Roaring into the parking lot, much like NASCAR’s finest whip around the racetrack, the Watkins Glen International team arrived to pick up this year’s glass trophy in style. They were on a mission. Dressed in Men in Black-like garb, the team collected the box in what can only be described as one epic handoff, and then sped away.
The Museum has been making the trophy for the August race for the past three years, and whomever crosses the finish line during August 10’s Cheez-It 355 at The Glen will take home the hand-crafted glass masterpiece. Museum gaffer Eric Meek designed the trophy to represent both the racetrack and the region. The core is hand-sculpted to match every twist and turn of Watkins Glen International, and the light blue color matches the track guardrails. When looking at the side of the trophy, it resembles a waterfall, characteristic of the many beautiful glens, gorges and waterfalls in the Finger Lakes, Meek said.
Watch how the trophy was made!
Last year, NASCAR driver Kyle Busch won the trophy, and the year before, Marcos Ambrose claimed it, saying, “There is not anything else like it and it’s something that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”
Glassmaker Eric Meek (front right) was at The Glen’s Victory Lane to present the trophy to race winner Kyle Busch.
We’ll have to wait and see who holds the glass trophy high and proud in Victory Lane this year, but for now, we can rest assured it is being safely guarded by the Watkins Glen International team.
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