On February 23, 2026, the NASCAR Cup Series introduced its first road-course race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, a city celebrated for its distinctive character and motto, “Keep Austin Weird.” This distinctive event aligns perfectly with Austin’s reputation by bringing a new dimension to a series traditionally dominated by oval tracks. Here, drivers contend with a challenging 2.4-mile, 20-turn circuit, maneuvering their heavy 3,400-pound stock cars through tight corners in the DuraMax Grand Prix powered by RelaDyne, offering fans a fresh blend of racing excitement.
How NASCAR’s Road Racing Differs from Formula 1 Standards
Unlike Formula 1, a sophisticated global open-wheel racing series for which COTA was originally designed in 2012, NASCAR’s approach at this venue is intensely physical and direct. Cup Series drivers eschew concerns over track limits, avoidable contact, or official stewards reviewing incidents. Instead, the competition resolves conflicts through on-track actions such as bumping and close-quarters racing.
NASCAR is a contact sport on road courses,
said Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Parts Plus/Costa Oil 10-Minute Oil Change Chevrolet for Rick Ware Racing (RWR).
We go into it with a have-at-it mentality, to where if there’s a racing surface that you can plant four tires on, you do it. Beating and banging is expected. It’s very different from the etiquette and thought process behind road racing anywhere else.
Cody Ware’s Diverse Racing Background and Perspective
Ware brings a wealth of experience beyond NASCAR, having claimed the 2019-2020 LMP2 championship in the Asian Le Mans Series alongside co-driver Gustas Grinbergas and previously earning the 2014 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Rookie of the Year award. He also achieved a podium at the 2024 IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge LMP3 class race at Daytona International Speedway, with further racing experience in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup and NTT IndyCar Series. This background informs his appreciation for NASCAR’s unique road racing style.
If you go anywhere else and you even breathe on someone the wrong way, you’re penalized and get a drive-thru penalty,
Ware said.
In other series, there are so many rules and regulations on how to pass and when to pass and when you have to let somebody go, you feel like you’re not able to race at your full capacity.
The Toughness and Durability of NASCAR Cars on Road Courses
The intensity and physicality of NASCAR racing demand vehicles built to endure heavy contact and rough driving conditions. Ware highlighted this contrast with sportscar racing, noting that stock cars are built to sustain rubbing and collisions, allowing for more aggressive competition on road courses.
Our cars can take the hits, they can take the rubbing, they can take the racing. They’re very durable. Our races have become more of a left-and-right-turn short-track race than a road-course race,
Ware explained.
Sportscars are very fragile compared to stock cars. If you’re in a dedicated sportscar series, you give someone a donut, that can rip off a body panel, or if you hit them too hard from behind, their wing falls off.
Exciting and Competitive Races Draw Viewer Attention
This dynamic and unrestrained style of competition has generated captivating racing experiences for fans watching both live and on television. The parity among drivers and conditions on track ensures thrilling moments regardless of weather or race circumstances.
NASCAR racing on road courses right now is some of the best it’s ever been. We have a lot of parity from first to last,
Ware noted.
Whether we’re racing in the dry or racing in wet conditions, everyone’s gotten really good at road racing, so we put on a great race.
Challenges and Strategy at Circuit of the Americas
The most intense part of racing at COTA is the opening corner, where all 38 cars funnel into a narrow left-hander after ascending a steep 133-foot hill with a 17 percent gradient. The congestion and aggressive driving here evoke the intensity of traditional speedway racing, forcing drivers to carefully assess their competitors’ intentions to avoid costly incidents.
The aggression level of the guys you have in front of you and behind you, it’s almost similar to a speedway race,
Ware said regarding the first turn during race starts and restarts.
It’s about knowing who you can work with to try to get some track position on those restarts versus not wanting to be around someone that might approach turn one like a wrecking ball.
The drive through the remaining nineteen corners demands a blend of precision, finesse, and resilience, reinforcing the challenge Austin presents to NASCAR drivers.
COTA takes a blend of everything,
Ware said.
It’s finesse and perfection, but also ruggedness and manhandling where you’re throwing the car around in different directions.
Upcoming Race Weekend Schedule and Coverage
The race weekend begins Saturday morning with a one-hour practice session at 9 a.m. Central Standard Time, followed by qualifying at 10:10 a.m. CST. Prime Video and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will broadcast both events live. The main event, the DuraMax Grand Prix powered by RelaDyne, will start Sunday at 2:30 p.m. CST, with full live coverage provided by FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Rick Ware Racing’s Legacy and Leadership
Rick Ware, founder and namesake of Rick Ware Racing, has been a prominent figure in motorsports for over four decades, starting his career as a third-generation racer at six years old. His journey spans multiple racing disciplines, including asphalt and dirt tracks, motorcycles, and automobiles. Ware’s road racing experience includes competing in the SCCA Trans Am Series and the Warner W. Hodgdon 300 NASCAR Grand American race at Riverside International Raceway, where he placed third in his NASCAR debut in 1983.
In 1995, Ware transitioned from driver to team owner with the formation of Rick Ware Racing alongside his wife, Lisa. The organization now competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series and actively fields winning entries across NHRA Top Fuel drag racing, Progressive American Flat Track, FIM World Supercross Championship, and the zMAX CARS Tour.
