What’s Happening?

When Speedway Motorsports announced changes to Circuit of America’s NASCAR layout in late November, it seemed clear what the new layout would be for 2025. However, as the race looms this weekend, there is still some confusion as to exactly what layout the Xfinity and Cup Series will use.

Update: 2/27 3 PM

NASCAR at COTA has posted an official look at the new turn. It appears to be more gradual than the hair pin featured in the ticketing diagram.

How Long, How Many Turns, and What Turns?

In November, NASCAR and SMI announced changes to COTA’s layout for NASCAR; the initial claim was that they were utilizing the National Circuit. Much like the formerly used Grand Prix Circuit, the National Circuit also has 20 turns but is 2.3 miles long compared to the former 3.41-mile course.

This stark change in length is due to the subtraction of a significant portion of the track’s iconic 0.62-mile-long back straightaway.

However, earlier this year, when fans noticed that nascaratcota.com posted a track map on its ticket page, this graphic showed that NASCAR was using a layout similar to yet slightly different than the National Circuit.

The main difference between this new layout and the National Circuit is that the National Circuit takes an earlier left turn than the currently promoted course. Rather than turning prior to turns seven, eight, and nine, the fastest portion of the esses, the new circuit takes a difficult left-hand turn right before starting turn seven.

When fans discovered this prior to the start of the season, it was unexpected but interesting, as there is no real sample for a series racing on this layout compared to the National Circuit.

However, on Wednesday night, NASCAR social media posted a comparison of the old and new layouts. This post shows that the turn left-hand 6A turn is not as dramatic as NASCAR’s at COTA suggests.

What’s for Sure?

So, what do we know for sure about COTA’s new layout for this weekend?

Right now, there are three things are for certain:

• First and most obvious is that NASCAR will not use the old 3.426-mile Grand Prix Circuit; that change is what started all this confusion.
• Second, NASCAR will not use the National Circuit as initially expected.
• Third, NASCAR will use the short straightaway above the National Circuit crossover.

This means the only real question is how hard of a left-hand turn drivers will take out of turn 6A. NASCAR at COTA suggests this is an acute turn that almost flips the cars 180 degrees. While NASCAR’s post suggests, it’s a simple 90-degree left-hand turn.

This hard turn is part of the course’s designed flow. Google Maps shows that there is theoretically enough asphalt in the area for SMI to reroute the track for a more natural right-hander. However, it is unlikely SMI would go this far, especially on a track they don’t even own. The new graphic posted by NASCAR is sleek, but perhaps it’s just an error.

For now, the one promoted by NASCAR at COTA is likely the course we will see on Sunday. But when the green flag drops for Xfinity Series practice on Friday, there is a slim, yet exceedingly unlikely, chance this left-hand turn will be different than expected.

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