AUSTIN, TX.: By all accounts, the NASCAR Xfinity Series competitors are eager to give the renowned Circuit of The Americas (COTA) a true “go” this weekend with championship contenders prepared to have to hold off NASCAR Cup Series regulars as well as a handful of sports car aces as the series debuts Saturday at the renowned road course.
The Pit Boss 250 (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) on the 3.41-mile, 20-turn, elevation-changing course has brought out big names and plenty of star power intent to be a part of this historic first race.
Five NASCAR Cup Series drivers – Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Tyler Reddick, Cole Custer and Austin Dillon are entered Saturday. And a road course ringer group that includes Andy Lally, Spencer Pumpelly and one of the sport’s most popular drivers, Boris Said, who will be making his first NASCAR start since 2017; first Xfinity Series start since 2015.
However, they will be challenging an Xfinity Series championship contingent that has long established itself as a legitimate force to be reckoned with on road courses.
Reigning champion and current points leader Austin Cindric, is not only coming off a series best third victory last week at the Dover International Speedway, he’s an absolute favorite this weekend at COTA.
The 22-year-old began his career making a name with victories on road courses. In fact, the driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford has won at Watkins Glen, N.Y, Mid-Ohio, Road America, and the Daytona Road Course, where this year he answered his 2020 victory with an overtime runner-up finish.
Chief among Cindric’s competitors – especially on road courses – is the versatile A.J. Allmendinger – a race winner in NASCAR, IMSA and IndyCar. The 39-year-old veteran is running a full Xfinity Series season this year and brings with him previous Xfinity Series wins at Road America, Mid-Ohio, and the Charlotte ROVAL (twice) as well as scoring his only NASCAR Cup Series win on the famed Watkins Glen road course. The driver of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet is currently fourth in the Xfinity championship standings with a win at Las Vegas early in the season.
And then there are those NASCAR Cup Series drivers hoping to get some laps in and be better acquainted with the new track by their race on Sunday. Former NASCAR Cup Series champions Harvick and Busch will join former Daytona 500 winner Austin Dillon, last year’s NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year Cole Custer and two-time Xfinity Series champion Tyler Reddick.
Busch has four previous NASCAR Cup Series wins on road courses – a pair at Watkins Glen and a pair at Sonoma, Calif – and two Xfinity Series victories (2008 at Mexico City and 2017 at Watkins Glen). Harvick has won at Watkins Glen (2006) and Sonoma (2017) in the Cup Series and at Montreal (2007) and Watkins Glen (2007) in the Xfinity Series. Dillon, Custer and Reddick have never won a NASCAR race on a road course.
All year Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity Series driver Daniel Hemric has been one to watch, he has been ranked second in the championship points since March. Hemric doesn’t have a victory yet in the Xfinity Series, but he’s been close with a runner-up finish at Las Vegas and three third-place finishes in 2021. He’s coming off back-to-back top-10 runs at Darlington and Dover heading into Austin.
His best work on a road course is runner-up to Indy 500 champion Sam Hornish in the 2017 Mid-Ohio Xfinity Series race. The driver of the No. 18 JGR Toyota has five career top-three finishes on road courses.
“COTA is unlike anywhere I’ve ever seen or raced on,” Hemric said. “We’ve all been using the simulator and our tools that Toyota provides us with to prepare, but it’s going to be a huge challenge. There are a lot of hard braking zones and long straights; just stuff we aren’t used to with our cars and heavy they are. Managing tires and brakes will be critical because the sharp corners lead onto long straights so that will be a huge opportunity to either gain or lose time with how long it takes to get around the track. I’m pumped up for it.”
Source: Holly Cain / NASCAR Wire Service
