Watkins Glen International:

Watkins Glen International:

History

·         After several events were held on the streets of Watkins Glen, a permanent facility was opened in 1956.

·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was in 1957, won by Buck Baker.

·         After a six-year absence, NASCAR returned to The Glen in 1964 and 1965.

·         After a 21-year absence, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returned to The Glen, and has run one race a year there since 1986. This weekend’s race will be the 27th running since its return in 1986.

Notebook

·         There have been 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Watkins Glen International since the first race there in 1957.

·         Buck Baker won the first pole and race.

·         Tim Richmond won the first pole and race upon the series’ return in 1986.

·         There have been 17 different pole winners.

·         The race winner has started first in nine of 29 races. The last race winner to start from the pole was Kyle Busch in 2008.

·         Mark Martin leads all drivers with wins from the pole with three in a row between 1993, 1994 and 1995.

·         19 of the 29 races at Watkins Glen have been won from a top-five starting position.

·         21 of the 29 races at Watkins Glen have been won from a top-10 starting position.

·         The deepest in the field that a Watkins Glen race winner has started was 18th by Steve Park in 2000.

·         18 different drivers have won races, led by Tony Stewart, with five.

·         Jeff Gordon set the all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup record for road-course victories with his victory in 2001, his seventh on a road course. He has since won two more (both at Sonoma), for a career total of nine.

·         Three active drivers with more than one start have an average finish in the top 10: Marcos Ambrose (2.2 in four starts), Tony Stewart (7.0 in 13 starts), Carl Edwards (8.7 in seven starts), and Kyle Busch (9.2 in seven starts).

·         Two drivers have scored their first career NSCS wins at Watkins Glen International: Marcos Ambrose (08/15/2011) and Steve Park (08/13/2000).

·         Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Watkins Glen International winner: Kyle Busch (08/10/2008 – 23 years, 3 months, 8 days).

·         Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Watkins Glen International winner: Geoff Bodine (08/11/1996 – 47 years, 3 months, 24 days).