Watkins Glen - the first of ten tracks we love.

Watkins Glen International
2.45 miles, 11 turns

The Nextel Cup circuit visits more than 20 venues through a 38-week duration, and with an overabundance of cookie-cutter mile-and-a-half tracks, road courses are sadly swept under the rug.

Road courses are the only type of track not included in the season-ending Chase. Many fans and journalists have called for a road course in the Chase, if only to show that a champion has to have prowess at all sorts of tracks. Unfortunately, this will not be happening any time soon, and road race fans must console themselves with only two races per year.

One of those races is held in historic Watkins Glen, NY. The Glen, as it is popularly known, is a jewel nestled in some of the prettiest land in all of New York State.

The Glen was the brainchild of Cameron Argetsinger, a law student who was keen to bring European-style road racing to the United States. He spent summer vacations in the village of Watkins Glen, and felt it was the right community to host such races. He drew a course that included dirt, asphalt and cement. The course opened on October 2, 1948, billed as the first U.S. road race since World War II ended.

A temporary course was built and competition moved there in 1953. A permanent, 2.3 mile course was in the works, and was built in 1956. The following year, The Glen hosted its first professional stock car race, a Grand National event, won by the legendary Buck Baker.

The track’s glory days reached into the 1970s when The Glen began hosting other events like the Can-Am series, Formula 5000, Trans-Am and more. An international flavor took over the track, with names like Mario Andretti, Jody Scheckter, and Bruce McLaren in the winner’s circle. The track’s success continued until the 1980 United States Grand Prix.

Formula dropped The Glen from its schedule after the 1980 USGP, forcing the track into bankruptcy. It lay in disrepair for over two years and hosted only non-spectator events. In 1983, Corning Glass’s Corning Enterprises purchased the track and formed a partnership with NASCAR’s sister company, International Speedway Corporation.

In 1984, the track reopened as Watkins Glen International. In 1986, the track saw NASCAR’s return. Tim Richmond won on August 9. The track would continue to hold Cup races but expanded to the companion Busch Series in 1991. Terry Labonte won the 1991 Busch race and continued a winning streak at the Glen that helped build his reputation as a road racer.

In 1992, the track underwent construction to change the configuration. Two courses, the long and the short courses, were altered. With the addition of the Inner Loop turn, the short course was extended to 2.45 miles and the long course totaled 3.4 miles.

International Speedway Corporation looked to buy out Corning Enterprises in 1997 through a stock option, and became the sole owner in that year. In 1998, The Glen hosted its first combination event, a Busch Series and a Truck Series race.

The Glen would be the site of many exciting and milestone victories in later years. Memorably, Steve Park’s emotional first Cup win came in 2000 while fending off veteran Mark Martin. Jeff Gordon’s record-setting seventh road course win came at The Glen in 2001.

While the Cup Series only visits The Glen once a year, the racing is unparalleled. The fastest road course in the United States showcases very fierce competition and is always an exciting event whether one is a spectator at home or at the track.

Next year’s race will be held on August 10, 2008. No doubt it will be a special event, as 2008 marks the track’s 60th year of existence. If you haven’t been a road course fan before, check out the 2008 race and see why it is one of 10 tracks we love.