NASCAR drivers are interested in returning to Circuit of the Americas, though that is only one part of the discussionGetty Images
NASCAR has “not announced if there will be any more trips to Circuit of the Americas after this weekend’s races,” but multiple drivers have “made clear how they feel about continuing to compete at the track.” Drivers having interest in returning to COTA is “only one part of the discussion,” as the road course is “not in the Speedway Motorsports portfolio, nor is it owned by NASCAR.” Speedway Motorsports has “rented the road course every season since 2021” and this season’s race was “made possible by the option year in the deal.” There are only five road course races this season, yet COTA made the cut. Driver Christopher Bell said, “I’m okay with us getting the road course schedule back down, which we have slowly, but surely been doing, but I think that COTA is a good one to go (to)” (NBCSPORTS.com, 3/22).
Cup Series drivers were “curious how COTA would play after a partial track repave over the winter" and they “generally liked what they saw” in Saturday's practice and qualifying (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 3/23).
