Statistical Advance: Analyzing the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix

Today at 08:00 PM

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, going into the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix this Sunday, March 2 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

TOP 10 IN COTA-SPECIFIC LOOP DATA STATISTICS

(Drivers are listed in alphabetical order; Loop Data stats in the below section are from 2005-Present)

A.J. Allmendinger

(No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet)

• One top five, two top 10s
• Average Finish of 19.500, 13th-best
• Average Running Position of 10.863, sixth-best
• Driver Rating of 95.5, seventh-best
• 201 Laps in the Top 15 (75.6%), sixth-most

Christopher Bell

(No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

• Two top fives, two top 10s
• Average Finish of 18.500, 12th-best
• Average Running Position of 16.964, 12th-best
• Driver Rating of 83.5, 12th-best
• 164 Laps in the Top 15 (61.7%), ninth-most

Alex Bowman

(No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

• Three top fives, four top 10s
• Average Finish of 4.250, second-best
• Average Running Position of 9.999, fifth-best
• Driver Rating of 103.4, fourth-best
• 213 Laps in the Top 15 (80.1%), fourth-most

Kyle Busch

(No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)

• One top five, three top 10s
• Average Finish of 12.250, seventh-best
• Average Running Position of 9.869, third-best
• Driver Rating of 95.3, eighth-best
• 215 Laps in the Top 15 (80.8%), third-most

William Byron

(No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

• One win, two top fives, two top 10s; two poles
• Average Finish of 7.250, sixth-best
• Average Running Position of 9.919, fourth-best
• Driver Rating of 110.4, third-best
• 203 Laps in the Top 15 (76.3%), fifth-most

Ross Chastain

(No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet)

• One win, three top fives, four top 10s
• Average Finish of 4.000, series-best
• Average Running Position of 7.107, second-best
• Driver Rating of 117.3, series-best
• 243 Laps in the Top 15 (91.4%), series-most

Austin Cindric

(No. 2 Team Penske Ford)

• Two top 10s
• Average Finish of 14.500, eighth-best
• Average Running Position of 13.268, ninth-best
• Driver Rating of 88.9, ninth-best
• 157 Laps in the Top 15 (59.0%), 10th-most

Chase Elliott

(No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

• One win, two top fives, two top 10s
• Average Finish of 7.000, fifth-best
• Average Running Position of 10.968, seventh-best
• Driver Rating of 101.9, fifth-best
• 138 Laps in the Top 15 (72.3%), seventh-most

Ty Gibbs

(No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

• One top five, two top 10s
• Average Finish of 6.000, fourth-best
• Average Running Position of 11.312, eighth-best
• Driver Rating of 98.4, sixth-best
• 98 Laps in the Top 15 (68.5%), eighth-most

Kyle Larson

(No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

• One top five, one top 10
• Average Finish of 15.750, ninth-best
• Average Running Position of 16.371, 11th-best
• Driver Rating of 85.6, 10th-best
• 143 Laps in the Top 15 (53.8%), 12th-most

Joey Logano

(No. 22 Team Penske Ford)

• One top five, one top 10
• Average Finish of 18.250, 11th-best
• Average Running Position of 14.308, 10th-best
• Driver Rating of 84.8, 11th-best
• 157 Laps in the Top 15 (59.0%), 11th-most

Tyler Reddick

(No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota)

• One win, three top fives, four top 10s; one pole
• Average Finish of 5.000, third-best
• Average Running Position of 7.051, series-best
• Driver Rating of 111.7, second-best
• 233 Laps in the Top 15 (87.6%), second-most

NASCAR Cup Series 2025 Top 16 in the Driver Standings at Circuit of The Americas

* — Based on the four races at the Circuit of The Americas (2021 — 2024). 

