How COTA Flipped the NASCAR Script

[@TheIceberg]

How do you like COTA on the NASCAR schedule?

[@nascar_fan_8895]

I don’t

[@scout222]

There are too many road courses but I think Cota could stay. If I had my choice there would be 4 road courses, Walkins Glen, Sonoma, Road America, and Cota

[@yinkaoreilly8371]

as an f1 fan before being a nascar fan i love the fact that road cources are more on the nascar calendar and im excited to see what it can do to nascar as a whole. just look at who is coming to race and who is going to be on the desk this race weekend hopefully cota stays!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Journeyjeffgordonfan24]

It needs more strategy which with no stage breaks there could be more. Overall I like the track.

[@AM-tu1rc]

As a person from Houston, I'm very glad to finally have a race closer to the many people in South Texas including from the Austin, San Antonio, and Houston markets.

[@iambmw85]

I'm excited for this race. In the field we get to see Kimi, Jenson Button, Jordan Taylor, and Conor Daly. Yes, i know Conor won't be too competitive but still to have a list of ringers like this in the field is awesome

[@jbj7599]

Jenson in nascar is worth watching alone

[@iambmw85]

@@jbj7599 Don't discount Kimi there tho.

[@andrewwinslow9315]

​@@iambmw85 he has the drincc. He will be fast

[@Ramtamtama]

@@iambmw85 bwoah

[@iambmw85]

@@Carshtime AJ is great, don't get me wrong. But as a full time cup driver now, can he still be called a 'ringer' and placed in the same category as those drivers i mentioned? For me, that's still up in the air.

[@mitchcase7829]

Let’s not forget the talent that’s gonna be on track, two F1 Champions, a IMSA winner, I think Jimmy Johnson will be there too

[@williamanstey5933]

COTA is awesome, but especially the fact that it makes NASCAR so much more international and available... makes me proud to be a NASCAR fan

[@naparacingfan9275]

I love COTA on the NASCAR schedule. It's one of my most favorite NASCAR weekends all year. Road America was my favorite road course but since it sadly got dumped in Cup, COTA is now a slight favorite ahead of Watkins Glen.

[@benwalter4842]

Hopefully it comes back in the near future.

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

@@benwalter4842 I hope it doesn't. Mid Ohio would be much better on the schedule.

[@turbo_marc]

@@runrafarunthebestintheworld I hope you figure out that this thing called “opinions” exist and they can be different from yours.

[@josephpenn1115]

@@runrafarunthebestintheworld Mid-Ohio is a dump in terms of facilities though. They will never go there.

[@brandynhenry7107]

I hope it doesn't. It's too technical for those cars and looks awkward and slow. There's been 35 pro racing series that have laid down laps there and nascar's 3 national series are #27/#30/#33 fastest at the track. Speed isn't everything but at some point it's unacceptable to be that slow. America's premier racing series shouldn't be one of the slowest things at a given track. I don't want to watch nhra drag around Martinsville for good reason even though I'm sure that'd be a challenge Nascar needs to run on fast modified sweeping circuits like Watkins Glen modified course, or come up with their own thing, not just running at circuits designed with other vehicles in mind

[@JSkitt]

What are y'all thoughts on the stage breaks being removed for this race? I think there is a lot to look forward to this race.

[@kpegc]

It's a much needed return to more traditional, organic racing from previous seasons, and I hope that NASCAR uses this format for the ovals across all 3 touring series as well.

[@BenOnSports]

As someone who watched through the 90s and early 2000s, my interest had begun to wane by around 2011-12. The switch to stage racing killed it. I would follow the sport in general, but I haven't sat down for a race in years. NASCAR wouldn't be fixing every problem, but going back to traditional races would be a great start to get me watching again.

[@ffr8186]

As a person from the DFW area, I now attend COTA instead of TMS so whatever they’re doing is working. I’ve gone every year. This weekend is looking to be the best yet with all the road course ringers and Jimmie!

