AUSTIN, Tx. – March 24, 2024 – Anthony Holbrook
The 6th race of the NASCAR Cup Series hosted by Circuit of the Americas is a 3.41-mile paved, 20-turn road course in Austin, Texas and was run on Sunday March 24th, 2024.
Tyler Reddick survived Triple Overtime chaos for last years checkers and 1st win with the 23X1 Racing team. William Byron and Tye Gibbs set the front row and brought the field to green for 68 scheduled Laps at COTA.
Stage 1– EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix / COTA – Recap:
William Byron controlled the point through the tricky Turn 1 as the field fanned out three wide.
Ty Gibbs showed great early speed working around last year’s winner Tyler Reddick by lap 6 and amassing a 3 second lead. With 2 laps to decide the Stage, front runners opted for pit service including Race Leader William Byron. Chrstopher Bell’s decision to decline pit service cycled him to the lead and onward to Stage 1 Honors.
Stage 1– EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix / COTA – Results:
1. Christopher Bell
2. Daniel Suarez
3. Michael McDowell
4. Austin Cindric
5. Austin Dillon
6. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
7. William Byron
8. Ty Gibbs
9. Tyler Reddick
10. Ross Chastain
Stage 2 – EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix / COTA – Recap:
Christopher Bell gambled and maintained his on-track position as contenders pitted for Stage 2 caution pit service. Attrition caught up with Chistopher Bell as William Byron’s fresher Goodyears prevailed with 5 laps remaining in the Stage. Race Leader William Byron forfeited the lead for pit attention with 2 laps remaining. Last week cup race winner Denny Hamlin passed up pit service and rotated to the lead. Denny Hamlin added valuable Stage points to his Playoff resume winning Stage 2 at Austin.
Stage 2 – EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix / COTA – Results:
1. Denny Hamlin
2. Ryan Blaney
3. Martin Truex Jr
4. Todd Gilliland
5. Ryan Preece
6. Brad Keselowski
7. John Hunter Nemechek
8. William Byron
9. Daniel Hemric
10. Josh Berry
Final Stage – EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix / COTA – Recap:
Willam Byron rotated back to the front after leaders attended Final Stage Caution Pit Service.
Ross Chastain moved up and maneuvered under William Byron and Tye Gibbs to control the early-stage race lead. William Byron out-braked Ross Chastain on lap 43 to muscle back to his dominating lead. Lack of Caution flags invited green flag pit stops with 23 Laps remaining. Alex Bowman and most of the field utilized the opportunity for service to finish the race. After pit service was complete, William Byron benefited and cycled back to the post. With Ty Gibbs and Alex Bowman battling for second, William Byron increased his lead as the closing laps approached. William Byron was tested one final time as hard-charging Chrstopher Bell ran out of time and real-estate on the Final Lap. William Byron’s COTA victory elevates Hendrick’s Motorsports to 28 all-time Road Course Trophies.
Circuit of the Americas
NASCAR Cup Series
EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
March 24, 2024
Pos | Driver
1. William Byron
2. Christopher Bell
3. Ty Gibbs
4. Alex Bowman
5. Tyler Reddick
6. AJ Allmendinger
7. Ross Chastain
8. Chris Buescher
9. Kyle Busch
10. Martin Truex Jr
11. Joey Logano
12. Ryan Blaney
13. Chase Briscoe
14. Denny Hamlin
15. Bubba Wallace
16. Chase Elliott
17. Justin Haley
18. Kyle Larson
19. Austin Cindric
20. Zane Smith
21. Shane van Gisbergen
22. John Hunter Nemechek
23. Carson Hocevar
24. Ryan Preece
25. Corey LaJoie
26. Austin Dillon
27. Todd Gilliland
28. Kaz Grala
29. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
30. Kamui Kobayashi
31. Harrison Burton
32. Daniel Suarez
33. Erik Jones
34. Brad Keselowski
35. Noah Gragson
36. Josh Berry
37. Timmy Hill
38. Daniel Hemric
39. Michael McDowell
NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Points
{after EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix / COTA}
3/24/2024
Pos | Driver | Points | Wins
1. Martin Truex Jr. | 220
2. Ty Gibbs | 215
3. Ryan Blaney | 211
4. Denny Hamlin | 206 | 1 Win
5. Kyle Larson | 204 | 1 Win
6. William Byron | 183 | 2 Wins
7. Christopher Bell | 183 | 1 Win
8. Ross Chastain | 182
9. Chase Elliott | 173
10. Tyler Reddick | 171
11. Alex Bowman | 165
12. Chris Buescher | 153
13. Kyle Busch | 150
14. Daniel Suarez | 147 | 1 Win
15. John Hunter Nemechek | 143
16. Brad Keselowski | 133
17. Chase Briscoe | 131
18. Bubba Wallace | 129
19. Michael McDowell | 119
20. Austin Cindric | 118
21. Erik Jones | 105
22. Joey Logano | 100
23. Corey LaJoie | 98
24. Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 97
25. Carson Hocevar | 94
26. Justin Haley | 92
27. Todd Gilliland| 80
28. Daniel Hemric | 79
29. Josh Berry | 76
30. Austin Dillon | 76
31. Ryan Preece | 73
32. Harrison Burton | 64
33. Kaz Grala | 64
34. Noah Gragson| 58
35. Zane Smith| 58
36. David Ragan| 17
NASCAR Cup Series travels to Richmond Raceway for the Toyota Owners 400
Sunday, March 31, 2024, 7:00 p.m. EST.
FOX/ SiriusXM NASCAR Radio 90
