RFK Racing Teases The Return of Stage 60

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: David Ragan, driver of the #60 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, drives during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2024 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

What’s Happening?

On Wednesday morning, RFK Racing’s Stage 60 broke a nearly 3-month social media hiatus by posting a picture with the caption, “Who’s Next?”. Fans were all over this tweet, giving their thoughts on who the next driver of Stage 60 could be. Here are some of the most interesting responses.

  • Stage 60 was founded by RFK Racing this season. The first race of Stage 60 was the Daytona 500, where David Ragan made a one-off start. The number 60 was utilized by Jack Roush for years in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
  • Every manufacturer seems to have an “All-Star Car” in the Cup Series that allows them to bring in other drivers. Chevrolet had “Project 91” with Trackhouse, and Toyota has the No. 50 car with 23XI Racing.
  • Fans quickly sprung into action, giving their own opinions about who could drive the car. Their opinions ranged from current and former Cup Series drivers to racing stars from around the world.

In the Stands

Matthew Breault immediately thought of Ford Supercars star Cam Waters. Waters has 2 Truck Series starts this season with ThorSport, a fellow Ford team.

Ihave40wins wants to see Ryan Newman back in the Cup Series with the team. Newman made a few starts in the Cup Series in 2023 with Rick Ware Racing.

Thefifthturn suggested RFK Racing leasing the 3rd Spire charter for Michael McDowell in 2024. That seems unlikely as both teams partner with different manufacturers.

Samir Adeel Siddiqui wants to see Boris Said back in the Cup Series. Said has two career NASCAR wins, one in the Xfinity Series at Montreal in 2009 and one in the Truck Series at Sonoma in 2010.

Justin Tyler joins the chorus of people who want to see Carl Edwards back behind the driver’s seat. Could Edwards return via Stage 60?

RFK#17fan suggests Ty Majeski, who currently races full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series for Ford at ThorSport. What about him getting an opportunity in the Cup Series?

Brandon gave his ideal choice, Carl Edwards. However, the more realistic options are all interesting names.

Full Circle Racing Designs looks further into RFK’s past. Greg Biffle drove the No. 60 car in Xfinity and the No. 16 car in the Cup Series for the team.

Andrew Higginbotham was one of many who volunteered their services for the car.

A surprising pick from Animal Mother, but, Juan Pablo Montoya is a two-time Cup Series winner.

There are plenty of options for RFK Racing to join Stage 60. Which one will it be?

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 15: NASCAR President Steve O'Donnell speaks at the Chairman’s Breakfast hosted by Jim France prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Steve O’Donnell Says NASCAR Got “Lazy” Growing the Sport

What’s Happening?

NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell claims that he feels NASCAR “got a little lazy” in its attempts to keep growing the sport during a recent interview.

NASCAR’s Steve O’Donnell is entering his first full season as NASCAR President, after taking over the post from former President Steve Phelps in March 2025.

O’Donnell took over his post during a turbulent time in sports history, as schedule changes and car generations compounded fans’ growing issues with things such as the 2014 playoff system.

To add to his troubles, NASCAR was in the midst of a heated antitrust lawsuit with two of its teams, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, that was bound for court in late 2025.

Ultimately, NASCAR would manage to put a bow on most of its troubles before the start of the 2026 season, settling the lawsuit with the two teams, changing its points format, and expressing an openness to explore changes to its NASCAR Next Gen car, such as increased horsepower on short tracks and road courses.

This whirlwind of change is turning gears in the NASCAR fanbase, with many fans saying a lot of the reshuffling is just as good for the sport as putting things such as the lawsuit and playoffs in the rear-view mirror, a sentiment shared by O’Donnell.

During an interview with Sports Business Journal on Monday, the long-time NASCAR executive said, “This is the first year I can remember where we’re going into the season, just talking about racing and what’s great about NASCAR.”

This isn’t the only shared feeling between O’Donnell and NASCAR fans, as prior to that, he said he felt NASCAR had grown “a little lazy” after overtaking IndyCar as the top motorsport in America, something he has even told NASCAR employees.

“When I started at NASCAR, we were chasing IndyCar, and the goal was, if we can just kind of surpass IndyCar, and we did that, and, you know, I’ve told our employees, I think we all got a little lazy.” — Steve O’Donnell

While many fans would agree that NASCAR has turned around for the better, there is still work to be done, and in O’Donnell’s eyes, the sport is in a prime spot to grow.

