NASCAR brings its three top series to Watkins Glen International the weekend of May 8-10, its earliest stop on the calendar ever to the Schuyler County road course.
In addition to Sunday afternoon’s Cup race, the 2026 Watkins Glen weekend will include races in the Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series on Friday, May 8 and a NASCAR O’Reilly Parts Series race Saturday, May 9.
All four series return from last year, when they competed during the track’s traditional August weekend.
Outside of the 2020 race that was moved to Daytona International Raceway’s road course and the 2024 event that moved to September as part of the Cup Series playoffs, Watkins Glen had hosted its NASCAR weekend in August each year since 1986.
Here are the schedule, TV information, and last year’s winners as Watkins Glen gets set to crown a new set of race champions on Mother’s Day weekend.
Friday, May 8
9:30-10:15 a.m.: ARCA Menards Series practice.
10:30-10:50 a.m.: ARCA Menards Series qualifying.
11-11:50 a.m.: Truck Series practice.
12:05-1 p.m.: Truck Series qualifying.
1:30 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series General Tire 100 at The Glen (41 laps, 100.45 miles). Televised live on FS2.
4:30 p.m.: Truck Series Bully Hill Vineyards 176 at The Glen (stages 20/40/72, 176.4 miles). Televised live on FS1.
Saturday, May 9
10:30-11:20 a.m.: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series practice.
11:35 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series qualifying.
1-2 p.m.: Cup Series practice.
2:10-3 p.m.: Cup Series qualifying.
4 p.m.: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Mission 200 at The Glen (stages 20/40/82, 200.9 miles). Televised live on The CW Network.
Sunday, May 10
2:20 p.m.: Driver introductions/parade lap.
3 p.m.: Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen (stages 20/50/100, 245 miles). Televised live on FS1.
2025 Watkins Glen Winners
Cup Series: Shane van Gisbergen.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity Series): Connor Zilisch.
Truck Series: Corey Heim.
ARCA Menards Series: Tristan McKee.
Tickets/camping
Visit theglen.com to purchase tickets and for camping information. Prices vary by location and package. Weekend and Sunday-only packages available.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: NASCAR set for May racing at Watkins Glen. What you need to know
Reporting by Andrew Legare, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
