track was a new section called "The Boot," which was ready for the Formula One race in 1971. This new part added four turns, making the track 3.377 miles (5.435 km) long. Because it was used for Formula One, it became known as the Grand Prix Circuit.
In 1973, a sad accident happened during practice for the 1973 United States Grand Prix. To make the track safer, a fast right-left chicane (a series of tight turns) was added in 1975 to slow cars down in the Esses section. This chicane was removed in 1985.
In the early 1990s, IMSA sports cars stopped using "The Boot" and went back to the shorter course. NASCAR races have never used "The Boot" layout. The "Boot" section was repaved and improved in the mid-2000s. When the IndyCar Series returned in 2005, they used "The Boot" layout. The entire track was repaved in 2015.
Adding the Inner Loop for Safety
The most recent big change to the track happened in 1992. This was after several serious crashes at the "Loop" section at the end of the backstretch. For example, in 1991, a NASCAR driver had a fatal accident at that spot.
To improve safety, track officials built a new chicane, like a bus stop, on the back straight just before the "Loop." This new section was called the "Inner Loop," and the old "Loop" became the "Outer Loop." This change made both the short and long track layouts a bit longer.
History of Racing at The Glen
Early Watkins Glen Grand Prix Races
Besides the yearly SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) races, the track hosted its first professional race in 1957 with NASCAR. From 1958 to 1960, it also hosted international Formula Libre races, featuring famous drivers like Stirling Moss.
The United States Grand Prix Era
After a couple of less successful Formula One races in other locations, organizers looked for a permanent home for the United States Grand Prix. In 1961, Watkins Glen was chosen to host the final race of the Formula One World Championship. New pit areas were built to meet international standards.
The 1961 race was won by British driver Innes Ireland. The United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen quickly became a popular yearly event. Fans loved coming to Upstate New York to watch the races among the beautiful autumn leaves. The race was also popular with teams and drivers because it offered good prize money. It even won awards for being one of the best-organized Grand Prix races in 1965, 1970, and 1972.
A well-known person at the USGP was the race starter, Richard "Tex" Hopkins. He was famous for his lavender suit, cigar, and unique way of starting the race by jumping into the air while waving the flag.
Before the 1971 race, the track was significantly changed. It was extended from 2.35 miles (3.78 km) to 3.377 miles (5.435 km) by adding "The Boot" section. The track was also widened and repaved. In 1975, a chicane was added to the Esses section to slow down the cars for safety.
However, as Formula One cars became faster, the track faced safety challenges. Some sad accidents occurred. Also, some parts of the crowd became rowdy, which hurt the track's image. In 1981, the race was removed from the Formula One schedule because the track owed money to the teams.
A Hub for American Road Racing
Even without Formula One, The Glen hosted many other exciting races. These included Can-Am, Trans-Am, and endurance sports car races. These events helped the track keep its reputation as a top road racing facility in the U.S. From 1968 to 1981, the "Six Hours at The Glen" endurance race featured legendary drivers. However, without the Formula One race, the track struggled and eventually closed in 1981.
Reopening and Improvements
The track was not used much for two years. In 1983, a company called Corning Enterprises teamed up with International Speedway Corporation to buy and reopen the track. They renamed it Watkins Glen International.
The renovated track reopened in 1984. The chicane in the Esses section was removed. IMSA races returned, and in 1986, the top NASCAR series came back to Watkins Glen. NASCAR used the shorter 1971 layout.
In 1991, the NASCAR Xfinity Series (then called the Busch Series) started racing at The Glen. Driver Terry Labonte became very successful there.
After some serious crashes in 1991, track officials added the "Inner Loop" chicane to the back straight in 1992 to make the track safer.
In 1997, International Speedway Corporation became the sole owner of the track. Corning Enterprises felt they had achieved their goal of rebuilding the track and boosting tourism in the area.
The track also hosts a popular event for old race cars, the Zippo U.S. Vintage Grand Prix. In 1998, for the 50th anniversary of racing at Watkins Glen, many original cars and drivers returned to race on the old 6.6-mile (10.6 km) street circuit through the village.
In 2005, major open-wheel racing returned with the IndyCar Series. For this, the track was updated again. Grandstands were added, gravel areas were paved, and safety barriers were improved. The entire course was repaved in 2015.
In 2016, IndyCar racing returned to Watkins Glen again. There has been talk about NASCAR also using the full "Boot" layout, but as of 2025, NASCAR still uses the shorter course.
Exciting Events at The Glen
Watkins Glen International hosts many thrilling races and events throughout the year.
- Current Events
- May: ChampCar Endurance Series
- June: IMSA SportsCar Championship 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, Historic Sportscar Racing Classic Six Hours of Watkins Glen, Michelin Pilot Challenge Watkins Glen International 120, Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, Porsche Carrera Cup North America, SCCA Super Tour
- July: Trans-Am Series Watkins Glen SpeedTour, Atlantic Championship Series, Ferrari Challenge North America, F2000 Championship Series, F1600 Championship Series
- August: NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen, NASCAR Xfinity Series Mission 200 at The Glen, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Mission 176 at The Glen, ARCA Menards Series General Tire 100 at The Glen, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America
- September: Sportscar Vintage Racing Association Hilliard U.S. Vintage Grand Prix
- October: National Auto Sport Association
- Future Events
- Mustang Challenge North America (2024, 2026)
- Past Events
- Can-Am (1969–1974, 1977–1981)
- Formula One United States Grand Prix (1961–1980)
- IndyCar Series Grand Prix at The Glen (2005–2010, 2016–2017)
- International Race of Champions (1986–1989, 1991)
- World Sportscar Championship 6 Hours of Watkins Glen (1968–1981)
NASCAR Cup Series Records
These are some of the top records for the NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen:
| Category | Driver(s) | Date | Time |
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| Most wins | 5 | Tony Stewart | |
| Most top 5s | 12 | Mark Martin | |
| Most top 10s | 16 | ||
| Starts | 24 | Jeff Gordon | |
| Poles | 4 | Jeff Gordon | |
| Most laps completed | 2,075 | Jeff Gordon | |
| Most laps led | 262 | Jeff Gordon | |
| Avg. start* | 5.9 | Tony Stewart | |
| Avg. finish* | 8.9 | Carl Edwards |
* from minimum 10 starts.
Images for kids
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The Start/Finish line at Watkins Glen International
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Cars drive through the Esses during the 2014 Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen.
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Watkins Glen International Garage Area
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Marcos Ambrose celebrating the Finger Lakes 355 at the Glen
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Tom Pryce at the 1975 United States Grand Prix in the Boot's main straight
See also
In Spanish: Watkins Glen International para niños
- List of Formula One circuits
- List of Champ Car circuits
- List of NASCAR race tracks
