Watkins Glen, NY - The grid for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International is now set, with group qualifying scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 2:10 p.m. ET. Practice sessions for the Cup Series are slated for earlier the same day, commencing at 1 p.m. ET, available for viewing on Prime Video. This event marks the series' annual stop in New York's Finger Lakes region and serves as the second road course on the 2026 schedule, following the March event at COTA.
A total of 38 drivers are confirmed for the 38-car field, a number consistent with the charter system's evolution, ensuring full-time participation from all 36 chartered entries. Notably, the field includes two open entries: Josh Bilicki and Katherine Legge, competing under Garage 66 and Live Fast Motorsports, respectively.
Qualifying Dynamics
The weekend's racing schedule will see action across all three NASCAR national series. The Craftsman Truck Series will hold its group qualifying on Friday at 12:05 p.m. ET, preceded by practice at 11 a.m. ET (FS2). Concurrently, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will conduct its qualifying session at 11:35 a.m. ET on Friday, with practice beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET (The CW App).
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Drivers confirmed for the Cup Series entry list include a familiar roster alongside some anticipated participants. Among those listed are: Ross Chastain, Harrison Burton, Alex Guenette, Patrick Staropoli, Anthony Alfredo, William Sawalich, Shane van Gisbergen, Jeremy Clements, Parker Retzlaff, and Justin Allgaier. The list also features prominent names such as Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon, Noah Gragson, Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Ty Dillon, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, A.J. Allmendinger, Chris Buescher, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell, Josh Berry, Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace, William Byron, Todd Gilliland, Riley Herbst, Zane Smith, Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek, Erik Jones, Tyler Reddick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Alex Bowman, Cody Ware, Ty Gibbs, Ryan Preece, Carson Hocevar, and Michael McDowell.
The specific qualifying order and groupings are detailed for all three series, providing the initial framework for determining the starting positions on race day. While some reports offer snippets of potential qualifying times or metric scores, the official NASCAR release appears to be the most comprehensive source for the finalized orders.
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Context: Watkins Glen's Road Course Challenge
Watkins Glen International, a circuit steeped in motorsport history, presents a distinct challenge for drivers accustomed to oval tracks. Its tight turns and elevation changes demand precision and a unique skill set. The May date places this road course event as the second of its kind in the season, allowing drivers and teams to build upon their performance from the earlier road course outing. The presence of international talent, such as Shane van Gisbergen, on the entry list underscores the global appeal and competitive breadth of NASCAR's road racing endeavors. This event continues a tradition of bringing multiple NASCAR divisions to the iconic upstate New York venue.
