NASCAR insiders weigh on 2026 NASCAR schedule, potential return to COTA

NASCAR had a Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on Sunday, but will the governing body return to the track in 2026? On The Teardown podcast, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic explained why NASCAR should return to COTA next year.

“I think it comes back,” Bianchi said. “Great market, drivers love the track, world-class facility. The track seems to put a lot into this. They’re building a freaking amusment park there. They reinvest in that. You put on great racing.

“I don’t know how you could watch the first good part of the first stage and then the last 10 to 15 laps, that’s as good as it gets on a road course. That’s damn good stuff with these guys.”

Bianchi added, “Sponsors want to be there. I’ve talked to so many teams, and they’re like, ‘Listen, we have sponsors that circle this. This is a big market for them because they want to bring people to Austin and do the Austin thing, and then we bring them out to the track, and it’s a world-class facility. …You need warm weather tracks. We can’t lose sight of that. At this time of year, especially what’s going on in California Speedway, you need warm weather tracks to kind of bridge.”

Why COTA is an enjoyable NASCAR Cup Series race

Gluck agreed with Bianchi when it comes to warm weather tracks. He enjoyed taking in the COTA race because of the great weather in Austin, Texas.

“That’s make a big difference for sure as NASCAR is looking for places,” Gluck said. “I want it to come back, I just don’t know if they will.”

Bianchi said that it’s up to Speedway Motorsports to decide on NASCAR returning to COTA. “I don’t see a track out there that Speedway Motorsports could realistically move this date to,” he said.

One track Bianchi mentioned is North Wilkesboro, but he said, “I don’t think the racing at North Wilkesboro is such where people are clamoring saying hey, we really want to see a points race at North Wilkesboro.”

NASCAR began having Cup Series races at COTA in 2021. Last week, Bianchi spoke to COTA chairman Bobby Epstein, and he said he expected NASCAR to return to the road course in 2026.