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BACK TO GALLERIES

Historic moments at Watkins Glen

By | Published: January 23, 2021 12
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BACK TO GALLERIES

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As the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series makes its stop at Watkins Glen International, we look back at some of the most memorable moments from the New York road course.

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Aug. 10, 1986
After a racing hiatus at Watkins Glen International stretching from 1965, Tim Richmond (No. 25) led the field to green in stock car racing's return to the track. Richmond retook the lead from Darrell Waltrip (No. 11) with 12 laps to go to win the race, earning his fourth victory in six attempts.

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Aug. 11, 1996
Dale Earnhardt earned his 'Intimidator' nickname by handing out some lickings on the race track, but he could take one, too, as he proved in 1996. Earnhardt couldn't breathe or raise his right arm as NASCAR's premier series headed to the road course in New York. He had been in a hard wreck at Talladega two weeks earlier, suffering a dislocated sternum and broken collarbone. Earnhardt stayed in the car for the whole race on Aug. 11, 1996, despite Jeff Green standing by in case he needed or wanted relief. The No. 3 finished sixth. After finishing the 220.5-mile race, Earnhardt said, 'It hurts. But it's a good hurt.'

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Aug. 13, 2000
His boss, Dale Earnhardt, may have left him stranded at the track, but Steve Park was happy to find another way home. Park had just won the road course race after a 15.4-second pit stop for fuel and tires and successfully battling Mark Martin on the final lap. He was ready to celebrate his first Winston Cup win -- and did so on top of his car on the frontstretch. Park poses here in Victory Lane.

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Aug. 12 2001
Back when it was cool to hate Jeff Gordon, NASCAR fans set a 'Honk if you hate Gordon' sign on the way to the upstate New York road course, according to a New York Times story on the race. The driver responded with a victory, finishing 0.172 seconds ahead of Jeff Burton. The Hendrick driver's record-setting fourth win at the track is a feat that has only been matched by Tony Stewart. Gordon went on to win the championship that year.

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Aug. 14, 2005
Tony Stewart and the No. 20 The Home Depot Chevrolet crew celebrate their fifth victory in seven races after winning the Sirius Satellite Radio at the Glen in Victory Lane at Watkins Glen International. Stewart set a track record for the most laps led by a race winner.

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Aug. 10, 2008
Kyle Busch shows that his No. 18 M&M's Toyota team has claimed its eighth win of the season in the Centurion Boats at the Glen. It also marked Joe Gibbs Racing's fifth victory out of seven Cup Series races at Watkins Glen International. The win locked up the top seed in the NASCAR Playoffs for Busch.

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Aug. 10, 2009
Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at Watkins Glen International. The victory gives Stewart a record five wins at the New York road course.

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Aug. 8, 2010
Juan Pablo Montoya crosses the finish line directly below the checkered flag to win the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International. Montoya’s second win in the series gave him the career sweep at the two road courses on the schedule.

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Aug. 15, 2011
In one of the scariest incidents at Watkins Glen International, a chain reaction led to the No. 00 of David Reutimann spinning on its roof across the track before the remaining hulk of his car landed along the outside of the second turn on the final lap. It wasn't until Tony Stewart spun out and hit the end of the pit road barrier a few turns later that the yellow flag was thrown, giving Marcos Ambrose the win.

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Aug. 12, 2012
After leader Kyle Busch spun out, Marcos Ambrose and Brad Keselowski went at it on the final lap of the race, trading the lead as they made contact while racing side-by-side to the checkered flag. It was Ambrose who would come out on top, earning the road-course expert his second consecutive win at the track.

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Aug. 5, 2018
With two of the sport's best road racers in Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch hot on his tail, Chase Elliott led a dominant 52 laps en route to his first career win in thrilling fashion.
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