Shane van Gisbergen Looks to Extend Road Course Dominance at COTA

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Circuit of the Americas for the DuraMax Grand Prix

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The NASCAR Cup Series season continues this weekend with the DuraMax Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. All eyes will be on Shane van Gisbergen (SVG), the reigning Cup Series champion, as he looks to extend his dominance on road courses. SVG won a series-high five road course races last season in his rookie campaign. However, COTA was the lone road course that eluded him in 2025. Tyler Reddick, who has won the first two races of the season, will start on the pole position.

Why it matters

COTA is the first road course race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, providing an early test for drivers and teams to showcase their road course prowess. SVG's performance will be closely watched, as he looks to prove his road course skills translate to the Cup level after dominating the Xfinity Series in that discipline. Reddick's early-season success has also made him a driver to watch, as he aims to continue his hot start and potentially deny SVG another road course victory.

The details

The DuraMax Grand Prix at COTA will be broadcast nationally on FOX, with additional streaming options available including in-car cameras on HBO MAX. The race can also be heard on the radio via the Performance Racing Network, which has affiliates across the country, as well as SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. SVG will start a surprising 13th, but the expectation is that he'll work his way to the front of the field before long. Reddick, who has won the first two races of the season, will lead the field to the green flag from the pole position.

  • The DuraMax Grand Prix at COTA is scheduled for Sunday, March 1, 2026.

The players

Shane van Gisbergen

The reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, known for his dominance on road courses. He won a series-high five road course races in his rookie season in 2025.

Tyler Reddick

The driver who has won the first two races of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. He will start on the pole position for the DuraMax Grand Prix at COTA.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This race at COTA will be a crucial early-season test for drivers and teams, as they look to establish themselves as contenders for the NASCAR Cup Series championship. The performance of Shane van Gisbergen and Tyler Reddick, in particular, will be closely watched as they aim to continue their strong starts to the season.