NASCAR will make it’s second-ever stop to Austin and Circuit of the Americas with the NASCAR EchoPark Automotive Cup Grand Prix featuring events from Friday, March 25 through Sunday, March 27. Events at COTA will include racing in all three of its major series, non-race entertainment and multiple driver appearances.
Last Sunday, William Byron took the checkered flag for his third NASCAR Cup victory at a chaotic race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Chase Elliott sits atop the driver standings after five races with 171 points followed by Joey Logano who has 164 points.
Here is what you need to know going into the three-day weekend at COTA:
How to get NASCAR EchoPark Automotive Cup Grand Prix tickets
Tickets are still available for all three days. You can but tickets for an individual day or a three-day weekend pass. There are discounted tickets for kids 12 and under and the military. To buy tickets, go to https://www.nascaratcota.com/tickets/. Here are tickets options and prices:
- Friday: practice, $25 to $45
- Saturday: Xfinity and Truck races, from $30 for GA ground pass to $75-$90 for main grandstand.
- Sunday: Cup race, from $70 for GA ground pass to $150-$185 for main grandstand.
- Weekend: Three-day passes start at $99 for GA grounds, up to $210-$275 for main grandstand.
NASCAR race schedule at Circuit of the Americas
Note: All time are Central.
Camping World Trucks XPEL 225
- When: Saturday, noon
- Length: 142 miles, with stages 12/26/42
- 2021 pole: Tyler Ankrum (GMS Racing)
- Defending champ: Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)
Xfinity Pit Boss 250
- When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
- Length: 156 miles, with stages 14/30/46
- 2021 pole: Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing)
- Defending champ: Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing)
EchoPark Automotive Cup Grand Prix
- When: Sunday, 2:30 p.m.
- Length: 231 miles, with stages 15/32/68
- 2021 pole: Tyler Reddick (Richard Childress Racing)
- Defending champ: Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)
FRIDAY
- 1:30 p.m: Gates open
- 2-2:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series practice
- 2:30-3:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series qualifying
- 4-4:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series practice
- 4:30-5:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series qualifying
SATURDAY
- 8 a.m.: Gates, Fan Zone open
- 9-10 a.m.: Cup Series practice
- 10-11 a.m.: Cup Series qualifying
- Noon: Camping World Truck Series XPEL 225 race
- 3:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Pit Boss 250 race
- 6-9:30 p.m.: After Party at the Amp, includes live music, entertainment and driver meet-and-greet sessions
- 7:30-9:30 p.m.: Rock tribute band Hairball concert
SUNDAY
- 10 a.m.: Gates and Fan Zone open
- 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Track Pass access open
- 12:45-1:45 p.m.: Prerace concert by Grammy Award-nominated Midland
- 2 p.m.: Cup Series driver introductions
- 2:30 p.m.: EchoPark Automotive Texas Grand Prix race
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How to watch the NASCAR EchoPark Automotive Cup Grand Prix
- Friday (all on FS1): Truck qualifying, 2-3:30 p.m., replay 7:30-9 p.m., Xfinity qualifying, 4-5:30 p.m., replay at 9-10:30 p.m.
- Saturday (all on FS1): Cup qualifying, 9-11 a.m., Truck race, 12-2:30 p.m., replay 8-10 p.m., Xfinity race, 3:30-6 p.m., replay 10 p.m.-midnight
- Sunday (all Fox): KTBC Race Day, 1:30-2 p.m., Fox Race Day preview, 2-2:30 p.m., Cup race, 2:30-6 p.m.
NASCAR EchoPark Automotive Cup Grand Prix betting favorites
The Las Vegas odds for the NASCAR race at COTA:
- Chase Elliott: 2.5 to 1
- Kyle Larson: 3 to 1
- Martin Truex Jr.: 10 to 1
- Kyle Busch: 11 to 1
- Austin Cindric: 14 to 1
- A.J. Allmendinger: 15 to 1
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Non-race entertainment
Throughout Saturday and Sunday, there will be a wide variety of non-race options, including Race Day Rumble, Swine Pig Races, Axe Throwing, BMX Stunt Show, Full Steel Combat, Great American High Dive, Human Cannonball and live music. Click here for a full schedule of times and locations.
NASCAR Cup drive appearances at COTA
Fan will have the opportunity meet drivers and take pictures, free of charge, throughout the weekend. Here is a list of time and locations of the driver appearances:
Friday
- 1:30 p.m. — Noah Gragson, Justin Allgaier and Miguel Paludo will be at the Hendrick/JR Motorsports souvenir hauler for an autograph session.
Saturday
- 9:30 a.m. — Hailie Deegan, Tanner Gray and Taylor Gray at the Ford Performance Display
- 9:45 a.m. — Zane Smith at the Ford Performance Display
- 12:45-1 p.m. — Riley Herbst at the Ford Performance Display
- 1 p.m. — Riley Herbst at the Stewart-Haas Racing merchandise hauler
- 1-3 p.m. — Todd Gilliland at the Boot Barn at Southpark Meadows
- 6-7:30 p.m. — After Party at The Amp (Q&A sessions), starting with Mark Martin, followed by Corey LaJoie, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Alex Bowman
Sunday
- 10:45-11 a.m. — Todd Gilliland at the Ford Performance Display
- 11-11:15 a.m. — Todd Gilliland at the EchoPark Stage / Grand Plaza
- 11:15-11:30 a.m. — Tyler Reddick in the EchoPark Stage / Grand Plaza
- 11:30-11:15 a.m. — Chris Buescher in the EchoPark Stage / Grand Plaza
- 11:35-11:50 a.m. — Tyler Reddick in the 3CHI Display
- 12:15-12:30 p.m. — Kyle Larson and William Byron at the Pre-Race Stage on the front stretch
- 12:30-12:45 p.m. — Austin Cindric at the Pre-Race Stage on the front stretch
American-Statesman correspondent Kevin Lyttle contributed to this report.