It will be a historic weekend for the NASCAR Cup Series in Austin, Texas. Circuit of The Americas (COTA) will host a NASCAR race for the first time. The 20-turn, 3.41-mile road course has a little bit of everything: elevation changes, high-speed straightaways, tight corners, and multiple passing zones.
For just the second time this season, there will be practice and qualifying. The lone practice will be Saturday at 10:05 a.m. on FS2. Qualifying will be the following morning at 11 a.m. on FS1. The EchoPark Texas Grand Prix will be live on Sunday, May 23, at 2:30 p.m. on FS1. The 231-mile race will be 68 laps with stages consisting of 15-17-36 laps.
History of COTA
With this being the first time NASCAR has ever visited COTA, I felt it’d be nice to give fans a little background of the road course. COTA opened in 2012 and has hosted multiple different motorsports. Formula 1 has run its annual United States Grand Prix at COTA since 2012. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled the race in 2020. MotoGP has raced here since 2013.
Contenders to Look Out for on Sunday
Typically, when I write these previews, I have past success at the race track and the starting lineup for the race. The combination of an inaugural race and qualifying this weekend means I’m going to have to use my knowledge to predict this weekend.
Road-course races can produce unexpected outcomes, but it seems like there are always two drivers who stay at the front during these races. Most NASCAR fans know where I’m going with this one. It’s Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr.
Elliott’s road course success has been well-documented. He entered this season on a four-race winning streak on road courses. Eliott appeared to be on his way to making it five straight earlier this season at the Daytona Road Course. Unfortunately, a late caution shuffled up the field and led to him getting turned while running inside the top five.
Elliott is the lone Hendrick Motorsports driver without a win this season. Look for the defending champion to pick up his first win of 2021 this weekend at COTA.
MTJ Looks to Take Down Elliott at COTA
While Elliott has had immense success on road courses, I don’t think he has a big advantage on Truex. I would say Truex is 1B to Elliott’s 1A. Truex has four career road course wins, tied with Kyle Busch for second-most among active drivers. That number could certainly be higher if not for two second-place finishes to Elliott. Truex was arguably faster in both races, but he couldn’t get around Elliott in the late stages.
Truex’s 2021 season has been much better than Elliott’s. A series-leading three wins have Truex third in the point standings. Another strong run on Sunday will only put him in a better position for the playoffs.
Final Thoughts for COTA
While I do think Sunday’s race will come down to Elliott and Truex, there will be other challenges throughout. When it comes to road courses, Denny Hamlin has been the best of the rest. He surprisingly has yet to pick up a win this season, but he could be the one to upset Elliott and Truex. Hendrick teammates Kyle Larson and William Byron could be other drivers to look out for.
It should be a fun weekend in Austin, Texas. Be sure to tune into FS1 on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. EST.
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