Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi have had themselves a few weeks.
First, the duo broke the news that NASCAR would bulldoze Fontana’s 2-mile oval and replace it with a high banked half-mile track. Now The Athletic’s motorsport writers hit us with some equally as big news.
NASCAR IS GOING TO COTA
NASCAR will be making their inaugural trip to Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas next season. The 3.4260-mile road course outside of Austin has played host to Formula 1 since 2012. in 2021, it will play host to at least the NASCAR Cup Series, no word on the Xfinity or Truck series.
No word if NASCAR will use the full circuit or the shorter 2.3-mile track that the Australian Supercars Series used on their one trip to the Lone Star State. The fastest lap time from that event was 1:33.595. NASCAR’s lap time on the full circuit would likely be over 2:10 a lap.
Texas Loses Race, Gains All-Star Race
Texas Motor Speedway will lose one of its two points-paying races in 2021. While the track loses a points date, it will gain the All-Start Race for the 2021 season.
After 34 years of the All-Star Race at 1.5-mile tracks, NASCAR/SMI finally chased the money moved the race to Bristol for the jumbled 2020 NASCAR season. It was met with resounding applause from the fan base, finally, a short track race gets the All-Star Race. An event that has been stagnant and uninspiring for years. Turns out that was just a 1-year experience.
In 2021, the NASCAR All-Star Race will move to Texas Motor Speedway where it will undoubtedly be dubbed the “Biggest All-Star Race EVER” you know because everything is bigger in Texas.
While Texas landed the All-Star Race they will lose a points-paying race. Likely the spring date at the track which will now be the ASR. The Texas fall date in The Playoffs will likely remain.
NASCAR Making Moves
Fans have complained for years that the NASCAR schedule is essentially the same as it was in the early 2000s. We now have two new tracks on the 2021 schedule and will likely add two more by the time the NASCAR 2021 schedule comes out.
