NASCAR’s Cup Series is set for a thrilling showdown at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas (COTA) this Sunday, March 1, 2026, as the DuraMax Grand Prix brings the first road course challenge of the season. After two weeks of drafting and high-speed oval action, the field now faces the technical demands and twists of the 2.4-mile COTA layout. With a packed lineup, evolving storylines, and a history of unpredictability at this venue, anticipation is sky high for what’s to come.
Qualifying on Saturday delivered a statement from Tyler Reddick, who secured the pole position with a blistering lap of 1:37.76. Reddick, piloting the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, is chasing his third consecutive win to open the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. His recent form has been nothing short of electric, and starting up front gives him a prime shot at extending his hot streak. As Reddick told reporters after qualifying, “We’ve got a fast car and a great team behind us. Starting on the pole at COTA is huge, but there’s a lot of work ahead.”
Right behind Reddick on the grid is Ross Chastain, who’ll roll off in the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. Chastain has already tasted victory at COTA, adding an extra layer of intrigue to Sunday’s race. Chase Briscoe (No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) and Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford) round out the top four, both showing strong pace throughout practice and qualifying.
Chase Elliott, a previous COTA winner and the current No. 9 for Hendrick Motorsports, secured the fifth spot on the grid with a lap of 1:37.913. Elliott’s road course prowess is well known, and he’s looking to notch his second Cup Series win at this track. As Elliott put it, “COTA always brings out the best in all of us. You’ve got to be on your game from the drop of the green.” William Byron, another COTA victor from the Hendrick stable, will start 10th after posting a 1:38.381 in qualifying. Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman, also from Hendrick Motorsports, will start 15th and 16th respectively, with lap times of 1:38.514 and 1:38.542.
The Hendrick camp enters the weekend with plenty of optimism. Both Elliott and Byron have prior Cup wins at COTA, while Larson’s 2024 O’Reilly Series victory at the circuit only adds to his confidence. Bowman, meanwhile, boasts an impressive record at COTA, being one of just two drivers to finish inside the top 10 in all five Cup races held here. His average finish of 5.2 is second best among active drivers, underscoring his consistency at this demanding venue.
Saturday’s practice sessions saw Michael McDowell (No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) top the charts with a 1:39.023, followed closely by Blaney, Connor Zilisch, and Larson. Bowman slotted in seventh, keeping the Hendrick Chevrolets firmly in the mix. This balance of speed and consistency should make for a compelling race as strategy, tire management, and pit stops come into play.
But the storylines don’t stop with the front runners. Shane van Gisbergen, widely considered a road course specialist after stringing together five straight road wins last season, surprised many by qualifying only 13th in the No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. Despite not winning at COTA last year, van Gisbergen remains a favorite on the odds boards, with many expecting him to charge through the field. As noted by one analyst, “He’s always a threat on these tracks, regardless of where he starts.”
Christopher Bell, who won at COTA in 2025 as part of a remarkable three-race win streak, will start eighth this time around. The diversity of past winners at COTA—five different drivers in five races since the track joined the Cup schedule in 2021—underscores just how tough it is to predict who’ll come out on top. Joining the ranks of Elliott, Chastain, Reddick, Byron, and Bell, the winner’s list here reads like a who’s who of modern NASCAR road racing.
Beyond the Cup Series, it’s a unique weekend for NASCAR. While the Cup and O’Reilly Series are battling it out in Austin, the Truck Series has headed east to join IndyCar on the streets of St. Petersburg. This split schedule means fans are treated to a smorgasbord of racing action across two iconic circuits.
For those tuning in, Sunday’s Cup Series race kicks off at 3:30 p.m. local time and will be broadcast nationally on FOX. Fans can also catch streaming coverage on the FOX One app, Fubo, and HBO MAX (for in-car camera feeds), with radio coverage available on PRN and SiriusXM Channel 90. The race spans 95 laps and 228 miles, divided into three stages (20, 25, and 50 laps), promising plenty of drama and strategy calls as teams navigate the long, technical layout of COTA.
Current Cup Series points standings reflect Reddick’s dominance, as he leads with 125 points, trailed by Bubba Wallace at 85 and Elliott at 81. Carson Hocevar, Zane Smith, and Joey Logano are all within striking distance, while William Byron and Kyle Larson look to climb the leaderboard with strong runs in Austin. Alex Bowman, despite his stellar COTA record, finds himself further back in the standings and is eager for a points boost.
As the green flag approaches, all eyes are on Tyler Reddick and the rest of the front runners. Will Reddick make it three in a row, or will another COTA specialist rise to the occasion? The unpredictable nature of road course racing—where one missed braking point or bold pit call can turn the whole race upside down—means anything can happen. And with a field this deep and talented, surprises are almost guaranteed.
One thing’s for sure: Sunday’s DuraMax Grand Prix at COTA is shaping up to be a can’t-miss event for NASCAR fans. With a stacked lineup, a challenging track, and the promise of high drama, the stage is set for another memorable chapter in the Cup Series’ road course saga. Fans and teams alike are bracing for a wild ride in Austin, and as the engines roar to life, the only certainty is that the action is just getting started.