The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) road course had three NASCAR green-white-checkered overtimes to determine the winner.
The first road course race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season delivered what these races are known for in recent years. There were different strategies being played out to see who could be there at the end with a chance for the win. William Byron and Tyler Reddick started the race on the front row. It didn’t take long to see that these two cars were the class of the field.
Something new for 2023 on road course is that there would not be a caution at the end of the first two stages of the race. The first 10 cars to cross the start-finish line on the designated ending lap of the stages would earn bonus points, but the yellow would not waive just for the end of the stage. William Byron was the winner of stage one of the race. Tyler Reddick was the winner of stage two.
Through the race it was obvious that William Byron had the faster car on the straights. However, Tyler Reddick had a car that could go deeper in the turns under breaking. That meant he could go faster through the turns than William without losing control. The track has only two straights and 20 turns. You can likely figure out which of the two had the better advantage in this race.
Tyler Reddick was leading as the race was coming to the scheduled end of 68 laps. However, with two laps remaining NASCAR issued a caution for debris on the track. That put the race under the NASCAR overtime of a green-white-checkered finish. Tyler was able to maintain his lead when the race re-started. However, another caution was issued for debris again. The restart of overtime number two again saw Tyler hold the lead. Caution for a debris was issued a third time.
Tyler was able to maintain the lead through another re-start. This time there would be no debris or caution as he raced through the two laps needed to complete the race. Tyler scored his first win of the 2023 Cup Series season. It was his third win in the Cup Series on a road course and his fourth career win in the series.
Kyle Busch was able to finish in second-place. Alex Bowman was the third-place finisher. See the complete race results for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at COTA here.
Following the race at COTA Ross Chastain is at the top of the point standings. Kyle Busch is in second-place with Joey Logano in third. See the complete NASCAR Cup Series Point Standings here.
Next up for the NASCAR Cup Series is the Toyota Owners 400 as the drivers and teams go short trackin’ at Richmond Raceway Sunday, April 2nd.
By: Buck Stevens
