Watkins Glen Saturday Sets Action on Road Course

The Cup and Xfinity series will be on track at the road course in New York.

Watkins Glen Saturday Sets Action on Road Course

Watkins Glen International hosts a busy Saturday for NASCAR's Xfinity and Cup Series. The Xfinity program runs practice and qualifying from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for an 82-lap race that starts after 3 p.m. Connor Zilisch returns as the defending winner. The race will feature three full-time Cup drivers: Shane van Gisbergen, Riley Herbst and Michael McDowell, adding star power to the field.

The Cup Series hits the track from 12:05 to 2 p.m. for practice and qualifying to set the field for Sunday's 90-lap road race. The venue plans to be open from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. for Xfinity and 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for Cup. The forecast calls for sunshine with a high near 88, and only a 3 percent chance of rain at the start of the Xfinity race.

The schedule shows NASCAR blending development and top-tier competition at a road course. Xfinity drivers get a rare chance to test the Glen's tight corners while Cup regulars join the field, which could influence race strategy and results. The mix can boost fan interest but may raise questions about competitive balance and resource allocation. If the weather holds, Saturday becomes a test of pace management, braking discipline and setup planning heading into Sunday. The early practice windows also press teams to adjust quickly, underscoring how road racing demands precision beyond oval speed.

Highlights

The Glen will push teams to balance speed with setup discipline as the weekend unfolds.