The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season shifts into high gear today, March 01, 2026, as the world’s premier stock car drivers take on the challenging turns of the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. Today’s featured event, the DuraMax Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne, marks the third points-paying race of the season and the first road-course test of the year.
Race Start Time and TV Schedule
Fans can catch the action live as the green flag is scheduled to wave this afternoon. Here are the essential details for today’s broadcast:
- Race: DuraMax Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne
- Date: Sunday, March 01, 2026
- Start Time: 3:30 PM ET
- Track: Circuit of The Americas (COTA)
- Location: Austin, Texas
- TV Channel: Check local listings (typically FOX or FS1 for early-season events)
Tyler Reddick Chases Three-in-a-Row
All eyes are on Tyler Reddick, who has dominated the opening weeks of the 2026 season. Reddick enters today’s race coming off back-to-back victories, including a dramatic double-overtime win at EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta) just six days ago. Reddick is the first driver since 2009 to win the first two races of a season, and as a noted road-course specialist, he is a heavy favorite to extend his streak to three today in Austin.
The Road Course Specialists to Watch
While Reddick holds the momentum, the field is packed with road-racing talent. Shane van Gisbergen, who won Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at COTA, is looking to translate that success to the Cup Series today. Van Gisbergen has been nearly unstoppable on road courses, though COTA remains one of the few tracks where he has yet to secure a Cup Series trophy.
Other notable starters include Chase Elliott, who qualified fifth, and William Byron, who starts tenth. Both drivers are perennial threats on road circuits and will be looking to break Reddick’s early-season stranglehold on the standings.
Track Facts: Circuit of The Americas
COTA is a 3.41-mile permanent road course featuring 20 turns and significant elevation changes, most notably the steep climb into the iconic Turn 1. Unlike the high-speed drafting seen in the first two weeks at Daytona and Atlanta, today’s race will emphasize heavy braking, technical precision, and pit strategy.
Stay tuned as the NASCAR Cup Series continues its 2026 campaign with one of the most physically demanding races on the schedule.