“My job and all of our jobs is to bring the industry together and talk about, we got a pretty cool thing going here, and we can really grow it,” O’Donnell said.

Can NASCAR’s Early Momentum Continue?

NASCAR isn’t exactly setting lofty goals for itself in 2026, at least in public, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have the attention of its fanbase.

While the revived Chase format has drawn back some eyes, things like NASCAR’s “Hell Yeah” advertising campaign were the talk of the NASCAR community entering the 2026 Daytona 500.

That race also produced a finish that saw NBA legend, team owner, and former NASCAR lawsuit plaintiff, Michael Jordan, bring home another major race win on National TV with driver Tyler Reddick.

This race also saw a slight increase in viewership from the 2025 Daytona 500, one hurt by a major rain storm that blew in early in the race’s running.

Though TV ratings may not be skyrocketing, NASCAR has early momentum to make 2026 good enough to set a firm foundation for O’Donnell’s goals of growth, but maintaining that momentum will be another challenge in and of itself.

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AUSTIN, TEXAS - MAY 23: A general view of racing during the NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on May 23, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Weather Forecast for Circuit of the America’s 2026 NASCAR Race Weekend

What’s Happening?

The NASCAR Truck Series breaks off from the main touring series schedule this weekend, but that doesn’t mean the O’Reilly Auto Parts and Cup Series aren’t racing. So, whether you are going to be at the track or home, what does the forecast look like for the race weekend in Austin, Texas?

  • Circuit of the Americas is a state-of-the-art road course facility in South Texas, boasting a stacked schedule of racing from open wheel, motorcycles, and NASCAR. In 2021, inclusion on the schedule marked a turning point for NASCAR, as the series committed to more road course racing into the 2020s.
  • Though NASCAR has raced at the circuit since 2021, this is the second season the series will race on the track’s “short course.” Of course, this will be without the Truck Series, as they join the NTT IndyCar Series in St. Petersburg, Florida, for a street race.
  • Despite the state’s reputation for hot and dry temps, much like any race on the spring portion of the NASCAR schedule, COTA’s weather can be somewhat unpredictable.

Weekend Weather Forecast

Saturday, February 28: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Focused Health 250 | 2:00 PM on The CW

Before the OAP Series Race (11:00 AM – 2:00 PM)

  • Temperature: High of 83°F at 2:00 PM
  • Precipitation Chance: 1% Chance at Noon
  • Wind: 9 to 11 MPH

During the OAP Series Race (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM)

  • Temperature: High of 85°F at 4:00 PM
  • Precipitation Chance: 1% Chance
  • Wind: 10 to 11 MPH

After the OAP Series Race (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM)

  • Temperature: High of 84°F at 5:00 PM
  • Precipitation Chance: 2% Chance at 6:00 PM
  • Wind: 10 MPH

Sunday, March 1: Cup Series DuraMax Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne | 2:30 PM on FOX

Before the Cup Series Race (11:00 AM – 2:00 PM)

  • Temperature: High of 82°F at 2:00 PM
  • Precipitation Chance: 1% Chance
  • Wind: 11 to 13 MPH

During the Cup Series Race (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM)

  • Temperature: High of 84°F at 4:00 PM
  • Precipitation Chance: 1% Chance
  • Wind: 11 to 13 MPH

After the Cup Series Race (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM)

  • Temperature: High of 83°F at 5:00 PM
  • Precipitation Chance: 1% Chance
  • Wind: 11 MPH

Recent Weather Events at COTA: 2021, Not Technically a Washout

When the three NASCAR National Series rolled into Austin for COTA’s first NASCAR race weekend in 2021, no one could have guessed the chaos that lay in wait. A major rain shower did not prevent the series from racing that day, as, though it was still somewhat foreign at the time, NASCAR sent the Cup Series out in the rain for a chaotic race, ultimately won by Chase Elliott.

Note: This article will be updated with a more accurate and detailed forecast as the race weekend nears.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 02: Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Busch Light For the Love of Texas Chevrolet, and Connor Zilisch, driver of the #87 Red Bull Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on March 02, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

Circuit of the America’s 2026 NASCAR Spring Race Weekend: TV Schedule, Entry Lists, Race Info, and More

What’s Happening?

