Road-course master Chase Elliott wins weather-shortened inaugural race at COTA: You can’t call a Chase Elliott victory on a road course “unexpected,” but little else was predictable in the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at the Circuit of the Americas road course in Austin, Texas. After all, Elliott came to COTA having won five of the previous 10 road races, and on Sunday the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix became No. 6 after NASCAR called the race 14 laps short of the scheduled finish because of excessive standing water on the track and potential danger to the drivers.[Read More](5-23-2021)
#9-Chase Elliott won the rain-shortened Echopark Texas Grand Prix NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas. The win is his 1st win of the year and 12th career win.
#5-Larson finished 2nd followed by #22-Logano, #42-Chastain, #16-Allmendinger, #14-Briscoe, #34-McDowell, #48-Bowman, pole winner #8-Reddick, and #18-Busch.
Elliott did not have enough gas to finish out the race, but was staying on track in hopes of a caution or heavy rain and the wait paid off.
The caution came out with 14 laps remaining due to heavy rain and standing water on the track causing cars to hydroplane. NASCAR red flagged the race and tried to remove some of the standing water from the track but the rain continued and NASCAR to called it with 54 of 68 laps complete.
The race was also red flagged for 20 minutes on lap 26 for track drying because of the amount of water on track and limited visibility.
Stage 1 was won by #22-Logano. Stage 2 was won by #18-Busch.
There were 11 lead changes among 10 drivers and 6 cautions for 12 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 59.024mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Race Fast Facts – COTA:
Chase Elliott won the Inaugural EchoPark Automotive Texas Grand Prix, his 12th victory in 199 Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and eighth top-10 finish in 2021.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in one race at Circuit of The Americas.
Kyle Larson (second) posted his first top-10 finish in one race at Circuit of The Americas. It is his ninth top-10 finish in 2021.
Joey Logano (third) posted his first top-10 finish in one race at Circuit of The Americas.
Chase Briscoe (sixth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Denny Hamlin leads the point standings by 98 points over William Byron.
(NASCAR)(5-23-2021)
Cup Series Playoff Standings after COTA:
(race 14 of 26 in the regular season)
1) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. [3 wins], 474
2) #48-Alex Bowman [2 wins], 362
3) #24-William Byron [1 win], 499
4) #5-Kyle Larson [1 win], 487
5) #22-Joey Logano [1 win], 486
6) #9-Chase Elliott, [1 win], 481
7) #12-Ryan Blaney [1 win], 458
8) #2-Brad Keselowski [1 win], 422
9) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 422
10) #20-Christopher Bell [1 win], 337
11) #34-Michael McDowell [1 win], 329
12) #11-Denny Hamlin, 597 [point leader]
13) #4-Kevin Harvick, 428
14) #3-Austin Dillon, 366
15) #17-Chris Buescher, 338
16) #8-Tyler Reddick, 334
Currently outside the playoffs:
17) #21-Matt DiBenedetto, 296
18) #1-Kurt Busch, 286
18) #47-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., 281
19) #42-Ross Chastain, 276
See the Driver Points Standings and Owners Point Standings.
Paint Schemes
Cars to the rear: #2-Keselowski (unapproved adjustments), #10-Almirola (power steering), #11-Hamlin (unapproved adjustments), #12-Blaney (unapproved adjustments),#14-Briscoe (transmission), #15-Davison (brakes), #17-Buescher (brakes), #38-Alfredo (power steering), #43-Jones (unapproved adjustments), #51-Ware (brakes), #99-Suarez (transmission)
#8-Tyler Reddick won the Busch pole for the Echopark Texas Grand Prix NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas with speed of 92.363mph for his 1st career pole.
#5-Larson will start second followed by #22-Cindric,#18-Busch, #24-Byron, #22-Logano, #16-Allmendinger, #9-Elliott, #12-Blaney, and #20-Bell.
#16-Allmendinger was fastest in the first round with a speed of 91.962mph.
See the complete qualifying results and the Echopark Texas Grand Prix Starting Lineup page.(5-23-2021)
Circuit of the Americas – Qualifying Fast Facts:
Tyler Reddick won the Pole Award for the Inaugural EchoPark Automotive Texas Grand Prix with a lap of 132.911 seconds, 92.363 mph.
This is his first pole in 52 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and second top-10 start in 2021.
This is his first pole in one race at Circuit of The Americas.
Kyle Larson (second) posted his eighth top-10 start of 2021 and his first in one race at Circuit of The Americas.
* Austin Cindric(i) (third) posted his first top-10 start at Circuit of The Americas. It is his first in five races this season.
Chase Briscoe (27th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(5-23-2020)
Practice for the Echopark Texas Grand Prix NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas is over after 55 minutes. The top 5 were:
#24-Byron 77.847
#22-Logano 77.558
#5-Larson 77.467
#18-Busch 77.383
#9-Elliott 77.252
Slowest: #52-Bilicki 73.863 & #53-Smithley 73.572. No speed: #00-Houff.
Most laps run: #11-Hamlin, 14 laps.
Note: It rained throughout the session. There were several drivers that looped their cars around but no one suffered any reportable damage.
See the speeds on the Echopark Texas Grand Prix Practice speeds page.(5-22-2021)
There will be one practice session and qualifying for the COTA Race.
Qualifying will be road course group qualifying: One 25 minute round with all drivers and one 10 minute round with the top 12 from the first round..
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Echopark Texas Grand Prix NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas have been made.
#5-Kyle Larson will have pit stall 1.
#99-Daniel Suarez will use the 2nd pit stall.
The final pit stall will be used by #22-Joey Logano.
See all pit choices on Pit Stall chart page.(5-19-2021)
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tire Notes
The Entry List for the Echopark Texas Grand Prix NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas is posted, 40 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Davison, #16-Allmendinger, #33-Cindric, #53-Smithley, #77-Haley, #78-Tilley, #96-Dillon.
See the full entry list on the Echopark Texas Grand Prix Entry List page.
2021 Cup Series: Echopark Texas Grand Prix at COTA TandemDraft Stats