[@TaylorBMcardle]

COTA with now no stage breaks is going to make pit strategy more interesting this year. Plus with the additions of Kimi, Jenson, Jordan, Conor and Jimmie in the field will make it exciting and hopefully bring more viewers in

[@tigerfever2418]

I’ve always loved watching COTA in F1 so when it came with NASCAR it was one of the few races I actually wanted to go to during the year, especially with the improved racing around road courses

[@SuperSaiyan-2400]

I love COTA on the schedule! Great racing and a top notch facility. Ever since they announced they were building it ive wanted NASCAR there. Its my home track. Only an hour or so from my front door. Hope it stays on the schedule for the foreseeable future!

[@SuperNASCARrocks]

I’m happy that the stage cautions are gone for this weekend at COTA. To me they break up the flow of the race. Happy that NASCAR Made a good change for once.

[@S.K.R.E.Inc.]

If only that can be applied to the rest of the season, though...

[@SuperNASCARrocks]

@@S.K.R.E.Inc. Completely agree

[@thebasicgeek]

I personally love cota, for years my "home track" was Texas and it was a 3ish hour drive away from me, so having a race at a track that's basically in my backyard has been awesome

[@richardturcios56]

I love that COTA was added to the schedule because it finally gave me my 1st experience at a real NASCAR event and I'm looking forward to this weekends race with the legendary lineup of drivers and champions 🏆 🥇

[@connorbrown2746]

i love having circuit of the americas on the nascar schedule, in terms of road course racing, its got a little bit of sonoma in it, a little bit of the glen in it, and maybe even a little bit of the indianapolis and charlotte road courses in it. it challenges the drivers while delivering a good show, while also proving why nascar drivers are some of the best in the world. i think having kimi raikkonen and jenson button race here will help bring popularity to nascar around the world, and more fans is a great thing.

[@javierpalomares1774]

COTA is a technical, challenging course so I'm looking forward to seeing who can shine through especially with this field.

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Nope wrong. Slowest road course ever. Can't be compared to Sonoma or the Glen.

[@alaeriia01]

CoTA is a "greatest hits" course. It's got La Source from Spa, the Maggots-Becketts complex from Silverstone, the mighty turn 8 from Turkey, an arena section ripped from Hungary, the tight hairpin from Sepang...

[@UltimateDan1]

I’ve been living in Germany for a few years now and have been traveling around to do track days at a lot of their racetracks. Being here makes me realize how much the US is missing proper race tracks like COTA. I hope to see more tracks like COTA built in the US in the future.

[@bloqk16]

A NASCAR road-race nowadays is what the SCCA Trans Am races were back in 1969 with the Camaros and Mustangs battling it out. And I say that for being at the 1969 Trans Am races.

[@NathanChambers]

I remember when CotA was first added on iRacing (so way before NASCAR raced there), the forums were in such a fight lol. So many NASCAR haters saying NASCAR would never race there, the cars couldn't make some of the turns, and NASCAR drivers didn't have the talent to even make 1 lap. Those idiots didn't even want hosted races to be able to allow NASCAR cars to run the track. LLAL So glad NASCAR races there now and it also makes me wonder what those idiots on the iRacing forums say now a days. LLAL The weekend can't get here fast enough!!!

[@S.K.R.E.Inc.]

The fact that they used the full circuit and not the abridged one says a lot

[@christianwitte9208]

What a dream come true it would be to have all tracks get rid of stage cautions🤩

[@Mister_Matt_X]

I live not too far from COTA and I’ve been hearing stories about how exciting the track is but the hype takes the extreme for me… COTA is still a young road course and I hope COTA has a great future… I’ve been to Texas Motor Speedway since 2008 and nowadays I rarely go there because of the fan attendance the last time I went to Texas Motor Speedway was back in 2017 for the xfinity series… and when I attended my first Cup race in November of 2008 it had full stands… I’m not attending COTA this year but I hope to attend soon if COTA stays on the NASCAR schedule for years to come…

[@NeverEvenRaced]

Funny inverse, I went to my first race after living near TMS for many years, just never been to a race. Xfinity last year. This year I plan to head to COTA to see my first cup race.

[@erichk101]

Good and interesting points Iceberg, thanks for bringing this up

[@jfm0155]

Love it, hopefully they will continue to run the full layout in future years. I'm really exited for Sunday's race, probably the most excited I've been for a NASCAR race in years.

