What’s Happening?

This weekend, all three NASCAR National Series, alongside the ARCA Menards Series, head to Watkins Glen International in New York for the final road course race of the NASCAR regular season.

• Watkins Glen International, located in Watkins Glen, New York, opened in 1956 and has been a long-time staple of NASCAR’s road course schedule. Unlike other series that race at the Glen, NASCAR runs the 2.45-mile eight-turn layout as opposed to the track’s 3.450-mile 11-turn layout featuring the “boot.”
• The Cup Series first raced at the Glen in 1957, and the Xfinity Series first raced there in 1991. This year, the Craftsman Truck Series returns to the 2.45-mile road course for the first time since 2021, but it made its debut there in 1996. No series raced there in 2020.
• For the road course ringers of NASCAR, this is perhaps the last chance to win their way into the 2025 NASCAR Playoffs. But, for those not named Connor Zilisch or Shane van Gisbergen in the Cup Series, winning on road courses has been easier said than done in 2025.

Weekend TV Schedule (All Times EST)*

Friday, August 8: Truck Series Practice and Qualifying | Truck Series Race

• 11:35 AM – 12:25 PM — Truck Series Practice on FS1
• 12:40 PM – 1:30 PM — Truck Series Qualifying on FS1
• 5:00 PM – Truck Series Mission 176 at The Glen on FS1 [TV] & NRN [Radio]

Saturday, August 9: Xfinity Series Practice and Qualifying | Cup Series Practice and Qualifying | Xfinity Series Race

• 9:30 AM – 10:20 AM — Xfinity Series Practice on the CW App
• 10:35 PM – 11:30 PM — Xfinity Series Qualifying on the CW App
• 12:05 PM – 12:55 PM — Cup Series Practice on TruTV and HBO Max
• 1:10 PM – 2:00 PM — Cup Series Qualifying on TruTV and HBO Max
• 3:00 PM – Xfinity Series Mission 200 at The Glen on the CW [TV] & MRN [Radio]

Sunday, August 10: Cup Series Race

• 2:00 PM — Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen on USA [TV] & MRN [Radio]

Race Facts: Watkins Glen International

Track Facts: Watkins Glen International

• Year Opened: 1956
• Length: 2.45 Miles
• Turns: 8 Turns
• Surface: Asphalt
• Rain Tires: Yes
• Lights: No

Mission 176 at The Glen on the FS1:

• Race Length: 72 Laps (176.4 Miles)
• Stages: 20 Lap Stage One, 20 Lap Stage Two, 32 Lap Final Stage
• Most Recent Race Winner: Austin Hill (2021)

Mission 200 at The Glen on The CW:

• Race Length: 82 Laps (200.9 Miles)
• Stages: 20 Lap Stage One, 20 Lap Stage Two, 42 Lap Final Stage
• Most Recent Race Winner: Connor Zilisch

Go Bowling at The Glen on USA:

• Race Length: 90 Laps (220.5 Miles)
• Stages: 20 Lap Stage One, 20 Lap Stage Two, 50 Lap Final Stage

2024 Go Bowling at The Glen Results:

• First: Chris Buescher — No. 17
• Second: Shane van Gisbergen — No. 16
• Third: Carson Hocevar — No. 77
• Fourth: Ross Chastain — No. 1
• Fifth: Zane Smith — No. 71

Top Storylines of the Weekend

• While the 2026 NASCAR Silly Season has been rather quiet so far, this past weekend, the Xfinity Series season kicked off with the announcement that Josh Williams and Kaulig Racing were parting ways. While this is a major seat open in the series, it is only the start of what could be the most exciting silly season for the 2026 season.
• This weekend, those who excel on the road course will likely have a better shot at winning at the Glen. So far this season, notable road course aces in the Cup Series, such as A.J. Allmendinger, Michael McDowell, and Tyler Reddick, have yet to walk away with a win on the road. All three of these drivers have also yet to qualify for the playoffs and are facing an uphill climb if they can’t get it done this weekend.
• While the focus will be on the road course aces this weekend, three races, each of varying degrees of difficulty, remain before the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. For the drivers of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, there are only two races left, as they will set their 12-driver lineup next weekend at Richmond.

Entry Lists

Cup Series

Notable and Open Entries:

• #4 – Noah Gragson
• #23 – Bubba Wallace
• #34 – Todd Gilliland
• #35 – Riley Herbst
• #38 – Zane Smith
• #44 – J.J. Yeley (i)
• #45 – Tyler Reddick
• #66 – Josh Bilicki (i)
• #78 – Katherine Legge
• #87 – Connor Zilisch (i)

Xfinity Series

Notable Entries:

• #07 – Preston Pardus
• #9 – Shane van Gisbergen (i)
• #11 – Michael McDowell (i)
• #19 – Riley Herbst (i)
• #24 – Kaz Grala (i)
• #32 – Austin Green
• #35 – TBA
• #45 – Stefan Parsons (i)
• #70 – Thomas Annunziata
• #91 – Josh Bilicki

Truck Series

Notable Entries:

• #1 – William Sawalich (i)
• #02 – TBA
• #07 – Kyle Busch (i)
• #7 – Sammy Smith (i)
• #44 – Ross Chastain (i)
• #45 – Connor Zilisch (i)
• #52 – Christopher Bell (i)
• #66 – Chris Buescher (i)
• #70 – Brent Crews
• #75 – Parker Kligerman

Note: This article will be updated as more information about the weekend comes out.