Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen boasts packed, fan-centric schedule

When the stars and the cars of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship roll into Watkins Glen International for the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen, June 28-July 1, they won't be alone.

Along with the world’s premier sportscar series will come a paddock loaded with talent from the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, and Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America.

New for 2018, Saturday’s Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race has been doubled in length, from two to four hours, or 240 minutes, paving the way for a new race name: The Continental Tire 240.  

As has become the norm for Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen weekend, the action doesn’t stop on the racetrack. 

When the engines go silent on Friday evening, all attention will turn to the infield stage, where the annual Sahlen’s Hot Dog Eating contest will take place, pitting fans against each other for competitive eating glory at the historic road course. Sign-ups will commence at the stage prior to the contest, with split adult and kids competitions.

Horseheads, New York-based Guilty Pleasure Band will open the Friday night concert at the stage once the Sahlen’s hot dogs have been devoured, bringing their strong mix of musical diversity and well-known covers to The Glen. Small Town Shade, a country quintet out of Cortland, New York will close out the night’s entertainment with dueling lead vocals, driving guitars, and an infectious rhythm section. The band has opened for the likes of Old Dominion, Frankie Ballard, Tyler Farr, Granger Smith, Parmalee, and more, and will release a new album this summer.

Fans are encouraged to stick around on Saturday evening, for a fireworks display scheduled for dusk, lighting up the skies over the twists and turns of Watkins Glen International and all of those gathered below.

The weekend culminates with Sunday’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race, but not before an opportunity to get up-close and personal on the grid, with a pre-race fan walk open to all ticketholders. More information on the weekend schedule, including additional fan walk opportunities, and driver autograph sessions, is forthcoming.

“There isn’t an event on The Glen’s annual schedule that is more family-friendly than Sahlen’s Six Hours,” Watkins Glen International President Michael Printup said. “From the accessibility of the drivers during the autograph sessions, the ability to get right up to the cars on the fan walk, and the overall atmosphere of the weekend, this has become a marquee event on the calendars of both our fans and for fans of sportscar racing around the world.”

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen headlines a weekend full of sportscar racing action at Watkins Glen International, June 28-July 1, 2018. For more information or to purchase tickets, fans can visit www.theglen.com or call 1-866-461-RACE.