NASCAR rolls into Circuit of the Americas this weekend for the third points-paying event of the 2026 Cup Series season. This week, teams will shift from the high-speed chess match of drafting at tracks like Daytona and EchoPark Speedway to the more technical demands of a road course.
Christopher Bell Returns to COTA to Defend His 2025 Road Course Win
One year ago, Christopher Bell captured his second victory of the 2025 season at COTA, reinforcing his road course credentials. Now, the Cup Series and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series return to Austin, Texas, for another pivotal early-season showdown.
Meanwhile, the Craftsman Truck Series splits off for its debut at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, marking a rare weekend where NASCAR’s three national divisions compete at two separate venues.
Here is the full weekend schedule for the events at COTA:
Friday, Feb. 27
- 5:00 p.m. ET – O’Reilly Series Practice (The CW App)
- 6:05 p.m. ET – O’Reilly Series Qualifying (The CW App)
Saturday, Feb. 28
- 10:00 a.m. ET – Cup Series Practice (Prime)
- 11:10 a.m. ET – Cup Series Qualifying (Prime)
- 2:30 p.m. ET – O’Reilly Series Prerace (The CW App)
- 3:00 p.m. ET – O’Reilly Series Race – Focused Health 250 (The CW). A free streaming option is also on Fubo.
The Focused Health 250, O’Reilly Series Race, will be divided into 20-20-25 stages.
Sunday, March 1
2:30 p.m. ET – Race Day
3:30 p.m. ET – Cup Series Race – DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix (FOX). A free streaming option is available to watch on Fubo.
The Cup race will be divided into 20-, 25-, and 50-stage segments. The weather forecast temperatures in the 80s with only a 5% chance of rain all weekend.
COTA Adds a Level of Uniqueness to NASCAR’s Schedule
Opened in 2012, Circuit of the Americas is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility in South Texas. Although the track initially built its reputation in open-wheel racing, it welcomed the Cup Series for the first time in 2021.
Currently, COTA is the only venue on the 2026 schedule that NASCAR actively shares with Formula One. The circuit is a 3.41-mile layout, featuring 20 turns and the iconic uphill charge into Turn 1.
With only two of the 2026 NASCAR season races completed, momentum remains fragile. Road courses traditionally reward braking discipline, track position, and pit strategy over raw horsepower, often producing surprise contenders and reshaping standings.
At Circuit of the Americas, drivers must manage tire wear, shifting points, and technical braking zones while navigating tight corners and long straights. For fans, that means unpredictability and the potential for another breakout performance in Austin.