Circuit of The Americas — Stats & Tidbits
Track Configuration & Race Data
Season Race #: 3 of 36 (March 2, 2025)
Race Name: EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
Race Purse: $11,055,250
Track Size: 2.40 Miles
Track Type: Multi-Elevational Counterclockwise Road Course
Number of Turns: 20
Race Length: 95 laps (228 Miles)
Stage 1 Length: 20 laps
Stage 2 Length: 25 laps (End on Lap 45)
Final Stage Length: 50 laps (Ends on Lap 95)

Qualifying & Race Record Data

 Track Qualifying Record (Track Length – 3.41 Miles):
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 94.696 mph, 129.636 seconds, March 23, 2024

 2024 COTA Pole Winner (Track Length – 3.41 Miles):
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 94.696 mph, 129.636 seconds, March 23, 2024

 2023 COTA Pole Winner (Track Length – 3.41 Miles):
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 93.882 mph, 130.760 seconds, March 25, 2023

 Track Race Record (Track Length – 3.41 Miles/68 Laps):
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 85.224 mph, (2:43:15), March 24, 2024

 2024 COTA Race Winner (Track Length – 3.41 Miles/68 Laps):
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 85.224 mph, (2:43:15), March 24, 2024

 2023 COTA Race Winner (Track Length – 3.41 Miles/68 Laps):
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota, 72.886 mph, (3:30:32), March 26, 2023

HISTORY

• Construction began in 2010 on the world class road course known as the Circuit of The Americas (COTA).
• The track is nestled on 1,500 acres of land just outside of Austin, Texas.
• Circuit of The Americas has two layout configurations:
  • The first is the longer 20-turn, 3.41-mile counterclockwise circuit that takes advantage of the naturally undulating landscape, including a 133-foot hill at Turn 1. From 2021—2024 the NASCAR national series that competed at COTA competed on this configuration.
  • The second is a shorter 20-turn, 2.40-mile counterclockwise circuit that also takes advantage of the naturally undulating landscape. The 2025 season will mark the first time the NASCAR national series will compete on this configuration at COTA.

• In addition, the track has an amphitheater, the largest permanent outdoor amphitheater in Central Texas, and a 251-foot observation tower.
• The first race the Circuit of The Americas hosted was a Formula One event on November 18, 2012. The race was won by Lewis Hamilton.
• The first NASCAR national series race held at the Circuit of The Americas was on May 22, 2021 and the event was NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race and it was won by Todd Gilliland.
• The first NASCAR Cup Series race held at the Circuit of The Americas was on May 23, 2021 and the event was shortened due to weather and was won by Hendrick Motorsports‘ driver Chase Elliott.
• In total, Circuit of The Americas has hosted four NASCAR Cup Series races (2021-2024).

STARTS

• A total of 62 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series points-paying race at the Circuit of The Americas.
• A total of 24 different drivers have made all four NASCAR Cup Series starts at COTA (2021-2024).
• Four drivers have made their first career NASCAR Cup Series start at the Circuit of The Americas:

• Of the four drivers that made their first start at Circuit of The Americas, Jenson Button posted the best finish with an 18th-place result.
• Tyler Reddick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at the Circuit of The Americas with a 2.500 in four starts.

Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Circuit of The Americas

 POLES

• The four NASCAR Cup Series races at the Circuit of The Americas has produced three different pole winners.
  • Tyler Reddick, Chevrolet, 91.363 mph, 132.911 seconds, May 23, 2021
  • Ryan Blaney, Ford, 92.759 mph, 132.343 seconds, May 26, 2022
  • William Byron, Chevrolet, 93.882 mph, 130.760 seconds, March 25, 2023
  • William Byron, Chevrolet, 94.696 mph, 129.636 seconds, March 23, 2024

