A case can be made the most significant date in the history of Elmira-Corning region sports took place 40 years ago this month.
What is now known simply as the NASCAR Cup Series returned to Watkins Glen International on Aug. 10, 1986. That 36-car, 90-lap race not only marked the return of stock-car racing’s top series to the Schuyler County road course for the first time in 21 years, it also started what is now a 40-year union.
There were only two road courses on the series’ schedule in 1986. In part because of Watkins Glen’s success both from a fan and entertainment standpoint, road racing has expanded in NASCAR. This year’s schedule included four road or street courses.
Shane Van Gisbergen was a repeat winner of the Go Bowling at The Glen in May, the earliest the event has been held. The Glen’s showcase returns in September of 2027, putting it in the Cup playoffs.
With NASCAR’s return to WGI more than a year away, let’s revisit that 1986 race that has gone down in history for reasons beyond it being the series’ first following 1957, 1964 and 1965 events.
‘Watkins Glen means racing’
Watkins Glen made its mark hosting Formula One’s U.S. Grand Prix from 1961 to 1980, but only two years later the track was bankrupt. Corning Enterprises, spearheaded by Jim Riesbeck, bought the track and racing returned by 1984.
It was announced Oct. 16, 1985 that what was then called the Winston Cup Grand National Series would be coming to Watkins Glen in August of 1986. A press conference was held at WGI’s Glen Club and included NASCAR President Bill France Jr., WGI chairman Conrad Semski, and Cup driver Geoff Bodine, a native of nearby Chemung.
“Watkins Glen means racing,” Bodine said then.
“I saw the last Grand National race here. And when I was a young kid, I can remember climbing a tree to watch the Grand Prix races.”
During a 2009 press conference in which Riesbeck was inducted into the inaugural Legends of The Glen, NASCAR President Mike Helton recognized his contribution. Riesbeck, whose conversation with France spurred the idea for a Cup race at WGI, died in 1993 at age 50.
“We’re sitting here today as a result of Jim Riesbeck’s efforts,” Helton said at the induction. “I guarantee you, without a doubt, had it not been for Jim Riesbeck, we would not be here and I don’t know what kind of shape Watkins Glen would be in.”
Richmond a winner 3 years before death
The colorful and talented Tim Richmond secured the victory in the inaugural Budweiser at The Glen after capturing the pole position in qualifying. Prize money for his triumph, which came by a 1.45-second margin over Darrell Waltrip, was $50,955.
“I had a lot of nerve-wracking thoughts going through my mind,” Richmond said after a race in which eight cars didn’t finish because of engine or transmission issues. “Basically, I thought about how much abuse my car could take.”
It was one of 13 Cup victories for Richmond during an eight-season career, including a series-high seven in that 1986 season while driving for Hendrick Motorsports.
On Aug. 13, 1989, the same day as the fourth Bud at The Glen, Richmond died at age 34. His family cited complications from HIV/AIDS as the Ohio native’s cause of death.
Earnhardt magic on display on way to season title
Dale Earnhardt’s visit to Watkins Glen in 1986 produced a third-place finish. While he never won at Watkins Glen, Earnhardt ran well there, adding third-place finishes in 1989 and 1994 among eight top-10 showings in his first 11 trips to WGI.
The manner in which Earnhardt finished was impressive. He was in eighth place on lap 82 and passed Benny Parsons, Ricky Rudd, Neil Bonnett, and Bill Elliott over the closing laps.
“We just ran out of laps,” Earnhardt said afterward.
The Glen finish contributed to the second of seven Cup Series season titles for Earnhardt, who died in a crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001.
Legendary field part of Watkins Glen history
Eight of the top-12 finishers in the ’86 Bud at The Glen have ended up in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Along with Earnhardt, the list includes runner-up Darrell Waltrip, fourth-place finisher Bill Elliott, fifth-place finisher Rusty Wallace, seventh-place finisher Ricky Rudd, Benny Parsons in eighth, Richard Petty in 10th, and Bobby Allison in 12th.
Two more Hall of Famers — Terry Labonte and Harry Gant — also competed.
Watkins Glen was one of only five Cup starts for Al Unser Sr., a towering figure in racing largely known for winning the Indy 500 four times. Unser finished 29th at WGI after running into transmission issues. A day earlier, Al Unser Jr. won the first of five IROC (International Race of Champions) races hosted by the track from 1986 to 1991. He added IROC wins there in 1988 and 1989.
Large crowd added to atmosphere
NASCAR’s estimated crowd for the 1986 race was around 88,000 fans, with that initial strong turnout setting the tone for NASCAR’s continued presence at a racetrack it also now owns. Watkins Glen has become known for its enthusiastic fan base and large number of campers.
Riesbeck said after the race he talked to about 150 fans.
“Everybody was positive about it and they said it was a great race,” he said.
NASCAR Director of Public Relations Chip Williams said the day after the race NASCAR was “somewhere between extremely pleased and ecstatic” with how things went.
“The response from the competitors was tremendous,” Williams added. “They loved the place. And that’s not PR hype either, they really enjoyed the fans and enthusiasm.”
Corning teacher raced with likes of Petty and Elliott
Among the drivers who competed in the 1986 Bud at The Glen, perhaps the most intriguing is Thomas Rotsell, who drove to a more than respectable 26th-place finish despite tire issues that led to five pitstops.
Rotsell was a Corning East industrial arts teacher from Lawrenceville, which is near the New York-Pennsylvania border. He had recently sold Rotsell’s Restaurant in Lawrenceville and rented a car owned by North Carolina-based Ron Spohn Racing and gave it his best shot competing against some of the biggest names in racing history.
Rotsell, who had experience competing at area dirt tracks and in Sports Car Club of America, returned to Watkins Glen in 1987 and 1988, posting a repeat 26th-place finish followed by 22nd.
“I was disappointed it was over,” he said after the ’86 event. “Another 100 laps would have been nice. It was a blast.”
He added, “It’s going to take a lot to beat this. I’ll probably keep racing, but nothing’s going to match this.”
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Looking back 40 years later at NASCAR’s return to Watkins Glen
Reporting by Andrew Legare, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
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By Andrew Legare, Elmira Star-Gazette | USA TODAY Network
