A good NASCAR friend of mine sent me a funny text earlier this week: “It’s time now for the racing to start.” In essence, he is right. The NASCAR Cup & Xfinity Series head to Austin, Texas this weekend to take on the newly configured Circuit of the Americas or “COTA.” What is so different about the new layout? Does Connor Zilisch have a legit chance to win his Cup Series Debut? What does the future look like for COTA if this weekend doesn’t go well? Let’s dive into all of this and much more.
JEREMY CLEMENTS 500TH CAREER XFINITY START
For all of us here at Fox Sports Spartanburg, this is the biggest storyline of the weekend. Spartanburg’s very own Jeremy Clements is becoming just the fourth driver all-time to make 500 career Xfinity Series Starts this Saturday at COTA. The only three drivers that are in front of Clements are Jason Keller (520), Jeff Green (535), and Kenny Wallace (547). If Clements can complete the 2025 season, he is on pace to bypass Wallace in 2026 for the most starts ever in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
NEW COTA CONFIGURATION
The word “new” only applies to stock cars. The 2.356-mile COTA circuit that NASCAR will run on this weekend is almost identical to the national circuit that COTA has had since 2012. Formula-One will continue to run on the 3.426-mile layout that NASCAR has raced on during the previous four years. Despite cutting out over a mile of the course, there are only two less turns, going from 20 to 18. Turn six could now turn into calamity corner.
CONNOR ZILISCH: BELIEVE THE HYPE?
Simply, yes. The 18-year-old Trackhouse product will be making his Cup Series Debut this weekend in the #87 Red Bull Chevrolet. He is in his rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the #88 Chevrolet full-time for JR Motorsports. Many believe that Zilisch is one of the future superstars of the sport. He has a background in open-wheel and road racing, as he spent many years of his young life racing go-karts in Europe. I believe he will run up front this weekend, and unlike most in their Cup Debuts, compete for the victory.
FUTURE OF COTA?
The old adage is “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Well, I believe NASCAR knew that something was broke on the old configuration of COTA, which is why there was a change in 2025. This date has already replaced one of Texas Motor Speedways’ yearly races. So, I believe if the new configuration does not work out, NASCAR could go down one of three avenues: give it one more year, go back to Texas twice a year, or scrap COTA and head to another road course that may be currently inactive on the Cup Schedule. Many fans are beginning to push for less road courses, so I really think there may be some pressure on NASCAR to produce a good product this weekend in Austin.
