Watkins Glen International will host a packed weekend of racing action as all three NASCAR national series head to the Finger Lakes for three consecutive days of competition. With a full entry list in Cup, Xfinity, and Truck, the schedule promises non-stop track time and several storylines to watch, including multiple Cup drivers pulling double or even triple duty. The weekend could play a crucial role in shaping the playoff outlook as the regular season winds down.
Key Highlights
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NASCAR brings full fields in all three national series for Watkins Glen weekend August 8-10, 2025.
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Four open entries in the Cup Series include JJ Yeley, Josh Bilicki, Katherine Legge, and Connor Zilisch.
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Cup stars Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, and Chris Buescher will run the Truck Series Mission 176.
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Connor Zilisch will compete in all three series after being tabbed for the Niece Motorsports No. 45 Truck.
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All races have confirmed TV coverage with Trucks on FS1, Xfinity on The CW, and Cup on USA Network.
Friday: ARCA and Trucks Set the Tone
The weekend kicks off Friday morning with ARCA Menards Series practice at 10 a.m. ET followed by qualifying at 11 a.m. The General Tire 100 will take the green flag at 2 p.m. ET. Between ARCA sessions, the Truck Series will hit the track for practice at 11:35 a.m. followed by qualifying at 12:40 p.m. Thirty-six trucks will make up the field for the Mission 176, set for 5 p.m. ET on FS1, marking the first full field since Daytona earlier this year.
Four Cup regulars join the mix: Kyle Busch in the No. 07 Spire Motorsports Chevy, Ross Chastain in the No. 44 Niece Motorsports Chevy, Christopher Bell in the No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota, and Chris Buescher in the No. 66 ThorSport Ford, making his Truck debut. The entry list also features Gian Buffomante’s series debut and Brent Crews running his self-owned No. 70 entry.
Xfinity regular Sammy Smith will drive the No. 7 Spire Chevy in his third Truck start of the season. Connor Zilisch will start his three-series weekend in Niece’s No. 45 Chevy after Kaden Honeycutt’s release, while Honeycutt could still appear with Young’s Motorsports as their No. 02 entry is currently unfilled.
| Time (ET) | Series | Event |
| 10:00 a.m. | ARCA Menards Series | Practice |
| 11:00 a.m. | ARCA Menards Series | Qualifying |
| 11:35 a.m. | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | Practice |
| 12:40 p.m. | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | Qualifying |
| 2:00 p.m. | ARCA Menards Series | General Tire 100 at The Glen |
| 5:00 p.m. | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | Mission 176 at The Glen |
Saturday: Xfinity and Cup Teams Prepare
Saturday’s on-track activity begins with Xfinity Series practice at 9:30 a.m. ET followed by qualifying at 10:35 a.m. Thirty-eight drivers are entered for the Mission 200, guaranteeing a full field. Several Cup drivers will pull double duty, with Shane van Gisbergen in JR Motorsports’ No. 9, Michael McDowell in Kaulig’s No. 11, and Riley Herbst in Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 19. Josh Bilicki will also compete in both series, driving DGM’s No. 91 entry. Other notable entries include Preston Pardus in SS-Green Light’s No. 07 and Kaz Grala in Sam Hunt Racing’s No. 24 Toyota. The Mission 200 will go green at 3 p.m. ET on The CW.
Later, Cup teams will hit the track for practice at 12:05 p.m. and qualifying at 1:10 p.m., setting the grid for Sunday’s main event. With forty cars entered, no one will go home. The four open cars include Yeley, Bilicki, Legge, and Zilisch, who will cap off a busy Saturday preparing for his third race of the weekend.
| Time (ET) | Series | Event |
| 9:30 a.m. | NASCAR Xfinity Series | Practice |
| 10:35 a.m. | NASCAR Xfinity Series | Qualifying |
| 12:05 p.m. | NASCAR Cup Series | Practice |
| 1:10 p.m. | NASCAR Cup Series | Qualifying |
| 3:00 p.m. | NASCAR Xfinity Series | Mission 200 at The Glen |
Sunday: Cup Race Headlines Weekend
Sunday’s spotlight shines on the Go Bowling at The Glen, with the Cup Series set for 90 laps around the 2.45-mile road course. Practice and qualifying will again run at 12:05 p.m. and 1:10 p.m., respectively, before the green flag waves at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network.
With 40 cars entered, the field is stacked, highlighted by several road course standouts and Zilisch’s high-profile third race of the weekend with Trackhouse Racing’s No. 87. This marks a key race as the regular season heads into its final stretch, with drivers chasing crucial playoff points. Road course specialists and double-duty drivers will be aiming for valuable track time, making Sunday’s event one of the most competitive stops of the season.
News in Brief: NASCAR Watkins Glen 2025 Weekend Schedule
Watkins Glen International hosts three days of NASCAR action August 8-10, featuring ARCA, Truck, Xfinity, and Cup Series races with full entry lists. Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, Chris Buescher, and Connor Zilisch highlight crossover storylines, with Zilisch running all three series. Friday starts with ARCA and Trucks, Saturday features Xfinity and Cup prep, and Sunday concludes with the Go Bowling at The Glen. Fans can watch all races on FS1, The CW, and USA Network. Catch every lap and witness key playoff battles unfold this weekend.
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