As Watkins Glen International marks 40 years of NASCAR Cup Series racing at the historic road course, the track today announced a lineup of distinguished motorsports figures who will serve in honorary roles during the upcoming NASCAR race weekend at The Glen, adding legacy, experience, and regional pride to the event.
Friday evening, May 8, will see road racing standout Ron Fellows kick things off as the Grand Marshal while Joe Nemechek will be the Honorary Starter for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race, the Bully Hill Vineyards 176 at The Glen.
Fellows is returning to the track where he collected a total of five winner’s trophies during his NASCAR career. Both of his two career CRAFTSMAN Truck Series victories came at The Glen – in 1997 and in 1999.
The 1999 truck victory by Fellows was notable in that it came in what was then the Bully Hill Vinyards 150, piloting a Bully Hill Vinyards-sponsored entry owned by Nemechek. In that same year, Nemechek collected his first of four Cup Series victories as a driver (at New Hampshire Motor Speedway). Nemechek also went on to tally 16 career wins in what is now the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
A native of Ontario, Fellows also had four career wins in the now-NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with three coming at Watkins Glen International (1998, 2000, 2001) in Nemechek-owned cars. His fourth victory in the series was in 2008 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, driving for JR Motorsports.
“Ron and Joe’s success together here at The Glen, including with the Bully Hill Vineyards name on their truck, speak for itself and the fans still connect with what they accomplished here,” said Watkins Glen International Track President Dawn Burlew. “They have been part of this sport at every level, and together they represent the kind of history and knowledge that continues to shape race weekend at The Glen.”
In Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Mission 200 at The Glen, sports car racing veteran Butch Leitzinger will serve as Grand Marshal, while the Honorary Starter for the event will be Todd Bodine, a two-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion (2006, 2010).
Leitzinger is a three-time winner of Rolex 24 at Daytona (1994, 1997, 1999), who also ran four NASCAR Cup Series races, all at Watkins Glen International, with a best finish of 12th in 1995.
Todd Bodine is a native of nearby Chemung, New York, who recorded 15 O’Reilly Series and 22 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series victories in his career. He had six top-five finishes, including three runner-up results, in nine starts in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Watkins Glen. He also made 10 starts in the Cup Series at his home track, starting on the pole in 1997 and posting a pair of top-10 results, including a fifth-place finish in 2001. He is now in his 12th season with FOX Sports as a pit reporter and analyst on the truck series broadcasts.
“Butch’s incredible success on the world stage, including multiple wins at the Rolex 24, and his history competing here at The Glen, speaks to the deep sports car roots of this facility,” said Burlew. “At the same time, Todd’s legacy as a champion in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and his strong ties to this region make him a perfect fit to represent our fans and community. Together, they reflect both the tradition and the versatility that define racing at Watkins Glen.”
The weekend will wrap up with Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series’ Go Bowling at The Glen, with Geoff Bodine, another member of the local Chemung family, serving as the Honorary Pace Car Driver. An older brother to Todd, Geoff’s return to The Glen highlights his enduring connection to the region and its racing heritage.
Geoff’s final Cup Series win out of the 18 he recorded over his career came at his home track of Watkins Glen International in 1996. He won the 1986 DAYTONA 500 with Hendrick Motorsports – the first victory in The Great American Race for the storied team. He also had a total of six victories in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
“It’s incredibly meaningful to have Geoff back at Watkins Glen International in such a special role to close out the weekend,” said Burlew. “Geoff’s success here—including a memorable Cup Series win at his home track—combined with the lasting impact he and the entire Bodine family have had on this region, makes this a truly fitting moment.”
The May race weekend kicks off with a doubleheader featuring the ARCA Menards Series General Tire 100 at 1:30 p.m ET and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Bully Hill Vineyards 176 at 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, May 8. The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will continue the action on Saturday, May 9 at 4:00 p.m. during the Mission 200 at The Glen.
The NASCAR Cup Series stars conclude the weekend on the 2.45-mile road course Sunday, May 10 with the Go Bowling at The Glen.
For more details about the 2026 NASCAR race weekend at Watkins Glen International, please visit www.theglen.com.
— Watkins Glen International —