[@tommy2fast244]

This will be my 3rd year in a row sitting in turn 12! Can’t wait!!!

[@chasebriscoefan19]

I was not excited when it was added to the schedule, but it has grown on me since

[@ephraimvorzman9786]

I love COTA. It’s really starting to feel like a can’t-miss event on the schedule.

[@gokartrobert]

With the additions of Kimi Raikkonen, Jordan Taylor and Jenson Button coming to COTA as well. Very much a track/race on my list for the year. I am a big fan of Road courses and COTA is a great track, I love to see such big names coming out. Gives me hope they come back to Road America again, I went and watched them at RA both years and had a blast! Bummed they aren't coming back. The addition of road courses not getting stages is the best news I've herd from nascar in awhile, hope it translates to all races.

[@andre-rg9rp]

Gunther Steiner I believe is actually gonna be in the fox booth from what I heard

[@gokartrobert]

@@andre-rg9rp lol, i give it 6 minutes before hes kick off from swearing so much!

[@Strosfan85]

Going to COTA this weekend to watch my first live NASCAR race and am completely stoked!

[@Indizzinator]

I like COTA a big track and has good racing

[@benwalter4842]

You should make a “butterfly effect” video on how COTA brought back North Wilkesboro.

[@sirnickels9979]

I'm interested to see what Cota will be like this year. No 10 minute stage cautions, basically a road course all star race. Hopefully, this is the race we get things going forward

[@OhNoWhatIsThat]

I remember looking at the schedule and realizing that Cotas first nascar race was on my birthday which was pretty cool

[@castandblast1852]

I love the idea in taking away stages at superspeedways, but I do like them for intermediate tracks

[@AM-tu1rc]

As a person from Houston, I'm very glad to finally have a race closer to the many people in South Texas including from the Austin, San Antonio, and Houston markets.

[@S.K.R.E.Inc.]

Well, most of the fanbase considers COTA the true Texas track because the Motor Speedway has bombed since 1995 when it first opened

[@PegassoGaming956]

So much closer for me here in McAllen, Tx. COTA is going to be my go to track every year for NASCAR

[@Malachi_Marx]

COTA is, if not THE best track on the circuit, its at least tied for Watkins Glen, Darlington and Martinsville. Particularly with this current gen car, road course racing is some of the best on track action that NASCAR has to show! Maybe, just maybe, we'll get some sort of exhibition race on the mountainside in Bathurst... A double header weekend with NASCAR and the Aussie V8 Supercars? Yes please! If we can run in Japan (which we have) we can run in Australia.

[@josephconciatori9824]

Thanks for sharing! NASCAR at COTA has definitely been outstanding - if not in 2021, then definitely last year - especially with the finish! I definitely agree with you that COTA is the premier NASCAR venue in Texas, and honestly, I think it should be the only one in the Lone Star State. NASCAR undoubtedly made a wise move adding COTA to the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series schedules.

[@waffle911]

The triple header weekend at COTA was the best NASCAR I've watched in a long, long time. I watched all three races.

[@mrdiamond365_]

I want the V8 Supercar layout (South with Sausage Kerbs). It provided good racing there, I feel the GP layout is too long

[@Anonymous..VQ3.5Lg35]

COTA changing Nascar racing!! I love it

[@wrestling1013]

I went to the race at cota and was able to be a VIP guest for Michael McDowells team. Nothing was better than watching a restart and watching 20+ cars ass pack into turn 1 and see the strategy of do you take it wide and get the better run out of 1 or do you send it and bump your way into turn 1.

[@DarthEvilicus]

I was at COTA this year for nascar and even though there weren’t stage yellows there were plenty of organic yellows to go around

[@babyeliascookie]

I’m going to COTA this weekend, and it’ll be the first ever NASCAR race i will attend in person. I have never been so hyped in my life!

[@Itbebobby]

As someone whose local track is Sonoma raceway which is literally less than an hour away from me. I LOVE Cota!!!

