Cameron Reynolds Argetsinger was born in Ohio to a father who had a passion for cars, especially Packards. Argetsinger inherited his father’s passion and went on to create arguably the best road course race track in the world.

Born in 1921, Argetsinger served in the Army during World War II and, following his discharge, began designing a complex racing route through the small town of Watkins Glen, NY where his family owned a cottage.

The first race on this course was held on October 2, 1948; Argetsinger finished ninth. Over the next few years, attendance at the rustic course increased to upwards of 10,000 spectators per event. In 1956, a permanent 2.3-mile circuit was opened and the biggest racing series in the world flocked to it.

The year after the new track opened, the first NASCAR Grand National Stock Car race at the facility was won by Buck Backer with Fireball Roberts finishing second. In 1961, the first Formula 1 event was held, the inaugural Watkins Glen U.S. Grand Prix, which was an annual tradition for nearly twenty years. That race won the title of best-organized Formula 1 Grand Prix event of the season three times.

Unfortunately, the track went bankrupt in 1981 and was rarely used until Corning Enterprise purchased it two years later. Corning partnered with International Speedway Corporation and Watkins Glen International re-opened in 1984. NASCAR returned to the famous circuit in 1986 with Tim Richmond taking the checkers.

Since then, numerous records have been set and broken by some of the biggest names in NASCAR history. Starting in 1991, Terry Labonte had a winning streak in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series (now the Nationwide Series) of four wins in six years; Labonte still holds the Nationwide Series Race Record from that race in ’91.

Mark Martin was named the Driver of the Decade, for 1988-1997, by The Glen because of his three consecutive victories at the track between ’93 and ’95. He still holds the Sprint Cup Race Record from the 1995 event. Tony Stewart was named the Driver of the Decade for the 1998-2007 period, with four victories in six years. Jeff Gordon is also a decorated veteran of Watkins Glen with four wins, three of which were consecutive between ’97 and ’99.

Last year’s winners were Kyle Busch and Marcos Ambrose in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, respectively.

Over the years, the circuit has changed hands, now being solely owned by International Speedway Corporation, and it has been updated and expanded to the current 3.4-mile long course and the 2.45-mile short course. But, no matter the owner or the alterations, as long as the gates to The Glen stay open then Argetsinger’s dream is still alive.

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