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2021 EchoPark Texas Grand Prix

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2021 EchoPark Automotive Texas Grand Prix
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Race 14 of 36 in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series
2021 EchoPark Texas Grand Prix program cover
2021 EchoPark Texas Grand Prix program cover
Date May 23, 2021 (2021-05-23)
Location Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas
Course Permanent racing facility
3.426 mi (5.514 km)
Distance 54 laps, 185 mi (298 km)
Scheduled Distance 68 laps, 231 mi (372 km)
Average speed 59.024 miles per hour (94.990 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Richard Childress Racing
Time 2:12.911
Most laps led
Driver Joey Logano Team Penske
Laps 14
Winner
No. 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports
Television in the United States
Network FS1
Announcers Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer
Radio in the United States
Radio PRN
Booth Announcers Doug Rice and Mark Garrow
Turn Announcers Rob Albright (1), Brett McMillan (2 to Becketts), Doug Turnbull (Chapel to S do Senna), Ralph Sheheen (To Sepang Hairpin), Pat Patterson (Motodrom) and Brad Gillie (Istanbul 8 to Turn 20)

The 2021 EchoPark Texas Grand Prix was a NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on May 23, 2021, at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Originally scheduled for 68 laps on the 3.426-mile (5.514 km) road course, the race was shortened to 54 laps by heavy rain. It was the 14th race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Report

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Background

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Circuit of the Americas, the track where the race was held.

Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is a grade 1 FIA-specification motorsports facility located within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Austin, Texas. It features a 3.426-mile (5.514 km) road racing circuit. The facility is home to the Formula One United States Grand Prix, and the Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas, a round of the FIM Road Racing World Championship. It previously hosted the Supercars Championship, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the IMSA SportsCar Championship, and IndyCar Series.

On September 30, 2020, it was announced that COTA would host a NASCAR Cup Series event for the first time on May 23, 2021.[7] The lower Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series were also added as support events.[8] On December 11, 2020, it was announced that NASCAR would run the full 3.41 mile course.[9]

British IMSA driver Kyle Tilley made his NASCAR debut, replacing B. J. McLeod for Live Fast Motorsports.[10]

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet
1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
15 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
33 Austin Cindric (i) Team Penske Ford
34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford
41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet
52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford
53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford
77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
78 Kyle Tilley Live Fast Motorsports Ford
96 Ty Dillon (i) Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota
99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet
Official entry list

Practice

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In a wet practice session, William Byron was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 2:37.694 with an average speed of 77.847 mph (125.283 km/h).[11]

Practice results

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Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2:37.694 77.847
2 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 2:38.281 77.558
3 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2:38.468 77.467
Official practice results

Qualifying

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In a dry track, Tyler Reddick scored the pole for the race with a time of 2:12.911 and a speed of 92.363 mph (148.644 km/h).[12]

NASCAR also implemented a new rule for qualifying. For road course qualifying, a timing loop marked on the circuit, not the start-finish line, will set official time. The rule is similar to that used by INDYCAR, which also uses knockout qualifying. At this circuit, the exit of Istanbul 8 will be used as the timing line.

Qualifying results

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Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer R1 R2
1 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 2:13.602 2:12.911
2 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2:14.192 2:13.011
3 33 Austin Cindric (i) Team Penske Ford 2:13.850 2:13.697
4 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 2:13.905 2:13.708
5 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2:14.127 2:13.760
6 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 2:13.977 2:13.791
7 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 2:13.490 2:13.842
8 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2:14.352 2:14.117
9 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 2:14.486 2:14.518
10 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 2:14.349 2:14.548
11 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 2:14.352 2:14.792
12 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2:14.578 2:14.894
13 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 2:14.708
14 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 2:15.025
15 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 2:15.118
16 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 2:15.325
17 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 2:15.375
18 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 2:15.416
19 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 2:15.528
20 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 2:15.685
21 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 2:15.852
22 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 2:15.852
23 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 2:15.902
24 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 2:15.929
25 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 2:16.245
26 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 2:16.558
27 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 2:16.686
28 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 2:16.728
29 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 2:17.032
30 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 2:17.051
31 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford 2:17.246
32 15 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 2:17.563
33 96 Ty Dillon (i) Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 2:17.682
34 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 2:18.067
35 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 2:18.194
36 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 2:18.252
37 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 2:18.701
38 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 2:18.804
39 78 Kyle Tilley Live Fast Motorsports Ford 2:20.361
40 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 2:20.985
Official qualifying results

