Chase Briscoe in the Go Bowling at the Glen – Motorsport America Photo
Watkins Glen International NASCAR Weekend Moves to The Chase in 2027
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 [1].
To view the entire 2027 NASCAR schedule, visit www.nascar.com/schedule
[2].
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/ [3].
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 [4], Twitter
[5], and Instagram [6]. For tickets, camping, and additional
information, call 1-866-461-RACE or visit www.TheGlen.com [7] and get
all of the latest information by downloading the NASCAR tracks app at
NASCAR TRACKS APP | WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL [8]