NASCAR is once again shifting its annual stop at Watkins Glen International. The racing circuit announced Wednesday that it will return to Schuyler County the weekend of May 8–10, 2026, with the Cup Series race set for Mother’s Day. The schedule for the weekend, as provided by the track, is below:
- Friday, May 8: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race
- Saturday, May 9: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Mission 200 at The Glen
- Sunday, May 10: NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen
It marks the earliest NASCAR race at The Glen since the sport returned to the track in 1986. In 2024, Watkins Glen hosted a September playoff race for the first time, before moving back to its traditional August slot this year.
Other changes include: Dover Motor Speedway will host the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race for the first time on May 17th with the Trucks and O’Reilly in tow, making it a triple-header weekend in Delaware. Also announced previously, the Anduril 250 Race the Base happens at Naval Station Coronado on Father’s Day Weekend for the Cup, with the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and CRAFTSMAN Trucks also competing in San Diego.
Chicagoland Speedway returns after a seven-year hiatus over the 4th of July weekend for both NCS and NOS. North Wilkesboro Speedway will host its first points race for the Cup Series since 1996 on July 12th, and will be joined by the Trucks that weekend.
There will be an all-series Summer Break the weekend of July 31st – August 2nd, where no races are scheduled. The only big change for the playoffs is New Hampshire moving to the regular season weekend of August 22nd to make way for Phoenix to be the first race of the Round of 8 in the NCS Playoffs on October 18th. Homestead-Miami Speedway, as previously announced, returns as the host of Championship Weekend for all three series the weekend of November 6th.
Tickets for the Watkins Glen races can be purchased by clicking here
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