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Revving It Up at COTA: Christopher Bell Conquers the Echopark Texas Grand Prix

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Well, race fans, if you tuned in yesterday expecting a typical NASCAR Sunday drive…you quickly realized Circuit of the Americas (COTA) does not do typical!

Instead of your classic go-fast-and-turn-left format, we got treated to some first-class road course action, complete with hairpin turns, dramatic passes, and yes, the occasional spin-out that turned grown men into wide-eyed deer.

Let’s dive into how Christopher Bell took the checkers and the rest of the highlights from the NASCAR Cup Series party in Austin.

A Track That Has It All (Including the Fear Factor)

COTA is a road course with more twists and turns than a mystery novel. Drivers were shifting gears faster than kids can say “Are we there yet?” on a family road trip, and each twist of the wheel looked like it might just launch them into a whole new zip code.

That’s half the fun—and heartburn—of this place: you never quite know who’s going to sail out of a corner and who’s going to sail into trouble.

The Unstoppable #20: Christopher Bell’s Big Day

While most fans were counting Kyle Busch’s laps led (42 in total!) and wondering if it would be his day to bring home the trophy, Christopher Bell quietly bided his time. With about five laps left, Bell slung his #20 car past Busch for the top spot.

Yes, folks, that was the moment we all did a collective “oooh!”

Even though William Byron’s #24 roared up like a persistent telemarketer in the closing laps, Bell held him off and snagged a hair-raising victory margin of just under half a second.

Race Win: Bell’s second victory of the year, first at COTA, and the 11th of his career. Who says he’s not climbing that wins ladder pretty darn fast?

The Podium and Beyond

When the smoke finally cleared on those final laps, the top five looked like a highlight reel of NASCAR’s emerging and established talent—all firing on all cylinders (pun intended).

  1. Christopher Bell (#20) – It goes without saying the winner’s circle at COTA is well-earned, but Bell made it look almost effortless. He delivered surgical precision in the twists and turns, conserved his car during the mid-race chaos, and then pulled off that heart-stopping pass on Kyle Busch. And while he had William Byron breathing down his neck at the finish, Bell never blinked. Talk about nerves of steel.

  2. William Byron (#24) – The #24 is a legendary number in NASCAR, and Byron’s doing his best to add more pages to that storied history. He latched onto Bell in the waning laps like a kid clinging to the last piece of candy. That final push was oh-so-close, leaving fans wondering if we might see a photo finish. Even though he came up a half-second short, Byron showed everyone he’s no slouch at road courses. Keep that in mind the next time you see COTA (or any other twisty track) on the schedule!

  3. Tyler Reddick (#45) – Starting from the pole is both a blessing and a bullseye—you’ve got the best view of Turn 1, but every driver behind you is trying to steal the spotlight. Reddick fended off challenges early on and proved why he’s often touted as one of the top road-course wheelmen in the Cup Series. Though he slipped to third by the checkered flag, he gave us plenty of thrilling battles and a smooth drive that still had people on their feet (or at least leaning off the couch).

  4. Chase Elliott (#9) – No surprise here, considering Elliott’s become something of a road-course phenom in recent years. While a fourth-place run doesn’t typically send the merch trailer into a frenzy, it’s another consistent finish that keeps him within striking distance in the points. The #9 car looked as stable through the esses as you can hope for—and that’s reason enough to keep your eyes on the Dawsonville native.

  5. Kyle Busch (#8) – Ah, Kyle Busch. He led 42 laps (that’s more than any other driver), and for a while, it felt like he might gift-wrap this race for Rowdy Nation. Then Christopher Bell happened. Still, Busch ending up fifth isn’t a total loss—just maybe a bit bittersweet after running the show for such a long stretch. Considering COTA’s tricky nature, a top-five is a testament to how dialed-in his car was (and how dialed-in Kyle can be).

Rounding Out the Top Ten

  • 6th: Shane Van Gisbergen (#88) – The Kiwi sensation is still a fresh face to many NASCAR fans, but he’s no stranger to making road-course magic happen in international racing. Finishing sixth in a Cup race at a track like COTA is a massive statement: he’s got serious skill, and the paddock knows it.
  • 7th: Chris Buescher (#17) – Buescher quietly pieced together a solid day, capitalizing on others’ mistakes and harnessing consistency lap after lap. Not the flashiest performance, but definitely the kind that helps you sleep well on Sunday night.
  • 8th: Noah Gragson (#4) – Sporting that trademark aggression, Gragson’s top-ten run showed a newfound finesse at a place known for punishing overzealous drivers. Balancing “attack mode” and “keep it on the track” is no easy feat, but he pulled it off.
  • 9th: Alex Bowman (#48) – Bowman has a knack for finishing well when you least expect it. Even if he didn’t lead laps or dominate headlines, a steady drive at a challenging course keeps the #48 camp feeling optimistic—especially with that coveted playoff spot in mind.
  • 10th: Todd Gilliland (#34) – Rounding out the top ten, Gilliland kept it clean and fought through the typical COTA bumps and shoves to earn a nice finish. That’s how you earn respect in the garage: by sticking around in the top ten at a track that chews up less-experienced drivers for breakfast.

Bryan’s Fantasy NASCAR Recap: Chaos at COTA – The Good, The Bad & The Unlucky

The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) brought us everything we love (and hate) about road course racing—tight battles, last-lap drama, mechanical heartbreaks, and a little bit of fantasy frustration.

Some of my picks absolutely delivered (Reddick and Elliott, I see you!), while others? Well… let’s just say I’ve had better luck.

Let’s break it all down and see where we nailed it and where things went completely sideways.