Race

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Tyler Reddick won his first career pole in qualifying. It began to rain on the first lap and all drivers pitted to change from slick tires to treaded rain tires. Kevin Harvick got heavy damage after making contact with Ryan Blaney, which also collected Christopher Bell and Bubba Wallace. Joey Logano won the first stage. In the second stage, the rain picked up, and the ensuing spray created visibility issues. In one incident, Martin Truex Jr. got into the back of Michael McDowell and then was rammed into by Cole Custer, severely damaging both cars, and causing Custer's car to catch on fire. Kyle Busch won the second stage. On a round of green flag pit stops, Kyle Larson passed Busch for the lead. Alex Bowman took the lead from Larson and was then passed by Chase Elliott. The race was red flagged again due to heavier rain and was called official with 14 laps to go. Elliott was awarded the win, giving Chevrolet its 800th win in NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports its 268th win, tying Petty Enterprises for the most wins by team in NASCAR history.

Stage Results

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Stage One Laps: 15

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 10
2 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 9
3 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 8
4 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 7
5 33 Austin Cindric (i) Team Penske Ford 0
6 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 5
7 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 4
8 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 3
9 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 2
10 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 1
Official stage one results

Stage Two Laps: 17

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 10
2 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 9
3 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 8
4 33 Austin Cindric (i) Team Penske Ford 0
5 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 6
6 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 5
7 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 4
8 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 0
9 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 2
10 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results

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Stage Three Laps: 36

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 8 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 54 49
2 2 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 54 47
3 6 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 54 44
4 20 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 54 36
5 7 16 A. J. Allmendinger (i) Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 54 0
6 27 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 54 37
7 23 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 54 39
8 12 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 54 30
9 1 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 54 36
10 4 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 54 39
11 5 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 54 26
12 16 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 54 25
13 28 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 54 29
14 19 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 54 23
15 36 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 54 26
16 29 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 54 21
17 9 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 54 20
18 37 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 54 19
19 24 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 54 18
20 25 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 54 23
21 33 96 Ty Dillon (i) Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota 54 0
22 22 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 54 15
23 21 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 54 15
24 34 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 54 13
25 3 33 Austin Cindric (i) Team Penske Ford 54 0
26 26 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 54 11
27 13 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 54 18
28 38 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Ford 54 0
29 32 15 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 54 8
30 31 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford 54 7
31 39 78 Kyle Tilley Live Fast Motorsports Ford 54 6
32 35 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 53 0
33 15 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 46 4
34 40 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 38 3
35 17 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 24 2
36 14 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 24 1
37 11 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 19 1
38 10 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 18 1
39 18 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 18 1
40 30 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 12 0
Official race results

Race statistics

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  • Lead changes: 11 among 10 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 6 for 41
  • Red flags: 2 (1 for weather, 1 for 20 minutes and 54 seconds)
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 7 minutes and 11 seconds
  • Average speed: 59.024 miles per hour (94.990 km/h)

Media

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Television

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Fox Sports covered the race on the television side. Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer called the race from the broadcast booth. Jamie Little and Regan Smith handled pit road for the television side. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

FS1
Booth announcers Pit reporters In-race analyst
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon
Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Jamie Little
Regan Smith
Larry McReynolds

Radio

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PRN had the radio call for the race which was simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

PRN
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Doug Rice
Announcer: Mark Garrow
Turn 1: Rob Albright
Turns 2 to Becketts: Brett McMillan
Chapel to S do Senna: Doug Turnbull
To Sepang Hairpin: Ralph Sheheen
Motodrom: Pat Patterson
Istanbul 8 to Turn 20: Brad Gillie
Wendy Venturini
Alan Cavanna
Heather DeBeaux

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ "2021 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  3. ^ "Practice Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. May 22, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "Qualifying Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. May 23, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  5. ^ "Texas Grand Prix Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. May 23, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. May 23, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  7. ^ Long, Dustin. "Circuit of the Americas to host Cup for first time in 2021". Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  8. ^ Crandall, Kelly (October 24, 2020). "Xfinity and Trucks to join Cup Series at COTA". Racer. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  9. ^ Utter, Jim (December 11, 2020). "NASCAR opts for F1 track layout for Circuit of the Americas round". Racer. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  10. ^ "Kyle Tilley to run four Cup races for Live Fast Motorsports". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. May 11, 2021.
  11. ^ Utter, Jim (May 22, 2021). "William Byron tops wild and wet NASCAR Cup practice at COTA". Motorsport.com. Austin, Texas: Motorsport Network. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  12. ^ Utter, Jim (May 23, 2021). "Tyler Reddick takes surprise NASCAR Cup Series pole at COTA". Motorsport.com. Austin, Texas: Motorsport Network. Retrieved May 23, 2021.


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