As NASCAR is readying itself to christen the 2025 season with Sunday’s Cook Out Clash non-points event at Bowman Gray Stadium, Circuit of The Americas (COTA) finds itself just 30 days out from the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) race on Sunday, March 2.

The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix has shifted from its traditional late March date to the third race of the season. The fifth running of the permanent road course event now follows the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 16, and the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 23.

The NASCAR at COTA weekend also will include the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) with the Focused Health 250 on Saturday, March 1, along with the IMSA-sanctioned VP Racing SportsCar Challenge (IMSA).

As preparations continue for the race weekend, here’s a few happenings to take note of:

  • NASCAR has confirmed the race laps and distances for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix and Focused Health 250 on the new 2.4-mile, 17-turn National Course layout. Both NASCAR national series competed on the 3.41-mile, 20-turn Full Course the previous four seasons. The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix will move from 68 laps and 231.88 miles to 95 laps and 228 miles. The stage segments will be at 20, 40 and 95. The Focused Health 250 will move from 46 laps and 156.86 miles to 65 laps and 156 miles (251.058 km). The stages will be at 20, 40 and 65.
  • With the move to the National Course, NASCAR at COTA will have Jostens produce new trophies for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix and Focused Health 250. Both trophies showcase a brushed aluminum replica of COTA’s Full Course configuration and now will reflect the National Course layout. The track on each trophy is waterjet cut and then hand-finished, a process that takes more than 20 hours for each to be completed. Jostens, the industry leader in custom-built trophies, created the original models in 2021.
  • Connor Zilisch, signed by Trackhouse Racing as a development driver last season, will make his NCS debut with the organization in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix. The 18-year-old Zilisch, who will be driving the No. 78 Red Bull Chevrolet as the fourth entry for Trackhouse Racing, is set to become the youngest driver to make a NCS start since Joey Logano made his debut in 2008. He will be taking on double duty at NASCAR at COTA with a start in the Focused Health 250 as the fulltime NXS driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports. In 2024, Zilisch competed in four NXS races, highlighted by a win at Watkins Glen, and six CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) races. His NCTS debut – and first start in any of NASCAR’s three national series – came at COTA in the XPEL 225, where he won the pole and finished fourth.
  • Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker will deliver the invocation for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix. It will be the second consecutive year that he will handle that dignitary role. “Dicker the Kicker” starred at Austin’s Lake Travis High School and became a record-setting kicker at the University of Texas from 2018-21 before embarking on his NFL career.
  • NASCAR at COTA will play host to a STEM event for approximately 50 students from nearby Del Valle High School on Friday, Feb. 28, of race weekend. Beginning at 10 a.m., the students will enjoy a four-hour visit at the racetrack and have the opportunity to build 1:24-scale model NCS cars, take in the view from the COTA Tower, tour the NASCAR garage and visit with some special industry guests. The event will be open to media.
  • ICYMI: Fast-rising country music artist Corey Kent was announced Wednesday as the pre-race concert entertainment for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix. Kent, best known for his Platinum-certified hit “Wild as Her,” will perform a one-hour concert on the frontstretch stage beginning at 12:45 p.m. Fans can purchase an Ultimate Fan Pass or Track Pass upgrade for enhanced stage access at his performance as well as NCS pre-race driver introductions. In addition to Kent, the NASCAR at COTA Fan Zone will have plenty of entertainment Saturday and Sunday of race weekend. The acts include the Swifty Swine Pig Races, High-Flying Pages aerial troupe, Boogie Storm dance ensemble Funkanometry hip hop and pop dance duo, Neon Prophets country music band, “Trackside Live” show, roaming performers and more.

The NASCAR at COTA weekend officially opens Friday, Feb. 28, with practice and qualifying for the NXS and IMSA. On Saturday, March 1, the NXS will compete at 1:30 p.m. with the Focused Health 250. IMSA will stage two 45-minute races that same day, one at 8:40 a.m. and the second at 5 p.m. NCS practice and qualifying are also set for that day, beginning at 10 a.m. The weekend culminates with the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix on Sunday, March 2, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Click HERE for the full weekend schedule.

The NCS and NXS will return to the Lone Star State along with the NCTS for a May 2-4 visit to Fort Worth and Texas Motor Speedway (TMS). Fans can take advantage of the “Texas Two-Step” promotion between NASCAR at COTA and TMS. Speedway Motorsports will offer ticket purchasers of either NCS race a 20 percent discount if they would like to attend both. Click HERE for more information on the “Texas Two-Step” promotion or to purchase tickets.

Tickets:
Tickets for children ages 12 and under are just $10 for the March 2 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix NCS race and free for the March 1 NXS Focused Health 250 and IMSA-sanctioned VP Racing SportsCar Challenge. For individual tickets, weekend packages and camping, fans can visit NASCARatCOTA.com.

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