WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Twenty-two years after making his first-career NASCAR Cup Series start at Watkins Glen International, Paul Menard finally took checkered flag at the historic race track.
Menard won the 50th race The Glen for the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli on Sunday.
After rolling off third in his No. 3 Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford Mustang, the 2024 champion made the pass for the lead on lap 17 and was engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with Adam Andretti (No. 17 Top Liner Chevrolet Camaro) until the checkered flag waved.
When the green flag waved, polesitter Chris Dyson (No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang) was immediately passed on the outside by second-place Andretti, who shot out to a massive 10-car-length lead.
Andretti nurtured his multi-second advantage for the first nine laps while Menard fought with Dyson for the second position. On lap 10, Menard made the pass on Dyson and slowly began to hunt down Andretti. Andretti’s gap began to shrink, and on lap 17, Andretti made a mistake on the exit of the boot, allowing Menard to get by.
For the remaining 13 laps, Andretti was on Menard’s bumper, attempting to regain the point position, but when the race reached its conclusion, it was Menard who drove into GYM WEED Winners Circle, followed by Andretti and Dyson.
Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Trench Shoring Co./Motul Chevrolet Camaro) finished fourth, and Amy Ruman (No. 7 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Group Chevrolet Camaro) finished fifth in a car borrowed from Drissi Motorsports following a crash in testing which heavily damaged her Corvette.
Menard earned his 11th-career Trans Am victory and his fourth of the season.
Menard has made 28 previous starts at Watkins Glen in the NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Truck Series and one in the Trans Am Series. Before today, his best finish was second in both Trans Am and Xfinity.
Menard leaves the track with the points lead and a 31-point advantage over Andretti.
Andretti scored his sixth podium in eight races this season. He is tied with Menard for the most podium finishes in 2025.
“It’s great to be back in the Trans Am Series at Watkins Glen, one of my favorite racetracks,” said Menard. “It’s just a badass racetrack, and I told Adam [Andretti], we just did 100 miles of qualifying. We were on it every single lap. The car held up; I got a little loose at the end.
“We had a tough weekend; we battled a lot of different gremlins and my boys put it all together for the race. The car was just solid all race. On to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. I love that track up there; another badass, high-speed track. Adam is keeping us honest in the points and we’ll keep at it.”
The lone competitor in XGT, James Beaton in the No. 82 Playtime Hot Rods & Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette was the top finisher in the class. Unfortunately, an engine failure on lap 10 led to his early retirement from the race.
For the seventh time this season, Joshua Carlson in the No. 36 Enseva/Diercks Ltd./TC Fab Ford Mustang dominated the SGT class. He was the fastest competitor in practice, qualifying and the race, and he led every lap.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” said Carlson. “We led the whole weekend in practice, qualifying, and the race. I’d like to thank Enseva. Without them, I wouldn’t be racing this weekend. I had a lot of fun racing with Milton [Grant] and Ray [Mason]. I hope to see them out at the next race.”
