Watkins Glen Welcomes Shaquille O’Neal For Summer Racing Fun

What comes to mind when you think of Watkins Glen? Maybe you think of Watkins Glen State Park and the gorge trail. You might also think of racing at Watkins Glen International or perhaps the record breaking Watkins Glen Summer Jam Music Festival in 1973.

Now you can associate Watkins Glen with Shaquille O'Neal! That's right Shaq is coming to the Finger Lakes this summer for a weekend of racing, music, camping and more.

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The NOS Energy Drink 2026 Gridlife Summer Apex arrives at Watkins Glen International on July 24th, 25th, and 26th for multiple series of wheel-to-wheel racing, full-course drifting, live music performances, a car show, and trackside camping. The music is where Shaq comes in.

The weekend entertainment lineup features BUNT, Teddy Pain (aka T-Pain) and DJ Diesel (aka Shaq) "The biggest DJ in the world" will perform. At the moment the performance schedule has not been announced but tickets are available HERE.

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For this weekend's activities there are different purchasing options. Here are a few;

• Weekend General Admission starting at $133
• Weekend VIP Admission - Starting at $283
• Car Show Admission - Starting at $128
• Camping starting at $160

A man of many talents, Shaquille O'Neal was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, Shaq has appeared in several films and reality television shows and has been a brand ambassador for countless products.

54-year-old Shaq even went back to school and recently received his second master’s degree from Louisiana State University earning a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts.