The Cup Series caps off a triple header weekend at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) with the Echopark Automotive Grand Prix. COTA is a road course with 20 turns and 3.41 miles of racing.
Last year at the inaugural race at COTA it was a deluge that had some thinking they would be better off racing boats than cars. This year the sun is out and temperatures are in the 80’s. Another big difference this year…no turtles! NASCAR has taken out the troublesome turtles but has told the drivers that putting all four tires below the curb will result in a penalty – a pass through penalty.
“Road course ringers”Joey Hand and Boris Said join the field of racers for this weekend.
Before making their qualifying runs the drivers get a short 20 minute practice run. During practice Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney get off the track. Ryan Blaney gets into the soft wall but has no major damage to his car. Kyle Busch gets loose and spins out on the track but gets the car moving again with no damage.
The tire carcass on Joey Hand’s car came off – the tread came off but the tire still held air. Hand said that the tire’s were locking up and there was some smoke in the cockpit.
After group A practice, Kyle Busch leads the field with a time of 2:12.46.
In group B practice, Harrison Burton gets turned around.
Daniel Suarez leads the field in group B, just tenths of a second behind Kyle Busch.
While the drivers are preparing to race, there are jousters in full armour battling it out over in the grass.
Kurt Busch is the first driver out on the track to qualify in group A and posts a time of 2:12.67.
Cody Ware gets stuck in the gravel making a qualifying run.
Cole Custer, Austin Cindric, Justin Haley, Ryan Blaney, and Denny Hamlin are the five drivers from group A that will battle for the pole.
William Byron is the first driver on the track to make a qualifying run in group B and posts a time of 2:13,92.
NASCAR has disallowed Aric Almirola’s qualifying run after he “cut the course”. Almirola had to make a second attempt to qualify.
Daniel Suarez followed up his lead in group B practice by topping the board in qualifying; Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, and Alex Bowman will join Suarez as the five drivers from group B to qualify for the pole.
After wrecking his car into the soft wall, Ryan Blaney puts the number 12 car on the pole. Two hundredths of a second behind, Daniel Suarez starts on the front row alongside Blaney.
But inspection continues to be an issue for the teams…
A total of five Cup Series teams had inspection issues this week that has cost one team a chance to qualify and will result in a pass through penalty at race start.
The number 78 car driven by Andy Lally failed the inpsection process three times; as a result he will not be allowed to make a qualifying run and will start the race from the back of the field, loses a team engineer for the race, and will have to make a pass through penalty once the race starts.
Four other teams failed the inspection process and will lose a crew member for the race but will be allowed to qualify for the race and will not suffer any further penalties…
the RFK Racing number six car driven by Brad Keselowski
The Money Team Racing number 50 car driven by Kaz Grala
the MBM Motorsports number 66 car driven by Boris Said
the Spire Motorsports number 77 car driven by Josh Bilicki
After NASCAR announced a crushing penalty on RFK Racing and the number six car, RFK Racing has announced that they wil appeal the penalty that could cost RFK and Keselowski 100 points, the team $100,000, and loss of the number six crew chief for four races. Should Keselowski make the playoffs, he would also lose 10 playoff points. After a detailed inspection at their R&D Center, NASCAR deemed that RFK Racing altered an issued part which is against the rules.
The starting lineup for the Echopark Automotive Grand Prix:
Ryan Blaney
Daniel Suarez
Cole Custer
Tyler Reddick
Alex Bowman
Joey Logano
Christopher Bell
Denny Hamlin
Justin Haley
Austin Cindric
Kurt Busch
Chase Elliott
Kyle Larson
Chase Briscoe
Kyle Busch
Ross Chastain
Martin Truex Jr
Kevin Harvick
Harrison Burton
AJ Allmendinger
Austin Dillon
Chris Buescher
Bubba Wallace
William Byron
Aric Almirola
Brad Keselowski
Michael McDowell
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Todd Gilliland
Erik Jones
Kaz Grala
Corey LaJoie
Ty Dillon
Josh Bilicki
Cody Ware
Loris Hezemans
Boris Said
Joey Hand
Andy Lally
Tony Stewart joins Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer in the FOX broadcast booth for today’s race.
