Watkins Glen International has confirmed that the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series will return to the Finger Lakes circuit as part of the championship playoffs, anchoring a three‑day weekend that runs from September 17 to 19.
A Historic Back‑to‑Back Weekend
The event will be bookended by the Hilliard U.S. Vintage Grand Prix, which occupies the preceding nine days, creating the first back‑to‑back schedule of spectator racing the venue has seen.
Fans can look forward to a full slate of support series, including the ARCA Menards Series on the opening day, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series the following afternoon, and the Cup Series finale on Sunday.
The 2027 season will close at Homestead‑Miami Raceway on November 14, rounding out a calendar that blends traditional dates with new timing experiments.
While the Craftsman Truck Series will not appear on the 2027 program after its recent appearances in 2025 and 2026, the track continues to host a vibrant vintage festival that draws enthusiasts from across the country.
The 2026 edition of the vintage weekend, held from September 10 to 13, featured veteran broadcasters Mike Joy and Scott Joy as grand marshals and was presented by Mission Foods, a partnership that will carry forward into the 2027 event.
Watkins Glen president Dawn Burlew highlighted the significance of aligning the NASCAR playoffs with the vintage celebration, noting that the convergence underscores the track’s evolving identity as a hub for both modern and historic racing.