Tyler Reddick (#45 Toyota – 3rd Place Finish)

✔ Started on the pole. Yup, we knew he’d be fast, and he proved it right away.
✔ Led a bunch of laps and was a contender all day.
✔ Had a shot at the win but had to settle for 3rd.

Reddick was exactly what I hoped for at COTA. He put the 23XI Toyota out front early, showed off his road course skills, and kept himself in the mix all day.

There was a moment late in the race where I thought he was about to muscle his way to the win, but Christopher Bell and William Byron had just a little more in the tank. Still, 3rd place is a solid result, and he stacked up a ton of fantasy points.

🎯 Fantasy Impact: This is why I locked him in for the season—fast, consistent, and reliable.

🔹 Top 12 Picks

Chase Elliott (#9 Chevrolet – 4th Place Finish)

✔ Started 3rd, finished 4th—exactly what I expected from NASCAR’s road course king.
✔ Ran inside the top 5 all day and looked like a legit contender.
✔ Didn’t quite have the late-race speed to challenge for the win.

Elliott is just so smooth on road courses. Never out of control, never making dumb moves—just solid, smart racing. If you had him in your lineup, you got great value this week.

🎯 Fantasy Impact: Dependable as ever. A classic Elliott road course race—not flashy, but very effective.

Kyle Larson (#5 Chevrolet – 32nd Place Finish 😬)

✔ Started 7th—looked good early.
❌ Then things went south. Fast.
❌ Mechanical issues ruined his day.

Man, this one hurt. Larson is normally one of my go-to guys for road courses, and he looked strong early, but his car decided to betray him.

By the time the dust settled, he limped home in 32nd place. Brutal.

🎯 Fantasy Impact: Pain. If you had Larson, you know exactly how I feel.

🔹 Outside Top 12 Picks

A.J. Allmendinger (#16 Chevrolet – 30th Place Finish 😩)

✔ Qualified 12th—was hoping he’d climb through the field.
❌ Nope.
❌ Struggled with handling and never had the speed to move up.

Allmendinger was my biggest letdown of the week. He’s supposed to be a road course specialist, but Kaulig Racing just didn’t have the car for him to work with.

At one point, I thought, okay, maybe he can salvage a top 15—but nope. A disappointing 30th-place finish and pretty much a fantasy bust.

🎯 Fantasy Impact: Never again. (Okay, maybe at Indy or the Roval, but I need time to heal.)

Michael McDowell (#71 Chevrolet – 11th Place Finish 👍)

✔ Qualified 16th and ran a smart, steady race.
✔ Didn’t have race-winning speed, but held his own.
✔ Finished just outside the top 10 in 11th.

McDowell is one of the most underrated road course drivers in the field, and once again, he delivered a solid fantasy day.

🎯 Fantasy Impact: Solid. Not spectacular, but definitely worth the pick.

Shane van Gisbergen (#88 Chevrolet – 6th Place Finish 🔥)

✔ Started 6th, finished 6th—no rookie mistakes here.
✔ Proved that his Chicago win wasn’t a fluke.
✔ Fast, aggressive, and not afraid to mix it up with the Cup veterans.

SVG is legit. We already knew he was a road course monster, but this performance confirmed he can hang with the best in NASCAR.

He stayed in the top 10 all day, avoided the usual chaos, and proved he’s going to be a fantasy favorite every time we hit a road course.

🎯 Fantasy Impact: A home run pick. If you had him, you’re loving life right now.

Final Thoughts: What We Learned at COTA

The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at COTA tested drivers’ road course acumen, and my fantasy lineup reflected a mix of successes and challenges.

✔ Tyler Reddick is still one of the best road course guys in the field.
✔ Chase Elliott is as reliable as ever.
✔ SVG is going to be a factor at EVERY road course from here on out.
✔ Larson and Allmendinger burned us this week, but that’s racing.

Overall, this lineup did pretty well. I wish Larson and Allmendinger hadn’t completely tanked their races, but Reddick, Elliott, McDowell, and SVG made up for it.

Reddick’s podium and Elliott’s strong performance anchored the team, while van Gisbergen’s impressive road course performance added unexpected value.

Conversely, Larson and Allmendinger underperformed relative to expectations, reminding us of the inherent unpredictability in motorsports.​

As we look ahead, it’s crucial to analyze these outcomes, adjust strategies, and continue seeking that optimal balance between proven performers and high-upside picks. Onward to the next race—let’s keep the momentum going!

Next Up: Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway!

Time to leave the twists and turns of COTA behind and head to Phoenix Raceway—a flat, one-mile short track where rubbing is racing and tempers run hot.

Unlike COTA’s long straights and sharp corners, Phoenix is all about short-track aggression, brake management, and taking advantage of that wide dogleg on restarts. If you’re not moving forward, you’re getting run over.

💡 Early thoughts for Phoenix:
✔ Joe Gibbs Racing is the team to watch. Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin both run well here, and Toyota has had a strong short-track package in recent years.
✔ Hendrick Motorsports should be contenders. Kyle Larson and William Byron both have Phoenix wins and should be fast again.
✔ Ryan Blaney is the defending Phoenix winner. He won the 2023 Championship race here and knows how to get around this track.
✔ Ross Chastain is always a wildcard. He’s aggressive, and if he gets to someone’s bumper late, he won’t hesitate to use it.
✔ Keep an eye on Ford drivers like Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski. Fords tend to do well on shorter, flatter tracks.

I’ll be back later this week with my full fantasy picks for Phoenix. Until then, get ready for some short-track action where survival is half the battle!

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Bryan
"🏁 Cruising the fast lane for over a decade at DrivingOnMarbles.com! 🚗 Passionate about all things NASCAR and dedicated to connecting fellow fans. Gear up and join the race with me! 🏎️💨 #10YearsAndCounting"