NASCAR Cup race at COTA comes at right time for Shane van Gisbergen…

NASCAR Cup Race at COTA: A Timely Opportunity for Shane van Gisbergen

The NASCAR Cup Series is heading to the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, and for Shane van Gisbergen, this couldn’t come at a better time. After a tumultuous start to the season, van Gisbergen is looking to turn his fortunes around, and COTA’s road course might just be the perfect place to do so ¹.

Van Gisbergen’s season has been marred by bad luck, with a 33rd-place finish at Daytona and a 23rd-place finish at Atlanta. However, the New Zealander has shown exceptional skill on road courses, winning four times in 11 starts, including a Cup race and three Xfinity races last year ¹.

COTA’s new layout, which is a mile shorter than the original 3.41-mile track, might play into van Gisbergen’s hands. The revised course features 20 turns and will host a 95-lap Cup race, providing ample opportunities for van Gisbergen to showcase his road course prowess ².

While van Gisbergen is considered a favorite, he’ll face stiff competition from the likes of Ross Chastain, who boasts the best average finish at COTA among active drivers. Additionally, Chase Elliott, a former road course master, will be looking to regain his form ³.

The NASCAR Cup Series’ visit to COTA promises to be an exhilarating event, with a new track layout, fresh asphalt, and a new tire compound adding to the excitement. As van Gisbergen seeks to revive his season, he’ll have to navigate a challenging course and a talented field of drivers to emerge victorious ³.