Drivers Struggle with Overheating Cool Suits at COTA

Kevin Harvick and Mamba Smith discuss the widespread issues with cool suits that left drivers battling the heat at the NASCAR Cup Series race in Austin.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas was marked by widespread problems with drivers' cool suits, leaving them to battle the intense heat. Kevin Harvick and Mamba Smith discussed the issues, with Harvick explaining that once the cool suit motors stopped working, drivers were stuck with hot water in their systems. AJ Allmendinger was one driver who struggled, reportedly saying on the radio that he didn't know if he would make it. Allmendinger was later seen laid out on pit road after the race, requiring medical attention.

Why it matters

The failure of the cool suits highlights the extreme physical toll that races at COTA can take on drivers, with the combination of high temperatures, heavy braking, and constant shifting creating a very demanding environment. This issue raises questions about the reliability of the cool suit technology and whether more needs to be done to protect drivers in these challenging conditions.

The details

According to Harvick, once the cool suit motors stopped working due to overheating problems, drivers were left with hot water in their systems and no way to drain it quickly. Allmendinger reportedly told his team on the radio that the car was at 130 degrees while the water in his suit was at 100 degrees, "cooking him." Mamba Smith said Allmendinger's team, Kaulig Racing, had one of the better qualifying efforts, but Allmendinger "was cooking like a lobster" and was later seen laid out on pit road after the race, requiring medical attention.

  • The NASCAR Cup Series race at COTA took place on March 4, 2026.

The players

Kevin Harvick

A NASCAR driver who discussed the cool suit issues on his podcast, Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour.

AJ Allmendinger

A NASCAR driver who struggled with his cool suit during the race, reportedly saying on the radio that he didn't know if he would make it. Allmendinger was later seen laid out on pit road after the race, requiring medical attention.

Mamba Smith

A co-host on Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour podcast who provided additional details on Allmendinger's cool suit issues.

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What they’re saying

“They never had a chance to drain the system to get all the hot water out of it. You just can't afford to take the time unless you just can't tolerate it. They managed it the best they could.”

— Kevin Harvick (Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour podcast)

“I want to give a call to the Kaulig team with 16 on AJ for sure, because they had one of the better qualifying efforts. And then he fought, obviously he didn't have… he was cooking like a lobster. And then at the end we see that quick shot of him laid out basically with all his gear on, which was super scary. I'm glad that Mike (Joy) was able to, you guys were in the booth able to get the information to everybody.”

— Mamba Smith, Co-host, Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour podcast (Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour podcast)

“I texted AJ, I said, 'When did you think it went out?' He said, 'I started getting hot at the end of Stage 1.' He said, 'The car was at 130. The water was at 100.' The water that was in the system was at 100, just cooking him, as the car was at 130.”

— Mamba Smith, Co-host, Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour podcast (Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour podcast)

What’s next

The NASCAR Cup Series will continue its 2026 season with the next race at Martinsville Speedway on March 24.

The takeaway

The widespread issues with cool suits at COTA highlight the extreme physical demands placed on NASCAR drivers, especially at challenging tracks like COTA. This incident raises questions about the reliability of the cool suit technology and whether more needs to be done to protect drivers in these intense conditions.