The NASCAR Cup Series visits COTA this weekend to mark the first road course race of the year with some big names getting in on the action.
Just as the left turns began to feel normal again for the drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2023, they’re off to Austin, Texas to take on the Circuit of The Americas for the third annual race at the challenging road course.
This weekend the road course specialists get their first chance to really shine this year and give it their best go at grabbing a win and a potential playoff spot. This weekend is a bit special, however, as some big names have entered the fray to take on the challenge of wrestling a Cup Series car around this famous track.
A Star-Studded Lineup
First, a couple of Formula 1 champions test their skills in the Cup Series as Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button will take part in this weekend’s race. Raikkonen had his first go in the Cup Series last year at Watkins Glen, and he’ll again appear as part of Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 this weekend. Though he got tangled up in a wreck last year at The Glen, he’ll hope to find some more success on this more familiar track, the one where he scored his final F1 victory in 2018. Button on the other hand is making his Cup Series debut, and he’ll take control of the No. 15 Ford this weekend for Rick Ware Racing.
Then, we have a familiar face back in the seat, as Jimmie Johnson takes part this weekend in piloting the No. 84 for Legacy Motor Club. Alongside him are two more established drivers from different disciplines. IMSA’s Jordan Taylor will drive the No. 9 for Hendrick Motorsports in place of Chase Elliott and IndyCar’s Conor Daly will drive the No. 50 for The Money Team.
It should be a great weekend on many levels. Not only do we get to see close racing on an exciting track, but some big names will be looking to establish their presence in the Cup Series. Could we see an outsider spoil the party for the Cup Series regulars this weekend?
So who’s coming out to @COTA for @nascar this weekend? I’ll be racing this beauty in the cup race thanks to @mobil1racing 💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/xTRmE6naOW
— Jenson Button (@JensonButton) March 23, 2023
The Track
The Circuit of The Americas is a 3.4-mile circuit located in Austin, Texas. The circuit was initially built for Formula 1, with the series racing there every year except in 2020 (the race was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) since its opening in 2012. The track has since taken on several other series, having hosted MotoGP, IndyCar, and MotoAmerica in its nearly 11 years of operation. NASCAR at COTA kicked off in 2021, and the track has had a calendar slot in March on the NASCAR schedule since then, with this year being just the third visit to the road course.
Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain are the only winners on the track in the two visits for the Cup Series. The lap record is held by Chase Briscoe, who clocked a 2:13:777 at last year’s race. This weekend’s weather forecast looks clear and dry with highs in the mid-70s. As for stages, Stage 1 will be the first 15 laps, while Stage 2 will be the next 15 laps. Stage 3 will consist of the final 38 laps of Sunday’s race.
A Lap of COTA
COTA is a fun track not only for spectators but also for the drivers, who get to challenge themselves on some great corners and have plenty of chances to overtake their rivals. NASCAR at COTA has yet to disappoint, so let’s see what makes this track so special.
The lap starts with a climb up the large hill to Turn 1. There the drivers face an almost blind left-handed hairpin before heading right back down the hill and to the right. Turns 3 through 6 take inspiration from the Maggotts and Becketts section of Silverstone as a quick “S” section that will test the drivers’ precision. Turns 7 through 9 slow things down as the drivers quickly twist back uphill before descending again through the Turn 10 kink and on the straight heading toward the Turn 11 hairpin. This hairpin then leads to the long back stretch that measures out to 0.62 miles (roughly 1 km).
After their long trip down the straight, it’s the hardest braking zone on the circuit with another sharp left-hander at Turn 12. Turns 13 through 15 are another slow section that leads the drivers to the ultra-challenging triple-apex right-hander that consists of Turns 16-18. Just as the drivers recover from that they’re faced with the final two left-handers that lead back to the main straight.
Overall the track incorporates many elements and turns from other circuits around the world, and aims to create the best racing product it can. Over a decade in, it has done just that and is regarded as one of the premier circuits in the world.
Points Standings
Let’s look at the top 10 after Atlanta, as a familiar name has made his way to the top again.
- Joey Logano*, Team Penske – 177 points
- Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing – 176 points
- Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing – 172 points
- Ryan Blaney, Team Penske – 161 points
- Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing – 160 points
- Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing – 155 points
- Kyle Busch*, Richard Childress Racing – 153 points
- Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing – 145 points
- Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing – 140
- Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing – 129 points
*= 2023 race winner
Predictions
Chase Elliott’s road course dominance speaks for itself, and his absence this weekend leaves a void near the front. Sure, it’s a small sample size given the Cup Series has only been there twice, but Elliott is one of four drivers (Ross Chastain, Alex Bowman, and Tyler Reddick) to have an average finish within the top 10 at COTA. I suspect those other three will be in the mix at the end of Sunday, and I’ll go with Bowman to get revenge after last year’s close loss.
- Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports
- Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing
- Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports
- Ryan Blaney, Team Penske
- Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing
How To Watch – NASCAR at COTA (All Times EST)
- Practice: Friday, March 24 – 2:05 p.m. – Not televised
- Qualifying: Saturday, March 25 – 11:30 a.m. – FS1
- EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix: Sunday, March 26 – 3:30 p.m. – FOX (Green flag at 3:45 p.m.)
