What’s Happening?

The NASCAR Cup Series weekend at Circuit of the Americas gives a unique opportunity for road course specialists to try their hand at stock car racing. From open-wheel to sports cars, plenty of series will be represented when NASCAR rolls up to COTA. Bookmark this page to keep track of all of the “Road Course Ringers” for the weekend.

• For this list, a driver must not be a full-time driver in the NASCAR series they compete in that weekend. Drivers with past experience in road racing series that compete full-time in that NASCAR series are ineligible.
• However, if a ringer makes the jump up or down to another series they are not full-time in, they are eligible. They must still have a successful pedigree in road racing series.
• Fans always love seeing “Road Course Ringers” make the jump to NASCAR. Drivers they have seen in other series now get a chance to race stock cars.

Cup Series: Kamui Kobayashi (23XI Racing)

Kamui Kobayashi is making his NASCAR return at COTA with 23XI Racing. He made one Cup Series start for the team at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in August of 2023. Kobayashi is one of the top sports car racers in the world, winning 2 Championships and the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans for Toyota Gazoo Racing.

Cup Series: SVG (Kaulig Racing)

SVG will pop up to the NASCAR Cup Series at COTA for the first of 7 starts for Kaulig Racing. He should be a threat to win as Kaulig Racing won on a road course in 2023 with A.J. Allmendinger, and SVG won the Chicago Street Race in 2023 as well. SVG is in the first year of a development deal with Trackhouse Racing after a decorated Australian Supercars career.

Cup Series: A.J. Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing)

A.J. Allmendinger will pilot a third Kaulig car at COTA, the #13 car sponsored by LeafFilter. Allmendinger is renowned across NASCAR for his road course prowess including 3 career victories. His last win came in the fall of 2023 at the Charlotte Roval.

Xfinity Series: Daniil Kvyat (SS Greenlight)

Daniil Kvyat returns to NASCAR in 2023. He made 3 Cup Series road course starts in 2022 for Team Heseberg, and he made one Xfinity Series start in 2022 for Sam Hunt Racing at the Charlotte Roval. Kvyat finished 15th in his lone Xfinity Series start. He currently competes full-time in the FIA World Endurance Championship after 6 seasons in Formula One where he garnered 3 podium finishes.

Xfinity Series: Ed Jones (Sam Hunt Racing)

Ed Jones returns to the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the first of 3 starts with Sam Hunt Racing. The 2016 IndyLights Champion, Jones has raced in open-wheeled cars and sports cars. THe highlight of his career came at Indianapolis in 2017, where he finished on the podium.

Xfinity Series: Austin Green (Jordan Anderson Racing)

Trans-Am racer, Austin Green will make his Xfinity Series debut at COTA. The 22-year-old has one stock car start under his belt at Toledo in the ARCA Menards Series in 2020 finishing 7th.

Xfinity Series: Brad Perez (Alpha Prime)

Brad Perez will return to the drivers seat this weekend at COTA. Perez has worked in multiple capacities with race teams, and his Xfinity Series starts have been exclusively on road courses. His best finish was 19th at Road America in 2023.

Xfinity Series: R.C. Enerson (SS Greenlight)

R.C. Enerson will compete at COTA for SS Greenlight Racing. This will be his 2nd Xfinity Series start, as he finished 20th at Road America in 2020.

Truck Series: Jack Hawksworth (TRICON Garage)

Jack Hawksworth will make his 2nd NASCAR start on Sunday for TRICON Garage. He currently competes in the IMSA Weathertech Sports Car Series, and he won the GTD Pro Class at the 12 Hours of Sebring. His lone NASCAR start came in 2019 at Mid-Ohio in the Xfinity Series, finishing 15th for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Truck Series: Marco Andretti (Roper Racing Team)

Marco Andretti continues his stock car schedule at COTA this weekend. The two-time IndyCar winner made one start at COTA in 2019 in IndyCar. He finished 6th that day.

This list will be updated as the entry lists are revealed.