• William Byron leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Circuit of The Americas with two (2023, 2024).
• William Byron is the only NASCAR Cup Series driver to win consecutive poles at COTA (2023, 2024).
• Only one driver has won his first career pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at COTA – Tyler Reddick (May 23, 2021).
• Youngest Cup pole winner at the COTA: William Byron (March 25, 2023 — 25 years, 2 months and 56 days).
• Oldest Cup pole winner at the COTA: Ryan Blaney (March 26, 2022 — 28 years, 1 months and 55 days).
• Three organizations have won a pole at the Circuit of The Americas in the NASCAR Cup Series:
  • Richard Childress Racing (Tyler Reddick, 2021)
  • Team Penske (Ryan Blaney, 2022)
  • Hendrick Motorsports (William Byron, 2023 and 2024)

• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Circuit of The Americas with two, both from William Byron (2023, 2024).
• Two manufacturers have won the pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at COTA – Chevrolet (three: 2021, 2023, 2024) and Ford (2022).

 WINS

• The four NASCAR Cup Series races (2021-2024) at the Circuit of The Americas have produced four different race winners:
  • Hendrick Motorsports‘ Chase Elliott won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at the Circuit of The Americas on May 23, 2021 — he started from the eighth position.
  • Trackhouse Racing‘s Ross Chastain won the NASCAR Cup Series race at the Circuit of The Americas on March 27, 2022 — he started from the 16th position.
  • 23XI Racing‘s Tyler Reddick won the NASCAR Cup Series race at the Circuit of The Americas on March 26, 2023 — he started from the second position.
  • Hendrick Motorsports‘ William Byron won the NASCAR Cup Series race at the Circuit of The Americas on March 24, 2024 — he started from the pole position.

• Youngest Cup race winner at the Circuit of The Americas: Chase Elliott (May 23, 2021 — 25 years, 5 months and 25 days).
• Oldest Cup race winner at the Circuit of The Americas: Ross Chastain (March 27, 2022 — 29 years, 3 months and 23 days).
• Ross Chastain (2022) is the only driver to win his first career NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of The Americas.
• All four NASCAR Cup Series race winners at the Circuit of The Americas have been under the age of 30: Chase Elliott (25) in 2021, Ross Chastain (29) in 2022, Tyler Reddick (27) in 2023 and William Byron (26) in 2024.
• Four different starting positions on the grid have resulted in wins in the NASCAR Cup Series at Circuit of The Americas — 2021 (8th), 2022 (16th), 2023 (2nd) and 2024 (1st).
• Only one of the four NASCAR Cup Series races at Circuit of The Americas has been won from the pole or first starting position and it was the 3/24/2024 race won by Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron.
• The deepest in the field a Cup race winner has started at COTA is 16th, by Ross Chastain in 2022.
• Three organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at the Circuit of The Americas:
  • Hendrick Motorsports (Chase Elliott, 2021 and William Byron, 2024)
  • Trackhouse Racing (Ross Chastain, 2022)
  • 23XI Racing (Tyler Reddick, 2023)

• Two manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at the Circuit of The Americas — Chevrolet (2021, 2022 and 2024) and Toyota (2023).

All-Time Road Course Winners

• NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the NASCAR Cup Series in road course wins with nine victories at two tracks (Sonoma, five wins; Watkins Glen, four wins).
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart has the second-most road course wins all-time in the NASCAR Cup Series with eight victories at two tracks (Watkins Glen, five wins; Sonoma, three wins).
• Chase Elliott, with seven road course wins (third all-time), has won at five different NASCAR Cup Series road course tracks (Charlotte ROVAL, COTA, Daytona Road Course, Road America and Watkins Glen) — the most all-time.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison holds the NASCAR Cup Series record for the most wins at a single road course track with six victories at Riverside International Raceway (1971, 1973, 1975, 1979, 1981 sweep).
• Kyle Larson, during the 2021 season became the first driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to win at three road course tracks in a single season – Sonoma, Watkins Glen and the Charlotte ROVAL.  Larson has six total road course wins.
• A total of 16 active NASCAR Cup Series road course winners are entered this weekend at COTA.

 ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes:

• Four different drivers have finished runner-up in the four NASCAR Cup Series races at the Circuit of The Americas – Kyle Larson (2021), Alex Bowman (2022), Kyle Busch (2023) and Christopher Bell (2024).

