Race fans will experience another unforgettable weekend of NASCAR in Austin when the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (NXS) return to Circuit of The Americas (COTA) February 27 - March 1, 2026. The action-packed NASCAR at COTA weekend will also include the IMSA-sanctioned VP Racing SportsCar Challenge (IMSA).
“We’re thrilled to host two of NASCAR’s premier series at the world-class Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas once again,” said NASCAR at COTA Executive Director Bryan Hammond. “We’re excited to put more laps of thrilling racing in front of the fans this year as the stars of the sport wheel their way through the challenge of the new course layout. Our team is diligently working hard to put together one heck of a fun weekend featuring a jam-packed Fan Zone full of family activities, live performances, driver appearances and much more.”
NASCAR at COTA
The sixth running of both the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix NCS race and the Focused Health 250 NXS race will arrive with a distinctive new look and feel for both drivers and fans alike. The racing will shift from COTA’s 3.41-mile, 20-turn Full Course layout to the facility’s equally challenging 2.4-mile, 17-turn National Course.
Fans will benefit from an extended race distance from 68 laps to approximately 100, providing nearly 50 percent more action in front of them than the previous Full Course layout. From a driver’s perspective, they will not only have a new layout to master but also contend with the full repave the track underwent after last season’s NASCAR weekend.
Race Schedule
The NCS event will be held on Sunday, March 1, and will be preceded by the Focused Health 250 on Saturday, February 28. However, the on-track action at Circuit of The Americas will begin on Friday, February 27 with practice and qualifying rounds.
The full track schedule will be announced soon. To see the latest updates, visit nascaratcota.com.
Fan Experience
Enjoy the excitement beyond the track with special weekend experiences like live music, meet and greets with your favorite drivers and interactive displays and activities in the Fan Zone. Check the official NASCAR at COTA schedule for Fan Zone open and close times, music schedule, driver appearances and more.
Tickets, Parking and Accessibility
Tickets for children ages 12 and under are just $10 for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix NCS race and free for the NXS Focused Health 250 and IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge. For individual tickets, weekend packages and camping, fans can visit NASCARatCOTA.com.
General event parking is free during race weekend in Lots F, N & T. Premium parking can be purchased in advance online. For accessibility information please contact NASCAR at COTA directly at Tickets@NASCARatCOTA.com or call (833) 778-9971
Keep track of all things NASCAR at COTA by following on Facebook, X and Instagram (@NASCARatCOTA). Keep up with all the latest information on the NASCAR at COTA website and mobile app.
Article and images courtesy NASCAR at COTA.