What does a lap around Watkins Glen International look like? 5 NASCAR Playoff drivers explain

Before the second race of the playoff season at Watkins Glen, NASCAR drivers shared their thoughts on the challenges of the road course track. Watkins Glen International released a video featuring drivers analyzing the track and discussing why the track is not an easy one to tame.

In the video posted on X(formerly Twitter) by the official Watkins Glen International account, Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe say that while NASCAR drivers are accustomed to predominantly left turns, road courses like Watkins Glen have a blend of left, right, and straight maneuvers.

Hamlin said:

"I think it's got some great passing zones. Very untraditional road course because it has banking. As a driver that's turned left for most of my life, it's a challenge because I'm falling out of the other side of the seat."

Meanwhile, Briscoe highlighted its unique challenges saying that the left-hander is particularly difficult because it almost has "reverse banking." According to him, the carousel feels like a typical NASCAR corner, except the drivers feel they are going in the opposite direction.

Brad Keselowski, meanwhile, commented on the difficulties presented by the road course's elevation changes, saying

"The first challenge is the elevation change, especially in turn one—a steep downhill where high-speed braking is required, and the car resists stopping because you're descending."

He added that just making it through each lap feels like a victory. He noted that jumping the curbs over the bus stop, with its right, left, left, and right sequence, is particularly tricky. It’s super easy to spin out and extremely difficult to gain traction on exit as the curb seems to want to spin you out with every lap.

Harrison Burton provided a more detailed analysis of the track, particularly the risks associated with going two-wide.

Burton said,

"When you enter a corner two-wide, it becomes a 50-50 situation where one driver might spin out or collide with the other. There are moments of vertical load loss, where your tires lift off the ground completely, leaving you with no grip. And when you do this side by side with someone, it tends to be a game of chicken, you're looking over like, 'I'll just brake later than this guy.' And if he’s thinking the same thing, you both run off the corner."

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Predicted weather conditions for Watkins Glen International road course

The weather for the upcoming NASCAR Go Bowling at the Glen race is expected to be favorable.

Journalist Bob Pockrass, in a post on X, shared some of the weather predictions that could make for a good weekend of racing at Watkins Glen.

On Saturday - the NASCAR Cup Series qualifying and practice day -temperatures are anticipated to reach a high of 79° Fahrenheit, with a low of 61°. The day is expected to be predominantly sunny, with only a 5% chance of rain.

For the race day on Sunday, conditions are similarly promising. The mercury is predicted to climb to a high of 80° Fahrenheit and fall to a low of 59°, with the likelihood of rain remaining at 5%.