Location: Watkins Glen International — Watkins Glen, New York
Race Start: 3:00 PM ET Track Type: Permanent road course
Race Distance: 220.86 miles (90 laps) Stage Laps: Stage 1 – 20 | Stage 2 – 20 | Final Stage – 50
VENUE PROFILE — WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL
- Track Length: 2.450 miles (Cup Series layout)
- Turns: 7
- Banking:
- Turns 1–2: 11°
- “Esses” (Turns 2–4): 6°
- Carousel (Turn 5): 10°
- Turn 7: 6°
- Backstretch: The long uphill “Esses” into the back straight create the fastest section of the track, with speeds exceeding 160 mph.
- Surface: Asphalt
- Racing Style: High‑speed road course with heavy braking zones, drafting on the straightaways, and tire‑wear sensitivity.
Impact: Watkins Glen is one of the fastest road courses in NASCAR. Track position, pit strategy, and braking stability are critical. Drivers who excel in rhythm sections (Esses + Carousel) typically dominate.
WEATHER FORECAST — WATKINS GLEN, NY
- Temperature: 68–72°F
- Sky: Partly cloudy
- Wind: 7–10 mph from the west
- Rain: <10% chance
- Track Conditions: Cool temps = more grip, faster lap times
Impact: Ideal racing weather. Expect aggressive strategies, minimal tire falloff, and a fast race pace.
INJURY / TEAM STATUS REPORT
Key Drivers — All Cleared to Race
- Chase Elliott — Healthy
- Tyler Reddick — Healthy
- Christopher Bell — Healthy
- Kyle Larson — Healthy
- Michael McDowell — Healthy
No major injury concerns entering the weekend.
TEAM RECORDS & RECENT FORM
Hendrick Motorsports
- Historically dominant at Watkins Glen
- Elliott & Larson both elite road racers
- Strong momentum entering mid‑May stretch
23XI Racing
- Reddick consistently top‑5 on road courses
- Team improving pit strategy execution
Joe Gibbs Racing
- Bell & Truex Jr. both strong on technical road courses
- JGR cars have shown excellent braking stability in 2026
Front Row Motorsports
- McDowell always a threat at road courses
- FRM typically overperforms at The Glen
RECENT DRIVER FORM (LAST 5 RACES)
Chase Elliott
- 4 top‑10s in last 5
- Road course ace
- Excellent long‑run pace
Kyle Larson
- 3 top‑5s in last 5
- Aggressive but consistent
- Former Watkins Glen winner
Tyler Reddick
- 2 top‑5s, 4 top‑10s
- One of the best road course brakers in the field
Christopher Bell
- 3 top‑10s
- Smooth, technical driver
- Excellent at managing tire wear
Michael McDowell
- 2 top‑10s
- Underrated road course specialist
- FRM tends to nail strategy at The Glen
RACE HISTORY — GO BOWLING AT THE GLEN
- 2025 Winner: Chase Elliott
- 2024 Winner: Tyler Reddick
- 2023 Winner: William Byron
- Most Wins at The Glen (Active):
- Chase Elliott — 3
- Kyle Larson — 2
- Martin Truex Jr. — 1
Trend: The Glen is dominated by elite road racers. Hendrick and 23XI have controlled the event in recent years.
KEY DRIVER MATCHUPS
Chase Elliott vs. Kyle Larson
- Elliott: Smoother, more consistent, elite at The Glen
- Larson: More aggressive, higher peak speed
- Edge: Elliott (track history)
Tyler Reddick vs. Christopher Bell
- Reddick: Better on high‑speed road courses
- Bell: Better on technical, slower road courses
- Edge: Reddick (track layout favors him)
Michael McDowell vs. Martin Truex Jr.
- McDowell: Better recent form
- Truex: More experience, but inconsistent in 2026
- Edge: McDowell (value pick)
BETTING TRENDS
Chase Elliott
- 6 straight top‑5s at The Glen
- 3 wins in last 6 road course starts
- Best average finish at Watkins Glen among active drivers
Kyle Larson
- 2 wins at The Glen
- Top‑10 in 4 of last 5 road course races
Tyler Reddick
- Top‑5 in 3 of last 4 road course events
- Elite qualifying record on road courses
Michael McDowell
- Top‑10 in 3 of last 5 road course races
- Always undervalued in betting markets
DRIVER ODDS
Shane Van Gisbergen + 125
Connor Zilisch + 285
Tyler Reddick + 750
Christopher Bell + 1000
William Byron + 1400
Chase Elliott + 1600
Kyle Larson + 1800
Chris Buescher + 1800
Chase Briscoe + 2200
AJ Allmendinger + 2200
Ty Gibbs + 2200
Ryan Blaney + 2200
Michael McDowell + 2200
Ross Chastain + 3000
Daniel Suarez + 3500
Alex Bowman + 4000
Carson Hocevar + 5000
Kyle Busch + 5000
Joey Logano + 6000
Denny Hamlin + 7000
Austin Cindric + 9000
Ryan Preece + 9000
Todd Gilliland + 12000
Bubba Wallace + 13000
Zane Smith + 15000
Brad Keselowski + 17000
Austin Dillon + 30000
Noah Gragson + 30000
John Hunter Nemechek + 30000
Ty Dillon + 40000
Erik Jones + 40000
Cole Custer + 40000
Riley Herbst + 50000
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. + 50000
Josh Berry + 50000
Katherine Legge + 70000
Josh Bilicki + 70000
Cody Ware + 70000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, May 9, 2026
