AUSTIN, Texas — The NASCAR Cup Series race at the Circuit of The Americas brings a new day on a new track.
For Trackhouse Racing driver Shane van Gisbergen, it brings a new and welcome opportunity.
After less than satisfying finishes in drafting track races at Daytona and Atlanta (33rd and 23rd, respectively), the road course ace from New Zealand comes to COTA as the betting favorite for Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.
The Cup Series will race on a shorter “National” circuit this season, with the section from Turn 7 through the Turn 11 hairpin eliminated. That reduces the course from 3.41 miles to 2.40 miles.
Accordingly, the race will feature 95 laps instead of 68, meaning more trips past the main grandstand and more adventures in treacherous Turn 1.
Van Gisbergen surprised most of the other Cup competitors when he triumphed in his series debut in the 2023 Chicago Street Race. Now the three-time Australian Supercars champion is a known quantity.
“I miss that—going there and no one knows who I am; I could kind of fly under the radar and do my own thing,” van Gisbergen said. “Obviously, there are expectations now, but I’m pretty good at keeping that under control myself and focusing on my own thing.”
SVG understands the reasoning behind shortening the course and shouldn’t have difficulty adapting to the new circuit.
“I did like the long track, but I see why they shortened it,” he said. “More time past the stands and more action. And the cut-through that’s done (from Turn 6), we don’t lose any passing spots. That extra bit (Turns 7 through 11), there’s only one real passing spot, and they’re kept one with the cut-through.
“More laps, too. I think it’s probably a good thing, a shorter track.”
William Byron and Christopher Bell, who won at Daytona and Atlanta, respectively, to start the 2025 season, finished 1-2 at COTA last year.
Byron also will run the Xfinity Series race on Saturday in Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 17 Chevrolet.
“I’m more than ready to get to COTA,” said Byron, who escaped a last-lap crash to win the Daytona 500 on Feb. 16. “We’ve always been fast there, and last year really showed what this team is capable of.
“The course will be shorter this time, but that’s where the extra laps in the Xfinity car should help. After the last two weekends of drafting, I’m happy to be going to a road course that takes such technique.”