Two time Daytona 500 winner and FOX broadcaster Michael Waltrip and his friend Rocky gave a rousing command to start the engines.
WWE legend the Undertaker is driving the pace car for today’s race.
Stages one and two of the race are 15 laps each with stage three lasting 38 laps for a total of 68 laps around the 3.41 mile track. Drivers can run 22 to 24 laps on a single load of fuel.
Ryan Blaney brings the field down for the green flag start of the race and the drivers quickly get four and five wide across the track. Ryan Blaney gets out in front initially to lead the race but Daniel Suarez takes the lead.
The top five are Daniel Suarez, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Cole Custer, and Joey Logano.
Lap two, Formula 1 driver Loris Hezemans is charged with “cutting the course” when he gets all four of his tires below the rumble strips on the red and blue pavement. He will have to serve a pass through penalty.
Lap three, Daniel Suarez has the lead. “Road course ringer” Boris Said is charged with cutting the course and will have to serve a pass through penalty. Said has driven in road course races in NASCAR for four decades.
Lap four, Chase Briscoe reports that his shifter is stuck.
Daniel Suarez leads the race with Ryan Blaney in second; Tyler Reddick, Cole Custer, and Joey Logano round out the top five.
Lap five, Kyle Busch reports that he has no brakes, no turn, and no drive.
Lap eight, Daniel Suarez has led every lap so far with Ryan Blaney over a second and a half back; Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, and Austin Cindric round out the top five.
Lap nine, AJ Allmendinger’s team had to change a steering box; as a result, he had to start the race from the back of the field. He has advanced nine spots since race start.
Daniel Suarez has the lead with Ryan Blaney in second; Tyler Reddick, Austin Cindric, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.
Lap 10, Kyle Busch spins out after some on track contact form Chase Elliott. He gets going again and the track stays green.
There are reports that the Hendrick Motorsports cars may be having some overheating issues.
After starting at the back of the field, Joey Hand has moved up 10 spots.
Lap 12, several drivers short pit and cone down pit road for service before the end of stage one. Austin Dillon was penalized for an uncontrolled tire. Todd Gilliland was penalized for equipment interference on pit road.
Lap 13, Daniel Suarez continues to lead the race with Ryan Blaney in second; Austin Cindric, Alex Bowman, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Lap 15, after leading every lap in the stage, Daniel Suarez wins stage one for his first stage win this season and just the second of his career.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Daniel Suarez
Ryan Blaney
Alex Bowman
Joey Logano
Kyle Larson
Justin Haley
Chase Elliott
Chase Briscoe
Harrison Burton
Austin Cindric
The drivers who did not short pit come down pit road for service. Daniel Suarez wins the race off of pit road but is back in the middle of the pack after several drivers pitted before the end of the stage.
Lap 18, Austin Cindric brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two and the drivers quickly fan out across the track going into turn one. Austin Cindric edges out for the lead. Daniel Suarez gets off the track with a flat tire. He worlds his way back to pit road and the track stays green.
Lap 19, Austin Cindric leads the race with Tyler Reddick in second; Ross Chastain, Denny Hamlin, and Cole Custer round out the top five.
Lap 20, Austin Cindric has a lead of over half a second on Ross Chastain.
Lap 21, Austin Cindric is in the lead with Ross Chastain in second; Tyler Reddick, AJ Allmendinger, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Michael McDowell was penalized for cutting the course.
Lap 22, Kyle Busch has entered the top 10 after getting pushed back in the field from an off track incident.
Back on the track in 38th place, Daniel Suarez is running laps equal to the leader Austin Cindric.
Lap 24, Cody Ware and Loris Hezemans for the second time were charged with cutting the course and will have to serve pass through penalties.
Lap 27, drivers are short pitting the end of stage two. Corey LaJoie and William Byron were caught speeding on pit road.
Lap 28, Austin Cindric passes Ross Chastain for the lead then both drivers come down pit road for service before the end of the stage.
