NASCAR WCUP: 1999 Schedule For Watkins Glen International Released
12 December 1998
Budweiser Maintains "Official Status"Watkins Glen, N.Y. - Watkins Glen International has released its 1999 event schedule, including races for NASCAR's three biggest series, along with plans to offer 1999 season tickets and continued involvement by Budweiser at the storied road course.
The Glen, dubbed "New York's Thunder Road," will feature the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in the Frontier at The Glen on Aug. 15, marking the 14th consecutive year NASCAR's top circuit has visited WGI. And the track will inaugurate a doubleheader when the NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series share the June 25-27 weekend.
Anheuser-Busch, which through its Budweiser brand sponsored the first 13 editions of the revival of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series' stop at Watkins Glen, also announced its plans to take a season-long sponsorship position at WGI.
Anheuser-Busch will now maintain "Official Status" as the exclusive lager of Watkins Glen International.
"We're excited that Frontier is assuming the title sponsorship of what was formerly The Bud at The Glen," said Jim Jacobson, sales director for Anheuser-Busch. "Title sponsorships are great brand building vehicles and we think the Watkins Glen NASCAR Winston Cup race is an outstanding opportunity for Frontier. Budweiser already has significant brand exposure, and we think it is a better use of our marketing dollars to support Watkins Glen as an official status sponsor and promote the entire season at The Glen."
"We are delighted that Anheuser-Busch and the Budweiser brand, one of The Glen's longest standing sponsors, will continue to remain one of Watkins Glen's most valuable marketing partners for years to come," WGI President Bryan Sperber said.
Frontier Corporation, a nationally known communications, cellular phone and electronic media company headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., was announced as the new sponsor of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series event on Nov. 16. The Frontier at The Glen is the largest weekend sporting event in New York State. It is the highlight of what is seen as possibly The Glen's most ambitious schedule ever.
"The Glen is pleased to announce what we believe will be a very exciting racing schedule for 1999," Sperber said. "Our season ticket holders will have the opportunity to experience the best of sports car racing, vintage and historic events, as well as the always exciting NASCAR weekends."
In 1999, The Glen will offer fans the opportunity to purchase a season ticket package for the season that includes admission to the Watkins Glen Historic Races, the Lysol 200 and Bully Hill Vineyards 150 Festival of Speed and Sound weekend, Frontier at The Glen, the Zippo U.S. Vintage Grand Prix and the new Sports Car Oktoberfest at The Glen.
"The fans have continued to call and write Watkins Glen asking for the opportunity to purchase a season ticket that would include admission to all of our featured events," said WGI director of marketing Roger Curtis. "We are excited to say that we have answered the call and put together an outstanding program that is sure to please the fans.
"The 1999 season ticket will feature several new events including the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series combination weekend and the Sports Car Oktoberfest at The Glen."
Season ticket packages will include admission and paddock passes to five events on the 1999 season schedule, including a reserved seat for the Frontier at The Glen; and a collectible Watkins Glen pin. Another special feature of the season ticket package is the addition of a limited edition commemorative season credential. Each season this collectible credential will feature the year's driver inductees from the Watkins Glen International "Legends of The Glen." This year, the commemorative credential will feature the inaugural members of the Legends of The Glen: Mark Martin, Jackie Stewart and Cameron Argetsinger.
Watkins Glen will open the 1999 season by welcoming back the Watkins Glen Historic Races, featuring a full program of Historic Sportscar Racing, LTD., racing on June 4-6. The weekend will be highlighted by an "American Muscle" Chevrolet Corvette feature. Classic Corvettes and Corvette club members from around the United States will be competing.
As announced earlier, June 25-27 will be a "Festival of Speed and Sound" at Watkins Glen with the pairing of the Lysol 200 NASCAR Busch Series race and the Bully Hill Vineyards 150 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event. In addition to the Lysol 200 and the Bully Hill Vineyards 150, Watkins Glen will feature a nationally known music artist during the weekend.
Frontier at The Glen weekend, Aug. 12-15, will now be an all NASCAR weekend with the addition of the Featherlite Modified Series, NASCAR Touring.
Scheduled to run Saturday, Aug. 14, this will be the first time the Featherlite Modified Series will compete on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series weekend.
Tim Connolly, driver of the No. 4 Ralston Purina Tidy Cat Dodge and defending race champion, was on hand to help make the announcement, and summed up the feeling of his fellow racers when he said, "Everyone that competes in the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series is excited to see this move.
It's fantastic for us to have the opportunity to compete on the same weekend as the NASCAR Winston Cup teams."
The Pepsi 150 for the Busch North Series, NASCAR Touring, will also return to Watkins Glen on Aug. 14.
The U.S. Vintage Grand Prix will also return on Sept. 10-12. Zippo Manufacturing Company announced it would return as title sponsor for the traditional vintage event.
"Zippo has been involved with Watkins Glen and the U.S. Vintage Grand Prix for six years and we are very excited to be announcing another three-year commitment to The Glen," said Mike Schuler, Zippo Manufacturing Company president and CEO.
The Zippo U.S. Vintage Grand Prix will feature a reunion of the glamorous prototypes from the IMSA GTP era put together by the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA), a long-time partner at Watkins Glen and the sanctioning body for the event. The Zippo U.S. Vintage Grand Prix weekend will also include a "Porsche only" clash as the headliner for Saturday's events.
Sports car fans will welcome back traditional October racing to Watkins Glen International during the Sports Car Oktoberfest at The Glen, Oct. 1-3. The Six Hours of The Glen race, featuring the USRRC Can-Am "open-cockpit cars" and GT "closed-cockpit cars," will highlight Oktoberfest weekend. Off-track activities on Oktoberfest weekend are scheduled to include the Oktoberfest Carnival, authentic German food and traditional Oktoberfest music.
Tickets for the 1999 season at Watkins Glen are now available. For ticket, reserved camping and additional information please contact the Watkins Glen ticket office at (607) 535-2481.
Courtesy Watkins Glen Public Relations
