NASCAR Drivers Struggle with Heat at COTA and St. Pete

Cool-shirt failures and high temperatures force medical visits and relief driver at Circuit of the Americas.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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NASCAR drivers faced their first hot races of the season at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and the St. Petersburg race in Florida, with several competitors reporting issues due to the high temperatures. Several Cup drivers, including Kyle Larson, Ryan Preece, and A.J. Allmendinger, had their cool shirts stop working during the race at COTA, and Alex Bowman had to pull out of the race due to illness. In the Truck Series race in Florida, Niece Motorsports driver Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion. The heat also affected veteran driver Jimmie Johnson, who was serving as a crew chief, as he tended to his driver Dario Franchitti after the race.

Why it matters

The heat issues experienced by the drivers highlight the physical toll that NASCAR races can take, especially on hot and humid days. As the season progresses, managing the heat and ensuring drivers' safety will be an important consideration for teams and NASCAR officials.

The details

At COTA, several drivers reported their cool shirts stopped working, including Kyle Larson, Ryan Preece, and A.J. Allmendinger. Allmendinger had to be removed from pit road on a gurney after his race. Alex Bowman also had to pull out of the race due to illness. In the Truck Series race in Florida, Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion. Veteran driver Jimmie Johnson, serving as a crew chief, tended to his driver Dario Franchitti after the race as he struggled with the heat.

  • On Sunday at Circuit of the Americas, the 95-lap race took place with temperatures in the mid-80s.
  • After Saturday's NASCAR Truck race in Florida, Niece Motorsports driver Tyler Reif was transported to an area medical facility where he was treated for heat exhaustion.

The players

Kyle Larson

A NASCAR Cup Series driver who finished sixth at COTA despite his cool shirt failing.

Ryan Preece

A NASCAR Cup Series driver who reported his cool shirt stopped working during the race at COTA.

A.J. Allmendinger

A NASCAR Cup Series driver who had to be removed from pit road on a gurney after his race at COTA.

Alex Bowman

A NASCAR Cup Series driver who had to pull out of the race at COTA due to illness.

Tyler Reif

A NASCAR Truck Series driver who was treated for heat exhaustion after the race in Florida.

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What they’re saying

“I started feeling progressively better as the race went on with just dumping water on me, putting ice on my chest and drinking a lot of fluids. I felt good there at the end but was hot early in the race. I was getting nervous.”

— Kyle Larson (autoweek.com)

“It was an unexpected situation. Alex wasn't feeling well enough to continue, so we made the call to get him out of the car. It came on suddenly. He was seen in the care center and received fluids, but we don't have anything further to share at this time. We're grateful to Myatt for stepping in on such short notice.”

— Jeff Andrews, Hendrick Motorsports president and general manager (autoweek.com)

The takeaway

The heat issues experienced by NASCAR drivers at COTA and St. Pete highlight the physical challenges they face, especially on hot and humid race days. Teams and officials will need to closely monitor driver health and safety as the season progresses to ensure the well-being of the competitors.