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

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

by Kauy Ostlien

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

• Via the National Weather Service
• All Listed Times CT (Local)

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.

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

by Kauy Ostlien

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.

The Cutline’s 2026 Race Weekend Rankings Tier List

by Armany DePaul

What’s Happening?

Just like that, the first two weeks of the NASCAR season are in the books. After kicking the season off at Daytona, the sport headed up north to EchoPark Speedway for back-to-back superspeedway action. The Cup series saw a familiar face in victory lane, as Tyler Reddick went 2-for-2 to start the year.

In the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Sheldon Creed finally got the monkey off his back, thanks to help from Ross Chastain, and won his first career O’Reilly Auto Parts race. In Trucks, Kyle Busch continued his EchoPark dominance, taking home the checkered flag in familiar Hendrick colors, well, familiar two decades ago.

Now, how was the racing as a whole? Where do the races stack up against each other? Let’s take a look at my Race Weekend Rankings and see where the EchoPark weekend ranks among the rest of the 2026 season!

Check out the latest episode of The Cutline, where Armany broke down the weekend at Atlanta, alongside NASCAR_Opinion.

Fr8 Racing 250: B-Tier

• New Atlanta has yet to disappoint and the Truck race is no exception. While not a barnburner, there was plenty of action throughout the field, and Kyle Busch making a hard charge to take the win as the timer expired was a spectacle to watch.
• What hurt the race was the timed ending. Due to the O’Reilly races coverage, the Truck race was shortened by a handful of laps, which was a bummer for the series. Overall though, a good, solid showing.

Autotrader 400: A-Tier

• This race further proved why EchoPark Speedway is the best superspeedway on the schedule. It had everything. Side-by-side battles throughout the field, comers and goers, handling matters just as much as the draft, and Reddick’s hard charge with only three fenders, this race was the definition of a thriller.
• What hurt the race was a few bone-headed incidents. Kyle Larson clearing himself off of Shane van Gisbergen, Joey Logano squeezing Denny Hamlin too high, and whatever Carson Hocevar was thinking at the first overtime. While those moments kept the race from S-Tier, it should be no lower than A.

You can follow along with Armany by creating your own Race Weekend Rankings Tier List. Make sure to tag Armany and The Daily Downforce on X, and we’ll share your list with the rest of the NASCAR Community.