Daytona … Atlanta … Austin. Circuit of the Americas has acquired subsequent.
Simply three weeks into the season, NASCAR’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix weekend arrives. It will likely be a critical change of tempo as the perfect inventory automotive drivers on the earth go from the excessive banks of Daytona to the Atlanta superspeedway, then downshift to the highway course in Austin. A brand new course, at that.
“It is the earliest highway course ever for NASCAR,” race director Bryan Hammond stated. “We do not sometimes see these till June or July. You’ll be able to’t race all over the place in February and March. It simply made sense to return right here proper up entrance within the season.”
The climate ought to cooperate, with projected highs of 77, 82 and 79 this weekend, a far cry from every week in the past when Central Texas was within the 30s — for highs. Ross Chastain, the 2022 Cup Sequence winner right here, visited on a promotional look final Thursday and was, effectively, freezing.
“Oh, man, I used to be beginning to marvel,” Chastain advised the American-Statesman. “So glad to listen to it is gonna heat up. Actually chilly climate like that may dampen everybody’s spirits.”
Hammond stated the opposite cause for the early Austin look is to unfold out the state’s two Cup occasions. Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Price has its race Could 4.
“We’re nearly precisely two months aside,” he stated. “This helps each of us for ticket gross sales, promotions, whatnot. In previous years, the 2 Texas races have been as shut as two weeks aside. At COTA we’re gonna seize the start wave of momentum you get with each season.”
Scott Cooper, Speedway Motorsports communications director, stated there might be followers from all 50 states and 14 overseas nations, as far-off as Brazil, Eire and Australia.
Whereas NASCAR doesn’t disclose ticket gross sales and attendance, Hammond stated the response to the early Austin race has been “overwhelimingly optimistic.” A number of tenting areas are bought out. “Austin has at all times been a last-minute market. This week’s climate will assist our late gate.”
Switching from the excessive speeds of Daytona and Atlanta to the highway course in Austin may very well be jarring for drivers and groups.
“The schedule is nearly fully totally different than we’re used to,” stated Ricky Steinhouse Jr., the 2023 Daytona 500 winner. “A giant observe change with fully totally different setups and technique. We’re fairly good about adapting to challenges. I take pleasure in attending to Austin and COTA so early. Love Austin. Good meals, good golf, good music, world-class race observe.”
It will likely be a unique structure as effectively. The primary 4 NASCAR at COTA occasions had been run on Formulation One’s 3.4-mile, 20-turn design. This one might be on a 2.4-mile, 17-turn structure that may carry drivers across the observe extra shortly and and shorten the prolonged warning laps.
Triple protection: The weekend additionally consists of the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence and IMSA Sports activities Automotive Problem, which is able to each be on the observe Friday for apply and qualifying. IMSA is taking the place of the Craftsman truck collection.
The Targeted Well being 250 Xfinity occasion consists of Cup stars William Byron and Chastain. They’re each former Cup winners at COTA, Byron completely dominating final yr. Byron started the season with the Daytona 500 victory. Byron will drive the No. 17 for Hendrick Motorsports. Chastain will pilot the No. 9 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr.
IMSA, which has drivers from 26 nations, will maintain two races Saturday after apply and qualifying Friday.
Younger and stressed: Connor Zilisch, all of 18 years outdated, will look to turn out to be the youngest driver to make a Cup begin since Joey Logano made his 2008 debut.
Zilisch, from Charlotte, will drive the No. 78 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing. He’s a road-course specialist who completed fourth within the truck race right here final yr. “Connor has extra highway course data than I do,” teammate Chastain stated. “He is already been uncovered to a lot, raced all ove rthe world. We’re leaning on him as a lot as he is leaning on us. He simply has to get the expertise. How do you ever be taught to throw a soccer till you really throw one?”
Off-track exercise: The occasion has expanded its Fan Zone activiities to incorporate America’s Bought Expertise performers Boogie Storm and Funkanometry, plus a high-fying aerial troupe, the Globe of Loss of life bike present and Swifty Swing Pig races (solely in NASCAR, proper?). Rising nation star Corey Kent will do a 1-hour pre-race Cup live performance Sunday.
NASCAR at COTA
Friday-Sunday, Circuit of the Americas, tickets — $91 weekend grounds go, $241 weekend principal grandstand, $25 and up Friday solely, $50 and up Saturday solely, $80 basic admission Sunday, $120 and up grandstand Sunday
Friday — IMSA VP Sportscar Problem apply 2-2:40 p.m.; NASCAR Xfinity Sequence apply 4-4:50 p.m. (The CW app); Xfinity Sequence qualifying 5-6 p.m. (The CW app); VP Sportscar Problem qualifying 6:30-7:05 p.m.; Saturday — VP Sportscar Problem 8:40-9:25 a.m.; NASCAR Cup Sequence practices 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (Prime Video); NASCAR Cup Sequence qualifying (Prime Video); Xfinity Sequence Targeted Well being 250 1:30-4 p.m. (The CW); VP Sportscar Problem 5-5:45 p.m.; Sunday — Cory Kent live performance 12:45-1:45 p.m.; NASCAR EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix 2:30 p.m. (Fox)
