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2026 NASCAR Cup Series Race Preview - DuraMax Texas GP:
Can Tyler Reddick continue his road course dominance?

February 26, 2026 by Marc Jerbs

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to its first road course test of the 2026 season at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin for the DuraMax Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne on Sunday, March 1, at 3:30PM EST. This marks the sixth edition of the event and the second time the race will utilize the 17-turn, 2.4-mile National Course layout. Race-day conditions are expected to be ideal, with sunny skies, temperatures ranging from 74°F to 84°F, light 11 mph winds, and just a minimal chance of rain.

Race Overview and Track Layout

The DuraMax Texas Grand Prix serves as the third stop on the 36-race NASCAR Cup Series calendar. Drivers will tackle 95 laps - totaling 228 miles — with stage breaks set at laps 20 and 45 before the final run to lap 95.

COTA's road course presents a unique challenge with its counterclockwise layout, dramatic elevation changes, and technical corners spread across 1,500 acres just outside Austin. From 2021 through 2024, NASCAR events were contested on the 3.41-mile, 20-turn full course highlighted by the iconic 133-foot climb into Turn 1. Beginning in 2025, the series transitioned to a shorter 2.4-mile configuration, tightening the racing action and increasing overtaking opportunities — a format that returns for 2026.

Past Winners and Key Performance Stats

The five Cup Series races at COTA have produced five different winners, emphasizing the unpredictability of road course racing. In 2025, Christopher Bell powered to victory for Joe Gibbs Racing after starting 19th on the grid.

Tyler Reddick owns the qualifying record on the 2.4-mile layout, clocking 88.095 mph (98.076 seconds) on March 1, 2025.

DuraMax Texas Grand Prix Sports Bet Odds

Here are our latest >DuraMax Texas Grand Prix odds:

• Shave Van Gisbergen is the favorite to win the race with a money line of +110.
• Connor Zilisch is Gisbergen's main challenger with a money line of +350.
• Defending race winner Christopher Bell is a little further behind with a money line of +900.

Notable statistical leaders at COTA include:

• Most Poles: William Byron (2023, 2024) and Tyler Reddick (2021, 2025) – two each
• Most Laps Led: William Byron (71), followed by Kyle Busch (54) and Tyler Reddick (53)
• Best Average Start: Tyler Reddick (2.2), ahead of Chase Elliott (8.0) and Shane van Gisbergen (9.0)
• Best Average Finish: Tyler Reddick (4.6), followed by Alex Bowman (5.2) and Ross Chastain (5.6)
• Most Top-Fives: Tyler Reddick (4)
• Most Top 10s: Alex Bowman and Tyler Reddick (5 each)

2026 Duramax Texas Grand Prix Predictions

Several drivers enter COTA with strong momentum and intriguing storylines:

Connor Zilisch - The 19-year-old rookie aims for his first Cup Series top 10 finish. Zilisch has excelled at COTA in lower series competition, including a Xfinity victory in 2025 and a fourth-place Truck finish in 2024. Driving the No. 88 for Trackhouse Racing, a team known for road course strength, he could surprise.

Bubba Wallace - Wallace continues to show growth on road courses, improving his average finish significantly from 2023 to 2024. While a top 10 may be ambitious, expect the No. 23 team to aggressively chase stage points.

Alex Bowman - Currently 32nd in the standings, Bowman desperately needs a strong points day. With an impressive 5.3 average finish at COTA, he's a prime candidate to capture a Stage 1 win and contend for a podium.

Tyler Reddick - Arguably the favorite entering race weekend. Since 2023, Reddick owns a 3.0 average finish and a 2.0 average start at COTA. After winning the first two races of the 2026 season, he arrives in peak form and could once again dominate Stage 2.

William Byron - A two-time COTA winner (2023–24), Byron remains one of the most consistent road course performers in the series. Even after starting mid-pack last season, he rallied to finish second — proving he can contend regardless of track position.

Shane van Gisbergen - Fresh off a career-best superspeedway finish, the road course specialist is expected to be a major factor. His technical skill set makes him a legitimate threat to challenge Byron for the victory.

Final Thought

With a refined layout, ideal weather conditions, and a stacked field featuring proven road course aces and hungry contenders, the 2026 DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix at COTA is shaping up to be one of the season's most competitive early showdowns. If recent history is any indication, expect strategy, precision, and late-race drama to define who conquers Austin's most demanding circuit.

2026 NASCAR Cup Series Drivers Standing

Position	Car #	Driver	Starts	Race Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s	Total Points
1	45	Tyler Reddick	2	2	2	2	125
2	23	Bubba Wallace	2	0	0	2	85
3	9	Chase Elliott	2	0	1	1	81
4	77	Carson Hocevar	2	0	1	1	74
5	38	Zane Smith	2	0	0	2	71
6	22	Joey Logano	2	0	1	1	68
7	7	Daniel Suárez	2	0	1	1	67
8	12	Ryan Blaney	2	0	0	1	67
9	6	Brad Keselowski	2	0	1	1	61
10	17	Chris Buescher	2	0	0	1	61

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