| Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 14 of 36 in the2021 NASCAR Cup Series | |||
2021 EchoPark Texas Grand Prix program cover | |||
| Date | May 23, 2021 (2021-05-23) | ||
| Location | Circuit of the Americas inAustin, Texas | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 3.41 miles (5.488 km) | ||
| Distance | 54 laps, 184.14 mi (296.345 km) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 68 laps, 231.88 mi (373.175 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 andClint 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) | ||
The2021 EchoPark Texas Grand Prix was aNASCAR Cup Seriesrace that was held on May 23, 2021, atCircuit of the Americas inAustin, Texas. Originally scheduled for 68 laps on the 3.41-mile (5.49-kilometre) road course, the race was shortened to 54 laps by heavy rain. It was the 14th race of the2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is a grade 1FIA-specificationmotorsports facility located within theextraterritorial jurisdiction ofAustin, Texas. It features a 3.41-mile (5.49 km)road racing circuit. The facility is home to theFormula OneUnited States Grand Prix, and theMotorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas, a round of theFIM Road Racing World Championship. It previously hosted theSupercars Championship, theFIA World Endurance Championship, theIMSA SportsCar Championship, andIndyCar Series.
On September 30, 2020, it was announced that COTA would host aNASCAR Cup Series event for the first time on May 23, 2021.[7] The lowerXfinity andCamping 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]
BritishIMSA driverKyle Tilley made his NASCAR debut, replacingB. J. McLeod forLive Fast Motorsports.[10]
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]
| 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 | ||||||
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.
Stage OneLaps: 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 TwoLaps: 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 | |||||
Stage ThreeLaps: 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 | |||||||
Fox Sports covered the race on the television side.Mike Joy,Jeff Gordon andClint Bowyer called the race from the broadcast booth.Jamie Little andRegan 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 |
PRN had the radio call for the race which was simulcasted onSirius XMNASCAR 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 |
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| Previous race: 2021 Drydene 400 | NASCAR Cup Series 2021 season | Next race: 2021 Coca-Cola 600 |