After back-to-back drafting tracks, NASCAR’s three National Series split ways as the O’Reilly Auto Parts and Cup Series head for Circuit of the Americas, and the Truck Series makes its debut at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

  • Circuit of the Americas opened in 2012 as a state-of-the-art facility in South Texas. COTA is one of two tracks on the NASCAR schedule in the state of Texas and is the only track that NASCAR actively shares with Formula One.
  • Though the track is known for its exports in open wheel, mostly through F1, the track finally welcomed NASCAR’s Cup Series in 2021. Alongside the series was the Craftsman Truck and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, though the Trucks no longer race at the road course.
  • After taking the weekend off in 2025, the Trucks will be active this weekend, as they take on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, for a joint weekend with the NTT IndyCar Series, before the IndyCars take on Phoenix Raceway with the OAP and Cup Series next weekend.

Weekend TV Schedule (All Times ET) (Truck Series at St. Petersburg)

Friday, February 27: Craftsman Truck Series Practice and Qualifying
  • 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM – Craftsman Truck Series Practice on FS2
  • 5:05 PM – 6:00 PM – Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying on FS2

Saturday, February 28: Craftsman Truck Series Race
  • 2:00 PM – NASCAR O’Reilly Craftsman Truck Series OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 on the FOX (TV) and NRN (Radio)

Weekend TV Schedule (All Times ET) (Cup and OAP Series at COTA)

Friday, February 27: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Practice and Qualifying
  • 5:00 PM – 5:50 PM – O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Practice on the CW App
  • 6:05 PM – 7:00 PM – O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Qualifying on the CW App

Saturday, February 28: Cup Series Practice and Qualifying – O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race
  • 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Cup Series Practice on Prime Video
  • 11:10 AM – 12:00 PM – Cup Series Qualifying on Prime Video
  • 3:00 PM – NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Focused Health 250 on the CW (TV) and PRN (Radio)

Sunday, March 1: Cup Series Race
  • 3:30 PM – NASCAR Cup Series DuraMax Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne on FOX (TV) and PRN (Radio)

Race Facts (Truck Series)

Track Facts: Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
  • Length: 1.808 Miles
  • Turns: 14
  • Surface: Asphalt
  • Rain Tires: Yes

OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 on FOX:
  • Race Length: 80 Laps (144 Miles)
  • Stages: 20 Lap Stage 1, 20 Lap Stage 2, 40 Lap Final Stage

Race Facts (Cup and OAP Series)

Track Facts: Circuit of the Americas
  • Year Built: 2012
  • Length: 2.3 Miles
  • Turns: 20
  • Surface: Asphalt
  • Rain Tires: Yes

Focused Health 250 on the CW:
  • Race Length: 65 Laps (156 Miles)
  • Stages: 20 Lap Stage 1, 20 Lap Stage 2, 25 Lap Final Stage
  • Most-Recent Race Winner: Connor Zilisch

EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix on FOX:
  • Race Length: 95 Laps (228 Miles)
  • Stages: 20 Lap Stage 1, 25 Lap Stage 2, 50 Lap Final Stage

2025 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix Results:
  • First: Christopher Bell – No. 20
  • Second: William Byron – No. 24
  • Third: Tyler Reddick – No. 45
  • Fourth: Chase Elliott – No. 9
  • Fifth: Kyle Busch – No. 8

Top Storylines of the Weekend

  • With the Truck Series debut at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, many familiar names, both from the world of NASCAR and IndyCar, are getting behind the wheel this weekend. These include James Hinchcliffe, who will make his series debut with Spire Motorsports; former IndyCar Champion Dairo Franchitti, who will make his first Truck Start since 2007 with TRICON Garage; and IMSA standout Colin Braun, who is racing for Kaulig in his first Truck Start since 2007.
  • Back west, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will have its share of part-timers as well, as new rules allow Cup Series drivers more seat time in the lower division. This weekend, Shane van Gisbergen, Ross Chastain, and Connor Zilisch will all get back behind the wheel of a NASCAR OAP Series for a shot at victory lane on COTA’s short course.
  • Speaking of the short course at COTA, fans are still buzzing about the layout’s 2025 debut, which showed some of the best road course racing of the NASCAR Next Gen car’s lifespan. However, the story this time around is Shane van Gisbergen, who won every road course race last season except at Circuit of the Americas, where he is now winless in two Cup Series tries.

Entry Lists

Cup Series
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
Craftsman Truck Series

This information will be available when NASCAR releases it on Monday afternoon.

Note: This article will be updated as more information about the weekend comes out.