Contested over 90 laps on the 2.45-mile (3.94 km) road course, it was the 22nd race of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

It was long known around the world as the home of the Formula One United States Grand Prix, which it hosted for twenty consecutive years (1961–1980), but the site has been home to road racing of nearly every class, including the World Sportscar Championship, Trans-Am, Can-Am, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the International Motor Sports Association and the IndyCar Series.

The circuit's current layout has more or less been the same since 1971, although a chicane was installed at the uphill Esses in 1975 to slow cars through these corners, where there was a fatality during practice at the 1973 United States Grand Prix.

Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast covered from pit lane during the race.

Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle & 2 time Watkins Glen winner Rusty Wallace covered the action when the field raced down the front straightaway.