The NASCAR race weekend will take place September 17-19 with races in the ARCA Menards, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and NASCAR Cup Series
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Aug. 26, 2026) – Watkins Glen International announced today that the NASCAR race weekend is officially moving back to the fall and will play a pivotal role in the early portion of The Chase. The triple-header weekend will feature the ARCA Menards, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and NASCAR Cup Series racing from Sept. 17-19.
In addition to the NASCAR weekend in mid-September, Watkins Glen International will host the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) and the Hilliard US Vintage Grand Prix Presented by Mission Foods Sept. 10-12, creating back-to-back weekends of racing excitement for fans.
“The Finger Lakes is destined for an incredible fall in 2027 with the NASCAR race weekend occurring during The Chase, as well as the historic Hilliard US Vintage Grand Prix Presented by Mission Foods weekend,” said Dawn Burlew, President of Watkins Glen International. “Whether you like stockcar racing or those classic cars from years past, there is no better place for automotive aficionados than The Glen next September.”
In 2027, Watkins Glen returns to a fall weekend on the NASCAR schedule, this time helping to crown champions as part of The Chase. As one of the first postseason weekends, fans can witness the culmination of a yearlong goal as drivers go pedal to the metal to catch up in the standings.
Earlier this year, Shane Van Gisbergen defended his 2025 title with a substantial seven second victory at the 2026 Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International. When combining his last two races in the Finger Lakes, the New Zealand native led 112 of the 190 laps (58.9%) and had a total win margin of nearly 18.5 seconds. With another win in 2027, SVG would become the first Cup Series driver to complete the three-peat since Jeff Gordon did so from 1997 to 1999.
Below are the dates for the 2027 NASCAR season at Watkins Glen International:
- Friday, September 17 – NASCAR ARCA Menards Series
- Saturday, September 18 – NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Mission Foods 200 at The Glen
- Sunday, September 19 – NASCAR Cup Series
Fans can purchase tickets to the 2027 NASCAR race weekend at www.theglen.com.
To view the entire 2027 NASCAR schedule, visit www.nascar.com/schedule.
Watkins Glen International has yet to close the calendar on 2026. The SVRA weekend is still ahead, scheduled for Sept. 10-13. It coincides with the annual Watkins Glen Grand Prix Festival. Since 1992, the Finger Lakes has celebrated rich motor racing history with an all-day festival – this year on Friday, Sept. 11th.
The highlight of the evening, though, is the homage to The Glen’s original 6.6-mile road course. Select race cars will go back in time and wow crowds with the taste of street racing in the 1940s. The event suits the whole family as the entire town transforms into a public walkway featuring iconic cars, vendors and more.
At the track itself, there is a whole weekend of on-track activities. Fans interested in the 2026 SVRA weekend can purchase tickets at https://www.theglen.com/events/hilliard-u-s-vintage-grand-prix/.
About Watkins Glen International
Located within five hours and 300 miles of 25 percent of the U.S. population, Watkins Glen International is the premier road racing facility in North America, four-times voted “Best NASCAR Track” by readers of USA Today. Keep up with The Glen on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For tickets, camping, and additional information, call 1-866-461-RACE or visit www.TheGlen.com and get all of the latest information by downloading the NASCAR tracks app at NASCAR TRACKS APP | WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.
