Chase Elliott Looks to Build Momentum at COTA After Strong Start to 2026 NASCAR Season

AUSTIN, Texas – Chase Elliott heads to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) this weekend hoping to carry the momentum from a strong start to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Elliott nearly secured a victory at the 2026 Daytona 500 and currently sits third in the point standings, trailing only 23XI Racing teammates Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace.

Elliott’s Position in the Championship Chase

Through two superspeedway races at Daytona International Speedway and EchoPark Speedway, Elliott has accumulated 81 points. This positions him well as the series transitions to a road course race at COTA. Consistency will be key, and Elliott recognizes the opportunity to strengthen his position in the championship standings.

Road Course Challenge

While Elliott excelled on road courses in the Gen 6 car, he is yet to achieve a win on this type of track in the NextGen car. He aims to change that at COTA, confident in the strength of his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Even if a win eludes him, a strong points finish is anticipated.

Hendrick Motorsports Strong Showing in Qualifying

Hendrick Motorsports drivers demonstrated strong performance in qualifying for the COTA race. Chase Elliott secured fifth place with a lap time of 1:38.002, while William Byron qualified 10th with a time of 1:38.381. Kyle Larson will start 15th (1:38.514), and Alex Bowman 16th (1:38.542).

COTA Track Record

Both Elliott and Byron have previously won Cup Series races at COTA, and Larson secured a victory in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series in 2024. Alex Bowman boasts an impressive record at COTA, finishing in the top 10 in all five Cup races held at the track, with an average finish of 5.2.

Past Winners at COTA

Since COTA first appeared on the Cup Series schedule in 2021, five different drivers have claimed victory: Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick, William Byron, and Christopher Bell.

Race Details

The NASCAR Cup Series race at COTA is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 1, 2026, and will be broadcast on FOX. This race marks the first event featuring a higher horsepower package for the Next Gen car.

COTA Starting Grid – March 1, 2026

• 1. Tyler Reddick – 1:37.760
• 2. Ross Chastain – 1:37.897
• 3. Chase Briscoe – 1:37.913
• 4. Ryan Blaney – 1:37.982
• 5. Chase Elliott – 1:38.002
• 6. Michael McDowell – 1:38.147
• 7. AJ Allmendinger – 1:38.152
• 8. Christopher Bell – 1:38.204
• 9. Ty Gibbs – 1:38.259
• 10. William Byron – 1:38.381