| | | | | | | | | | Watkins Glen International | The Glen |
| | Watkins Glen, NY Nicknamed The Glen, Watkins Glen International is a road course located in Watkins Glen, New York. The 2.45-mile course has been home to road racing of almost every class for more than 50 years. The track is known globally as the home of the United States Grand Prix, which it hosted for 20 years until 1980.
Cameron Argetsinger, a law student whose family had a summer home in the area, wanted to bring European style competition to the area. On October 2, 1948, his dream became a reality. For the first five years it existed, the track hosted many well-known racers and huge crowds came to watch the races. In 1953, competition moved to a temporary course, and a 2.3-mile permanent circuit was built in 1956. By 1957, The Glen hosted a NASCAR Grand National stock car event its first professional race which was won by Buck Baker.
In 1971, the track was expanded, and The Glen saw a variety of competition throughout the 1970s, including the Can-Am, Trans-Am, Six Hours, Formula 5000 and CART IndyCar Series. Racers like Mark Donohue, Mario Andretti and Jody Scheckter claimed victory on the course.
But financial struggles came in the early 1980s, causing The Glen to be dropped from the Formula One schedule. The track was bankrupt and closed in 1981 after a CART race. Watkins Glen hosted only a few non-spectator SCCA weekends over the next two years, and the course deteriorated.
A 1983 purchase by Corning Enterprises, and a partnership with International Speedway Corporation, would form Watkins Glen International, and The Glen reopened in July, 1984.
The Cup Series returned in 1986, with Tim Richmond claiming victory, and Terry Labonte won the first Busch Series race in 1991.
In 1992, the course was reconfigured with the addition of the inner loop, which made the long course 3.4 miles and the short course 2.45 miles.
International Speedway Corp. exercised a stock option buy-out of Corning Incorporated and became sole owner of the course in 1997.
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