NASCAR has announced that Watkins Glen International will move to a new spot on the schedule for the 2027 season. It will play a role in The Chase.
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The track and NASCAR announced the news on Thursday, May 7, ahead of a packed weekend featuring the ARCA Menards Series, Craftsman Truck Series, O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, and Cup Series.
NASCAR did not provide the exact date but said that the race will take place in September 2027. The sanctioning body will reveal the exact date and information about the accompanying series in the coming months while releasing the full schedule.
Twisting and turning into the Chase! 🔀
We'll welcome all of you back to Watkins Glen in September 2027 for next year’s NASCAR race weekend! pic.twitter.com/ZJSZ9FmlYx
— Watkins Glen International (@WGI) May 7, 2026
So where exactly will this race fit? Logic dictates that it will be early in The Chase, but the exact spot remains in question. After all, the season will start one week later than normal (Feb. 21, 2027) to avoid a clash with Super Bowl 61, which will have an effect on the rest of the schedule.
The New York road course debuted on the Cup Series schedule in 1957. It returned in 1964 and 1965 before going away for more than 20 years. Watkins Glen International then returned in 1986, and it has remained ever since. The lone exception was 2020 due to COVID disrupting the schedule.
The Cup Series race has raced at the road course 42 times. Two of these races were in July (1964-1965) and one was in September (2024). This race weekend marks the first time that the Cup Series teams have raced at Watkins Glen in the month of May.
The other 39 races at this track took place during the month of August. This provided families with the opportunity to get in one more camping trip before school, and it provided the opportunity to enjoy the last bit of summer weather while watching the top drivers in stock car racing compete.
The 2027 season will not provide this same opportunity, but those who attend the race weekend at Watkins Glen International will still be able to enjoy some solid weather. They will just do so while watching drivers try to rack up points during the 10-race Chase.