Denny Hamlin is the new leader with Kyle Busch in second; Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Aric Almirola round out the top five.
Denny Hamlin wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Busch
Joey Logano
Ryan Blaney
Aric Almirola
Austin Dillon
Harrison Burton
Ross Chastain
Austin Cindric
Bubba Wallace
Drivers who did not pit before the end of the stage come down pit road; along with several others, all except Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano stayed out on the track. Ty Dillon was charged with improper fueling. Denny Hamlin wins the race off of pit road.
When asked if there were any parts of the track where he had trouble, Denny Hamlin said yea, turns one through 20. There are 20 turns in the course.
Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 33 and Joey Logano has an issue on the restart and falls through the field. Ross Chastain takes the lead with AJ Allmendinger in second; Austin Cindric, Tyler Reddick, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap 34, Joey Hand spins in turn one after some contact from Aric Almirola. Austin Cindric spins in turn one. The drivers get moving again and the track stays green.
The first caution flag of the race for other than a stage break comes out on lap 35 for debris on the track.
Several drivers come down pit road for service. Ricky Stenhouse Jr is caught speeding on pit road.
Ross Chastain brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 37 with AJ Allmendinger alongside. Drivers fan out across the track with Ross Chastain getting out in front for the lead.
Denny Hamlin reports that he is having some steering issues.
Christopher Bell comes down pit road and the crew raises the hood with reports of a steering issue.
With 31 laps to go, Ross Chastain leads the race with AJ Allmendinger over a half second back; Chase Briscoe, Tyler Reddick, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.
Corey LaJoie and Todd Gilliland make contact but the track stays green.
Kurt Busch reports a major tight issue in his car.
Lap 41, Erik Jones is stopped on the track with no power; bringing out the caution flag.
With 27 laps remaining in the race, the drivers are outside of the fuel window to make it to the end of the race; but may be able to make it if they pack the fuel cell and conserve as much fuel as possible.
Drivers come down pit road for service. AJ Allmendinger gets blocked in his pit box by Ryan Blaney. Austin Cindric takes fuel only. Brad Keselowski gets penalized for pitting outside of his pit box.
Ross Chastain brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 44 with Chase Briscoe alongside. Drivers get four and five wide across the track with Ross Chastain getting out in front for the lead; but Chase Briscoe comes up to pass Ross Chastain for the lead.
Joey Logano spins but gets the car moving again and the track stays green.
Ross Chastain comes up to retake the lead form Chase Briscoe; Tyler Reddick, AJ Allmendinger, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.
Bubba Wallace brings out the caution flag when he loses a tire. The tire went rolling and bouncing very high before finally rolling to a stop near the grass.
Erik Jones is the “lucky dog”.
AJ Allmendinger reports that his air cooling system has stopped working, he dropped his water bottle and can’t get to it, and he is experiencing some cramping issues.
Some of the drivers make a pit stop.
Daniel Suarez is reporting some power steering issues.
Chase Briscoe brings the field down for the restart on lap 47 with Ross Chastain alongside. Briscoe edges out Ross Chastain to take the lead with AJ Allmendinger in third.
Ross Chastain passes Chase Briscoe to take the lead. AJ Allmendinger battles with Briscoe for second.
The top five are Ross Chastain, Chase Briscoe, AJ Allmendinger, Tyler Reddick, and Kyle Busch.
AJ Allmendinger’s crew chief reminds him that the one and 14 – Ross Chastain and Chase Briscoe – do not get along and AJ responds with do any of us really get along?
The top six drivers represent six different teams – Ross Chastain, Chase Briscoe, AJ Allmendinger, Alex Bowman, Kyle Busch, and Tyler Reddick.
Leaders just ran their fastest laps of the race.
Lap 51, Ty Dillon spins out after contact from Brad Keselowski but the track stays green when he gets moving again.
Boris Said is charged for a second time with cutting the course and will have to serve a pass through penalty.
Bubba Wallace is out of the race.
With 17 to go, Ross Chastain leads the race with Chase Briscoe in second; AJ Allmendinger, Alex Bowman, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.