[@johnvandeventer8668]

It’s not every day that NASCAR races in an FIA Grade 1 track

[@jeremiahhardel2646]

nascar races on 2 grade 1 tracks

[@johnvandeventer8668]

@@jeremiahhardel2646 actually the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course that they race on, is an FIA Grade 2 track

[@stunsisacul]

I loved this race. I see the cars running the track and I imagine moonshiners going flat out on a backroad. It just feels like what NASCAR should be. Road cars going fast on a road.

[@SamnissArandeen]

It used to be a lot like exactly that, the road courses used to be far more plentiful until the Modern Era started.

[@kpegc]

This race seems like it will have everything a NASCAR fan could possibly want. No doubt, I will be watching come Sunday.

[@NR_88]

I’ll admit I was wrong about COTA. I wasn’t crazy on nascar going there when it was announced and I even said I think they’ll leave within 5 years (which sadly became road america’s fate). After a crazy finish last year and the caliber of drivers racing this weekend I think it’s safe it say it’s going to be a staple of the calendar.

[@WRA26]

I will be going to COTA this Saturday and I am looking forward to seeing the trucks and xfinity series

[@MayoFilms83]

So glad for north Wilkesboro is back but pricing for parking is insane prices

[@chrisguardiano6143]

As an Indycar fan in addition to NASCAR & F1, I find it shameful that Indycar has only raced at COTA once & that was in 2019. Thanks to TMS it is unlikely Indycar ever races there again which sucks because COTA is one of the premier road courses in this country & Indycar is missing out on having it be an event that every fan wants to go to each year much like what COTA has done for F1 & NASCAR.

[@hailstorm1986]

I can't wait to be able to go to a race at COTA one day. 🏁🏆

[@cito1101]

Remember how everyone complained about Chase Elliott winning the rain-shortened race because of standing water in areas, but everyone said NASCAR handed that win to Chase?? Looks like people got over that very quickly

[@StruggleGaming]

COTA is the magic of a Tier 1 FIA course, makes for excellent racing 9 times outta 10, and is a great complex for fans since the show of F1 is also fan focused.

[@augustusappling139]

they took some degrees out of 3 and 4 at texas motor speedway or am i thinking of another track?

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Yeah they did same with Kentucky.

[@zachstenzel8634]

Ever since seeing the WEC 6 hours of COTA, the last time they ran it, I have been wanting NASCAR to come to COTA

[@YankeesFan-yq1fc]

Hopefully we see real strategy racing at road courses this year with no stage yellows

[@wvusmc]

Love the road courses. Hope they add some tracks they never ran before in the future.

[@hallo_welt_ag]

You can even keep the stages, just remove the CAUTIONS!!!!! So the stages are a strategic Element. Do I stay out and take the points, or do I pit and set myself up for the next one?

[@Milton_Valenzuela]

COTA is a great racetrack. Tons of character with elevation changes, sweeping and angular corners aided with long braking zones Should also say the Cup race will feel like a normal NASCAR race again woo-hoo

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Nah this track is too slow to be a real race.

[@bipolarminddroppings]

COTA is a cracking track. One of my favourites on the F1 circuit. As someone who doesn't watch Nascar, and just thinks of it as oval racing, I always think the drivers must be confused on a real track. I know it's silly, but I just imagine them saying "you want me to turn right? Then left, then right? What is this witchcraft!"

[@Dirigo207]

Was skeptical of another road course coming on when they announced COTA. Since they’ve been going there, I’ve LOVED IT. And I have to agree the track is marshaling in a new era in Nascar much with very positive changes. Very happy it’s in the schedule though wish I was any good at racing road courses on NR2003 Season, can’t seem to turn a solid lap at this track 😂

[@nathanmiddaugh6986]

Both COTA and Indy road had a rough year one. But CoTA looks so promising. And with multiple world class drivers looking to race at COTA, it really is coming in to its own. Year three and things are looking so good. I wish we could say the same for Indy road. I sure hope they get it right this year or stop the painful train wreck that started in 2021 and continued in 2022.

