What’s Happening?

All three NASCAR National Touring Series descend on Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas this weekend for the first road course race weekend of the year. The track is the youngest, purpose-built race track on the 2024 calendar, and NASCAR is back for the fourth consecutive season. Here is the weekend TV schedule for all on-track activity.

• NASCAR began racing at COTA in 2021. Since then, it’s become an annual spring visit for all three NASCAR National Touring Series and has held the title of “First Road Course Race of the Year” since 2022.
• COTA was built in 2012 to host the Formula One United States Grand Prix, which the track has hosted every October since 2012. Designed by Hermann Tilke, the track incorporates elements of popular European road courses. For example, the “Esses” in the early section of the course are modeled after the Maggots and Beckets corners at Silverstone in the United Kingdom.
• Fans are excited to see the Cup Series at COTA once again, as the track is quickly becoming one of the most popular on the circuit.

Weekend Schedule (All Times ET)

Friday, March 22nd: Xfinity/Truck Series Practice & Qualifying

• 3:30-5:00 PM – Truck Series Practice/Qualifying (FS1)
• 5:30-7:00 PM – Xfinity Series Practice/Qualifying (FS1)

Saturday, March 23rd: Xfinity/Truck Series RACE

• 10:30 AM-12:30 PM – Cup Series Practice/Qualifying (FS1)
• 1:30 PM – Craftsman Truck Series XPEL 225 (FS1); 42 Laps, 143.22 Miles (225 Kilometers)
• 5:00 PM – Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 (FS1); 48 Laps, 156.86 Miles (250 Kilometers)

Sunday, March 24th: Cup Series RACE

• 3:30 PM – Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (Fox); 68 Laps, 231.88 Miles

What to Watch For

Cup Series

Being the first road course race of the season, many fans like to think of wild card winners, but, those are not the only drivers to watch out for. With how good Toyota has looked the last two weeks, Tyler Reddick looks to be in prime position to repeat his COTA win, but, road course ace Martin Truex Jr. may have a say in that as well. 2023 Chicago Street Race winner, Shane Van Gisbergen, is back this weekend for his first Cup Series start of the season, and he may be the favorite amongst the ringers.

Xfinity Series

Anytime the Xfinity Series heads to a road course, A.J. Allmendinger is at the top of everyone’s list, and for good reason. He is a two-time defending winner at COTA, and he is hungry for another win. However, 3-time road course winner, Sam Mayer, may have something to say about that.

Truck Series

The Truck Series field appears to be wide open at COTA this season. Two-time defending winner, Zane Smith, is not on the grid, but, former Cup Series winner at the track, Ross Chastain, is. Corey Heim took home the other road course trophy in the series in 2023, so, watch out for him this weekend as well.