The NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Craftsman Truck Series are gearing up for another thrilling weekend of racing, with the Cup and Xfinity Series set to tackle Circuit of The Americas (COTA) and the Truck Series returning to Las Vegas Motor Speedway in two weeks.
For the first time, the Cup Series will race on the shorter, 2.4-mile configuration of COTA rather than the 3.41-mile layout used in past seasons. The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday, March 2, with drivers set to complete 95 laps, covering 228 miles. Television coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, with radio broadcasts on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR. The race purse totals $11,055,250.
The Xfinity Series will take the track a day earlier for the Focused Health 250, also using the new COTA layout. Scheduled for Saturday, March 1, the race spans 65 laps and 156 miles. The broadcast will air on The CW beginning at 2 p.m. ET, with radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR.
Meanwhile, the Craftsman Truck Series will be on a break until Friday, March 14, when drivers return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Ecosave 200. That event, set for 134 laps and 201 miles, will air on FS1 at 9 p.m. ET.
Road Course Racing at COTA Brings New Challenges
COTA has played host to the Cup Series since 2021, but this will be the earliest in the season that NASCAR has visited the Austin-based track. The change in layout presents a new challenge, as drivers will need to adjust their strategy and braking zones to accommodate the shorter distance while still navigating the demanding 20-turn circuit.
Chevrolet has been dominant on road courses recently, winning six of the last seven road course events, including five victories by Hendrick Motorsports. Toyota has also shown strength, claiming four pole positions in the five races before Chevrolet’s recent surge. In past COTA races, the winner has started from the front row in the last two events, with Ross Chastain’s victory in 2022 marking the only win from deeper in the field, as he started 16th.
Several drivers have shown consistent performance at COTA. Chastain, Alex Bowman, and Tyler Reddick are the only three competitors to have finished in the top 10 in all four previous Cup Series races at the track. No driver has managed to finish inside the top five in all four, highlighting how difficult it is to maintain a strong run throughout the race.
A total of 16 drivers in the current field have earned a victory on a road course in their Cup Series careers. Chase Elliott leads active drivers with seven road course wins, while Kyle Larson follows closely with six. The last four COTA races have each produced a different winner, with Elliott, Chastain, Reddick, and William Byron all taking turns in Victory Lane.
Updates and Notable Entries for the Weekend
Eighteen-year-old Connor Zilisch is set to make his Cup Series debut this weekend, driving for Trackhouse Racing in the No. 87 Chevrolet. Zilisch has already shown road course prowess, winning his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Watkins Glen last September and securing five wins in nine ARCA Menards Series starts. Last year, he also claimed the pole position in his first-ever Truck Series start at COTA.
Another milestone will take place in the Xfinity Series, where Jeremy Clements is set to make his 500th career start. He becomes just the fourth driver in series history to reach that mark. Justin Allgaier and Brandon Jones will also extend their impressive streaks, each making their 300th consecutive start in the series.
Sam Mayer enters the weekend as the most successful road course racer in the current Xfinity Series field, winning four road course events in the last 10 races. Chevrolet has dominated road courses in the Xfinity Series as well, winning the last eight road course events.
Craftsman Truck Series Prepares for Las Vegas Return
The Truck Series will take a break this weekend before heading to Las Vegas on March 14. Grant Enfinger leads the points standings after two races, with reigning series champion Ty Majeski just one point behind him. The last six Truck races at Las Vegas have each produced a different winner, making the event unpredictable.
Seven drivers have earned their first career Truck Series victory at Las Vegas, with Rajah Caruth accomplishing the feat in 2024. Caruth will attempt to become the first driver to win back-to-back Truck Series races at the track.
COTA’s History and Its Role in NASCAR
Circuit of The Americas has been a major venue in American motorsports since its completion in 2012. Originally built for Formula 1, the 20-turn road course has since hosted events for IndyCar, MotoGP, IMSA, and NASCAR. The track is known for its dramatic elevation changes, with Turn 1 featuring a steep, 133-foot climb, making it one of the most unique opening corners in all of motorsports.
NASCAR’s first race at COTA took place in 2021, with Chase Elliott securing a rain-shortened victory. In 2022, Ross Chastain earned his first career Cup Series win at the track, while Tyler Reddick dominated in 2023, and William Byron captured last year’s checkered flag.
The 2025 season brings a new challenge, as NASCAR moves to the shorter 2.4-mile layout, increasing the lap count from 68 to 95. This adjustment could significantly impact strategy, particularly regarding tire wear and fuel mileage.
What to Watch This Weekend
Action begins Friday, February 28, with Xfinity Series qualifying at 5 p.m. ET, available on The CW App. On Saturday, March 1, Cup Series practice and qualifying will take place at 11 a.m. ET, streamed exclusively on Amazon Prime. Later that afternoon, the Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 will air on The CW, with radio coverage provided by PRN and SiriusXM.
The Cup Series will take center stage on Sunday, March 2, for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at 3:30 p.m. ET. Fans can tune in on FOX, with radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR.
As the NASCAR season continues, COTA presents the first road course challenge of the year, with several drivers looking to establish themselves early in the championship hunt. With unpredictable results in past races, the new layout could add another layer of excitement to an already highly competitive season.