Lap 53, Chase Briscoe gets loose and AJ Allmendinger comes up to pass for second.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr gets slowed on the track and comes to a stop. Several drivers head for pit road anticipating a caution flag.
The caution flag comes out on lap 54 for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Stenhouse has a broken drive shaft.
AJ Allmendinger’s team reports that with the caution flag, they can make it to the end of the race…barely.
More drivers make a pit stop for fuel and fresh tires.
The teams were each given five sets of tires for the race plus the practice set.
Ross Chastain brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 57 with AJ Allmendinger alongside. Ross Chastain gets out in front for the lead. Chase Briscoe is charged with cutting the course and will have to serve a pass through penalty.
The 14 team protests the ruling and after a review, NASCAR determined that Briscoe was forced off the track and withdrew the penalty.
Austin Cindric and Kaz Grala spins on the track but the track stays green.
The caution flag comes out on lap 58 after Corey LaJoie’s car puts some fluid on the track. Chase Briscoe comes down pit road for fresh tires after flat spotting his tires during the off track incident.
Ross Chastain brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 60 with AJ Allmendinger alongside. Chastain gets out in front for the lead. Cole Custer gets stuck but gets moving a gain and the track stays green. Denny Hamlin and Aric Almirola also spin on the lap but the track stays green.
Nine to go, the top five are Ross Chastain, AJ Allmendinger, Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott, and Alex Bowman.
Kaz Grala gets turned around but gets moving again.
Seven to go, Ross Chastain has a half second lead on AJ Allmendinger.
Six to go, Ross Chastain holds on to the lead despite a challenge form AJ Allmendinger.
Loris Hezemans brings out the caution flag on lap 63 when he gets stuck on the track with no power.
Joey Hand takes his car to the garage and is out of the race.
There are 34 drivers on the track and all 34 of them are on the lead lap.
Ross Chastain brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 65 with AJ Allmendinger in second. Three to go and the caution flag comes out as Tyler Reddick takes the lead. The restart is under review. Joey Logano spins out. Kyle Larson and Kurt Busch also got off the track. There is gravel all over the track.
The race goes into overtime!
A few drivers come down pit road for fresh tires.
NASCAR has determined that there was no foul on the last restart.
Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the overtime shootout with Ross Chastain alongside. Tyler Reddick edges out for the lead but Ross Chastain comes up on the outside and takes the lead and begins to pull away.
Ross Chastain takes the white flag with a lead of over half a second on AJ Allmendinger. Kyle Busch spins but keeps going. AJ Allmendinger catches leader Ross Chastain and takes the lead but Alex Bowman comes up from the outside to take the lead. In a three way battle, Ross Chastain gets out in front for the lead to give Trackhouse Racing their first win. This is also Ross Chastain’s first Cup Series win. Chastain is the sixth different winner this season.
Ross Chastain has his spotter on the way to his victory lap. Then before he does his burnout, Chastain takes the First Victory flag adorned with a watermelon man..
But in one of the most unique vicoty celebrations, Ross Chastain stands on the roof of the car ans smashes a watermelon. The Chastains are eight generation watermelon farmers in Florida. Ross picks up a piece of the busted watermelon and eats it while being interviewed.
The unofficial results of the Echopark Automotive Grand Prix:
Ross Chastain
Alex Bowman
Christopher Bell
Chase Elliott
Tyler Reddick
Ryan Blaney
Martin Truex Jr
Austin Cindric
Erik Jones
Austin Dillon
Kevin Harvick
William Byron
Michael McDowell
Brad Keselowski
Justin Haley
Todd Gilliland
Harrison Burton
Denny Hamlin
Aric Almirola
Ty Dillon
Chris Buescher
Josh Bilicki
Cole Custer
Daniel Suarez
Kaz Grala
Boris Said
Cody Ware
Kyle Busch
Kyle Larson
Chase Briscoe
Joey Logano
Kurt Busch
AJ Allmendinger
Loris Hezemans
Joey Hand
Corey LaJoie
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Bubba Wallace
Andy Lally