17-Year-Old Brent Crews Impresses with Top 10 Finish in O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Debut at COTA

The young Toyota Racing prospect overcame age restrictions to secure a strong result in his first major race.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:38pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a race car driver navigating a winding track, with the car and driver broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes, conveying the dynamic energy and skill of the young driver's debut performance.A young driver's debut performance at a major race showcases his talent and potential, despite the challenges of age restrictions.Austin Today

In a stunning debut performance, 17-year-old Brent Crews finished in the top 10 at the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. Despite missing the season's opening races due to age restrictions, Crews impressed with his maturity and composure, leading several laps and keeping his car clean throughout the chaotic race. Though he acknowledged there were areas for improvement, Crews' sixth-place finish earned praise from race winner Shane van Gisbergen, who called him 'an amazing talent.' However, Crews will miss two of the next three O'Reilly events due to the age eligibility rules, a frustrating setback for the rising star.

Why it matters

Crews' impressive debut has put him on the map as a young driver to watch in the racing world. His ability to overcome the challenges of age restrictions and a highly competitive field, while maintaining a level-headed approach, demonstrates his potential for a successful career. This performance has generated excitement among Toyota Racing fans and the broader motorsports community.

The details

In his first major race, Brent Crews, a 17-year-old prospect in the Toyota Racing camp, secured a top 10 finish at the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series event at COTA. Crews, who had missed the season's opening races due to age restrictions, led several laps and kept his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing car in pristine condition during the chaotic race. His sixth-place finish impressed veteran driver Shane van Gisbergen, the eventual race winner, who praised Crews' driving ability and predicted he would 'be really good in no time.' However, due to the age eligibility rules, Crews will miss two of the next three O'Reilly events, a frustrating setback for the young driver and his fans.

  • Brent Crews made his O'Reilly Auto Parts Series debut at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas on April 12, 2026.
  • Crews led several laps during Stage 2 of the race.

The players

Brent Crews

A 17-year-old rising star in the Toyota Racing camp who secured a top 10 finish in his O'Reilly Auto Parts Series debut at COTA.

Shane van Gisbergen

The eventual race winner at the COTA event, who praised Crews' driving ability and predicted he would 'be really good in no time.'

Joe Gibbs Racing

The team that Crews drives for in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.

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What they’re saying

“He was driving like crazy... He looks like he's an amazing talent and I'm sure he'll be really good in no time.”

— Shane van Gisbergen, Race Winner

“I feel like today was just a big learning day... There was some things I feel like I could have done better... It was a tough day.”

— Brent Crews

What’s next

Due to age eligibility rules, Brent Crews will miss two of the next three O'Reilly Auto Parts Series events following his impressive debut at COTA.

The takeaway

Brent Crews' top 10 finish in his O'Reilly Auto Parts Series debut at COTA has generated significant excitement and established him as a young driver to watch in the racing world. Despite the challenges of age restrictions, Crews demonstrated his talent, maturity, and composure, earning praise from veteran drivers and positioning himself for a promising future in motorsports.