[@TitanicRacing]

Thank you, The Iceberg, love Titanic Racing If we were in the same race we would not have a good time

[@pranc236]

The road courses are all i can watch of nascar and with COTA being a real f1 track, its the one i care about the most. Kimi for the win! Bwoahhh

[@dropbassnetwork]

you see...i love COTA! you could have also mentioned the F1 guys that are running the race helps brings eyes from that series to this one.

[@tsholts5173]

I was one of those that thought this wasn't gonna work since it was made for open wheel cars, particularly for F1. I'm glad to have been wrong on this one. I also always wondered they would put the windshield wipers on for road courses in the past , even though they weren't going to race in the rain

[@Tomsbananacakes]

Seems like NASCAR is finally listening to you about removing stage cautions! I'm so stoked for COTA, can't wait! ;)

[@punkskaterpizza]

So ultimately...what happens to texas motor speedway?

[@Beavs38]

I'm excited to see Jordan Taylor in a cup car.

[@CamohFN]

8:32 now bringing back that trauma was absolutely uncalled for

[@TheBigdutchster]

COTA is one of my favorite races of the season.

[@brandensimmons653]

Cota is one of my favorite races to watch also no stage racing with some former F1 champions in the mix it going to be unbelievable

[@garypacholek8070]

Best move ever getting rid of the stages. Now if nascar would just do that with all the tracks it would be perfect.

[@Jimmieadamsp]

Any chance to put another road course on the schedule is a positive.

[@TourdeLife]

Love COTA, hate NASCAR racing at COTA. The track makes NASCAR cars look slow and the opposite of agile, which they are compared to the cars the track was engineered for. Love F1 at COTA. I live in TX, and I've been to COTA in person. Also been to the majority of races at Texas Motor Crapway including that awful The Winston n/k/a All-Star. Leave COTA for F1, WEC, LMDH and similar exotically fast cars with exotically fast technology. I'm stoked to watch NASCAR at North Wilkesboro.

[@brandynhenry7107]

Nascar needs to do its own take on road courses designed or reconfigured to suit their strengths. Modified Watkins is the only one that does it really and it's the only good road course race with any consistency. Nascar looks like the Special Olympics trying to race tanks on texhnical tracks designed for feathers. Just because F1 races on a track doesn't mean it's the be all end all test of skill for any racing series No one seems to get it, everyone's in the camp of no road courses or delude themselves into thinking nascar running on tracks 30-45 seconds/lap slower than open wheel is interesting

[@nickklavdianos5136]

COTA has become one of the most iconic American circuits. The WEC raced there in the past, F1 and Moto GP race since year one and recently NASCAR and Indycar started. Brilliant race track with nice flow, a lot of overtaking opportunities, nice elevation change and wide enough so drivers can pick different lanes while racing.

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Not as iconic as Spa but whatever massages your emotions

[@javierpalomares1774]

​@@runrafarunthebestintheworld Spa is not in America dummy

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

@@javierpalomares1774 also no if he was talking about Iconic American circuits COTA isn't more iconic than Mid Ohio. Probably the most deluded racing comment ever.

[@nickklavdianos5136]

@@runrafarunthebestintheworld If we are talking most iconic American racetracks, you have Sebring, Indianapolis, Laguna Seca, Daytona, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio, Long Beach etc. What I did say was that COTA has become one of those iconic tracks because pretty much every single big racing series that visits the USA races on it. People who aren't American and watch international motorsports like Moto GP and F1 might not know Mid-Ohio or Road Atlanta, but they will know COTA.

[@callmen4]

​@@runrafarunthebestintheworld COTA is definitely more iconic than Mid Ohio coming from someone that lives in Ohio

[@javierpalomares1774]

I'm so happy there's no stage cautions!!!

[@FeistyFinagle]

I went in 2021, 2022, and I'll will be there again this weekend 👍

[@davisowen97]

I know there are also big names racing, but watch NASCAR finally get a positive tv ratings boost of 10%+

[@mmonkeyman1403]

I think the inclusion of COTA + the new generation of cars that can actually race on these tracks quite well are only a positive thing for the series. A great event would be Indycar and the Cup series on the track at teh same time, but I believe part of all this has meant that Indycar can't go to COTA anymore thanks to Mr Gossage.

