New York State Legislature recognizes Watkins Glen International

Members of the Watkins Glen International team and TUDOR United SportsCar Championship driver Colin Braun traveled to the State capital this week to meet with legislators and open a New York State Motorsports Exhibit in the Empire State Plaza.

In a related move, both houses of the Legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo acted on a joint Legislative Resolution to proclaim April 19-25, 2015 as “Motorsports Appreciation Week” across The Empire State.

State Senator Tom O’Mara and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, sponsors of the bill, and co-sponsor Assemblyman Chris Friend, were joined by WGI representatives and Braun to help celebrate the contributions of motorsports to New York’s economy and culture.

During a legislative session, “The Glen” was highlighted for being home to the state’s largest sporting event, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend in August, which attracts fans from all 50 states and 16 different countries.

As part of the exhibit housed in the Empire State Plaza’s indoor concourse, a 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota Camry, 1999 NASCAR Truck Series Bully Hill Vineyards Chevrolet Silverado (driven to victory at Watkins Glen International by Ron Fellows), Porsche Cayman, and a Utica-Rome Speedway Modified car will be on display until Thursday, April 30th.

“Motorsports Appreciation Week is a great example of the support that Watkins Glen International receives from New York State and Governor Andrew Cuomo,” said WGI President Michael Printup. “The exhibit housed in Empire State Plaza provides us with the opportunity to showcase The Glen, our events, and what attracts so many visitors to the Finger Lakes Region each year.”

In a joint statement, O’Mara and Palmesano said, “We appreciate this opportunity to join our legislative colleagues to pay tribute to one of the world’s iconic sporting venues. Across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, we all take great pride in the fact that ‘The Glen’ has resonated so powerfully throughout the history of American motorsports for more than six decades. Watkins Glen International has long stood as a mainstay of our regional culture and economy. It’s one of New York State’s premier destinations, a backbone of our leading tourism industry, and a driving force for countless charitable, community service and economic development initiatives. Very simply, we’re fortunate to call Watkins Glen International one of our own.”(WGI)