NASCAR Checkered Countdown: Top-Five Watkins Glen Finishes

No. 3 The previous generation of road-course aces sets up an amazing fight for the win (1988).

The four Winston Cup races held at Watkins Glen between 1987 and 1990 were all won by either Rusty Wallace or Ricky Rudd. That’s how dominating these two drivers were at this track during that period. In 1988 they put on an incredible show in the final laps. Rudd had gotten the lead on the last restart from Darrell Waltrip while Wallace was fifth but soon worked his way up to second. The two soon stretched out from the rest of the group and started battling for the victory. Rudd tried to close all the opportunities for a pass while his rival seemed to be preparing a move. Wallace eventually tired it in the final corner of the final lap: they made contact, with the leader getting completely sideways and saving it while Wallace lost control and ended up on the grass outside the racetrack. Rudd would win the race, the ninth of his career.