[@felipesanchez1428]

Great Video, and you hit spot on. This is a beginning for nascar to bring back full green flag racing on superspeedways

[@SmokeAndKnifeBBQ72]

Should take all races and remove stage cautions. The only predetermined cautions should be when rain hits the track between qualifying/practice and the start of the race (competition yellow).

[@cpfdkolich]

I think COTA is amazing and I also think North Wilkesboro should get a points race and they should move throwback weekend to it

[@johnsluck.]

I personally don't like COTA I'm not a big fan of having a wide open road course. I love the finesse of road course racing but enjoy seeing drivers have to have a stellar race to have a good day. If you slip out of the racing line and go wide 50 feet you might lose positions but the room for error is more forgiving. I love the risk and it doesn't seem like a track made for risk+finesse. Watkins Glen is still my top track for road course racing. That is strictly my opinion. I only hope it rains a little there to make the racing a little more interesting, I personally think it is just a stagnant track for any series that goes there. It is my bottom F1 track of I were to place them in order

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

Yep people are way too emotional about this track. It's so slow an not much rhythm to it..

[@brandynhenry7107]

Nascars remaining fanboys grasp at anything and overhype it. You see that in any declining fanbase. COTA is pure ass for stock cars. Modified Watkins is the only road course that plays to nascars strengths. COTA is slow as hell and doesn't force confrontation and physicality, which is nascars strength by far as a racing series to make up for when it's not the fastest, like at short tracks or road courses

[@davidli3582]

NASCAR should do Las Vegas and Miami as well.

[@mikejozefowicz888]

More road courses!

[@rhatala27]

Can't wait to see Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button fighting it out here.

[@John-kx3ng]

Chevrolet announced earlier today that the Camaro will be discontinued early next year.

[@zaxgeraci1168]

Nascar doesn’t need to go to a bunch of road courses every year to bring a new audience or a rise in views. What they really need to do is change the way they broadcast the race, if you listen to the MRN , or the PRN broadcast on the radio, it’s so much more exciting. They should just replace the TV broadcast announcers with the Radio broadcast. I’m telling you that would make nascar more exciting for the fans. Those guys on the radio do a really good job announcing the races. Every turn sounds intense.

[@zaxgeraci1168]

@@johnhaas2523 I’m not mad about it I just think the TV booth makes the racing boring. The radio station announcers are so much better. Each turn is exiting to hear.

[@TanDawg58]

It'll be interesting to see how Button does. RWRs 15 is not a good car, but Joey Hand put in good runs last year in that car.

[@dannyblock5267]

I like it because COTA is my closet NASCAR racetrack on the schedule I live in Houston area and COTA is just about 200 miles from me and that's good.

[@ls_812]

Hey. A little constrictive criticism... Try working on not using "You see" so much. Good video. Good points.

[@connorbingel7134]

I wasn’t sold on COTA in until it became the second best RC on the schedule. The only one better is Watkins glen

[@benwalter4842]

An alternate title can be called “How COTA Has Fixed NASCAR”.

[@djnfbrhkelkondwvb6853]

COTA is and will always be best in F1 cars; but it’s a good track for most series to race on

[@WastelandWanderer1216]

Is it me or do I think NASCAR needs to work on the Road Course packages for the new cars? IMO the drivers had hell in the corners.

[@HelloMaam-kz9cu]

watching my all time favorite nascar driver go toe to toe with my all time favorite f1 driver is going to insane to see

[@martimxavier9690]

Kimi or Jenson?

[@sotelojoseph91]

I like it, the track is only 20 minutes away from my house

[@darkbreaker9767]

They should drop the other Texas race and give the date to New Hampshire. Yes, I live in NH, why do you ask

[@HEATER_]

I'm old school. Let's just keep Watkins Glenn and Sanoma (and no rain!). Keep Texas the way it is.

[@adysun]

Please, get rid of all stage cautions. Keep the stages. It'll make for amazing strategy calls

[@dageanhardy8929]

I'm not big on road courses but I do appreciate COTA. The Glen is the hands down best but COTA would be my 2nd. Indy road Course and the Roval should be removed from the schedule. Ill hold my opinion for the street race for now...