AUSTIN, TEXAS - MAY 22: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Mix Toyota, drives during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Texas Grand at Circuit of The Americas on May 22, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
COTA Practice Results: May 22, 2021 (NASCAR Cup Series)
Shane Walters
NASCAR practice results from Circuit of the Americas
Today, the NASCAR Cup Series takes on Circuit of the Americas. This practice session is their first laps on the 3.4-mile road course as NASCAR’s newest track.
View 2021 COTA practice results for the NASCAR Cup Series below.
This is the one and only practice session. It’s raining, hard. Drivers will be making laps in the wet, on a track they’ve never seen before.
Multiple teams are stuck in inspection. They’ll need to pass the inspection line in order to make it on the track. However, the line is so long that some of these drivers might not clear inspection before the session is over.
COTA Practice Report
Duration: 50 minutes
There’s a long line of cars itching to get out at the beginning of this session. Hamlin is the first car on track.
5 minutes in, Joey Logano locks up the front wheels into turn 11. He runs wide and uses all the runoff room.
41 minutes remain, Chase Elliott is running a wet racing line. He’s cutting across the traditionally line. He enters the turn late, cuts across the traditional lane for a late apex.
33 minutes remaining, Chase Elliott wheel hops and spins into turn 20.
30 minutes remain, the rain is intensifying. Austin Dillon goes for a spin.
COTA Practice Times – Halfway : 1. Kyle Larson (158.468); 2. Kyle Busch (158.639); 3. William Byron (159.693); 4. Michael McDowell (160.048); 5. Joey Logano (160.120); 6. Chase Elliott (160.361); 7. Ross Chastain (160.516); 8. Austin Cindric (160.887); 9. Chase Briscoe (161.029); 10. Cole Custer (161.442);
Only 30 cars have set a time so far. Near 10 cars remain stuck in the inspection line.
15 minutes remain, AJ Allmendinger is climbing into his car. He was the last car in the inspection line.
Daniel Suarez locks them up into turn one. He nearly clips the rear bumper of Davison in the process of getting to the runoff area.
5 minutes remain, William Byron jumps to the top of the board.
William Byron wins practice at COTA!
COTA Practice Results May 22, 2021 NASCAR Cup Series