Top-Five Finishes:

• A total of 11 different drivers have finished in the top-five in the NASCAR Cup Series at the Circuit of The Americas.
• Alex Bowman, Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick lead the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at COTA with three each.

Top-10 Finishes:

• A total of 21 different drivers have finished in the top-10 in the NASCAR Cup Series at the Circuit of The Americas.
• Alex Bowman, Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick lead the Cup Series in top 10s at COTA with four each.

Average Finishes:

• Ross Chastain leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at the Circuit of The Americas with a 4.0 in four starts.

LAP LEADERS & LEAD CHANGES

• A total of 20 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have led at least one lap at the Circuit of The Americas.

• William Byron leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at the Circuit of The Americas with 70 laps led (26% of his laps completed) in four races.
• The most laps led by the race winner in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at the Circuit of The Americas is 42 of the scheduled 68 laps by William Byron on March 24, 2024. He led 61.7% of the race.
• The fewest laps led by the race winner in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at the Circuit of The Americas was five laps led by Chase Elliott on May 23, 2021.
• The most laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at the Circuit of The Americas by a driver that did not win the race was 28 laps led by William Byron on March 26, 2023 — he started from the pole and ultimately finished fifth in the race.
• The largest number of lap leaders in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at the Circuit of The Americas is 10 different leaders, set in 2021.
  • The 2022 COTA race produced nine different leaders.
  • The 2023 and the 2024 COTA races each had seven different leaders.

• The largest number of lap leaders in a single NASCAR Cup Series road course race is 11 different leaders and it has occurred four different times: 2001 (Watkins Glen), 2006 (Watkins Glen), 2020 (Charlotte ROVAL) and 2021 (Indianapolis Road Course).
• The largest number of lead changes in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at the Circuit of The Americas is 16 lead changes set in 2023.
  • The 2021 COTA race produced 11 lead changes.
  • The 2022 COTA race produced 13 lead changes.
  • The 2024 COTA race produced 11 lead changes.

• The largest number of lead changes in a single NASCAR Cup Series road course race is 17 lead changes, set in 2020 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL.
• The final lead change of the NASCAR Cup Series May 23, 2021 race took place with five laps to go – Chase Elliott passed Alex Bowman for the lead.
• The final lead change of the NASCAR Cup Series March 27, 2022 race took place with two laps to go — Ross Chastain passed Tyler Reddick for the lead.
• The final lead change of the NASCAR Cup Series March 26, 2023 race took place with 12 laps to go — Tyler Reddick passed William Byron for the lead.

• The final lead change of the NASCAR Cup Series March 24, 2024 race took place with 18 laps to go — William Byron passed Martin Truex Jr. for the lead.

 TRACK / EVENT STATS

• The closest Margin of Victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at the Circuit of The Americas was set last season when William Byron beat Christopher Bell to the finish line by 0.692 second.

• One of the four NASCAR Cup Series races at the Circuit of The Americas was shortened due to weather and ended under caution:

• Two of the four NASCAR Cup Series races at COTA have resulted in Overtime finishes:

• The most cautions in a NASCAR Cup Series race at COTA is nine, set in 2022.
• The most caution laps in a NASCAR Cup Series race at COTA is 17, set in 2023.
• Thirteen drivers have run all 266 laps completed (four races total) in the NASCAR Cup Series at COTA.

 NASCAR IN TEXAS

• There have been 161 NASCAR national series races among four tracks in the state of Texas.

• The first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Texas was a NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas World Speedway in College Station, Texas. The event was held on December 7, 1969 and it was won by Bobby Isaac driving a Dodge for car owner Nord Krauskopf.

 TEXANS IN NASCAR

• A total of 98 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Texas.
• A total of 10 different drivers from Texas have won at least one race in NASCAR‘s three national series.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte leads all Texas drivers with 34 NASCAR national series wins.

— NASCAR —