Watkins Glen International race track in upstate New York announced on Thursday that it will now open a designated viewing area of the track to spectators for free on certain days. Unknown to many fans, the track is in use, like most other tracks are, many more days in the year than it is open to fans. With this new access to the Argetsinger Grandstand, more fans visiting the Watkins Glen area who would like to see the track will now have the ability to do so.
Michael Printup, President of WGI, confirmed the new access and revealed the name of the free program:
“Tourists and race fans visiting our area have always stopped by the track and wanted to see this historical facility. As part of our Fans R1st initiative we established a free viewing area so they can get a taste of the excitement that is The Glen.”
What's more, fans will not only be allowed to view the historic track that currently hosts NASCAR and other national series races and was the home of Formula 1 in the United States from 1961 to 1980, but they will be able to watch action on the track as well. The Fans R1st hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on days when the track is rented for vehicles out there running it. Below is a tentative calendar of track rental days when fans may view the action from the Argetsinger Grandstand for free. Dates may include, but may not be limited to:
- April 12-14 ChumpCar
- May 17-19 North American Road Racing Association (NARRA)
- May 25-26 Sports Car Club of America (SCCA)
- May 31-June 2 Porsche Clash
- June 7-9 Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA)
- July 20-21 SCCA
- Aug. 30-Sept. 1 Ferrari
- Sept. 14-15 SCCA
- Sept.27-29 National Auto Sport Association (NASA)
- Oct. 5-6 SCCA
- Oct. 11-13 Vintage Racers Group (VRG)
According to WGI, access to the free Fans R1st Viewing Area is an additional feature for fans to the popular daily Thunder Road Tours currently available for a fee and run at noon and 5 p.m.
Tickets for the NASCAR Cheez-It 355 at The Glen as well as other professional series events at the track are available now. See Watkins Glen International's website for more information on tickets or the new Fans R1st initiative.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Connie Ann Kirk, Ph.D. is the author of several books and has been writing with Examiner since 2009. With Irish historic racer, John Monson M.D. of Rochester, NY, she is working on a book about racers and racing.
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