Following back-to-back drafting tracks to start the season, NASCAR’s three national series are going road course racing for the first time in 2026.
This weekend sees the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts series at Circuit of the Americas, while the Craftsman Truck Series will race at St. Petersburg for the series’ debut street course race.
Here are the drivers racing at COTA and St. Pete this weekend.
Cup Series COTA Entry List
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to COTA for the first road course race of the 2026 season. Tyler Reddick, winner of the first two races this year, seeks an unprecedented third straight victory to kick off the year. Race coverage kicks off Sunday, March 1 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX with PRN carrying the radio broadcast.
There are thirty-seven drivers included on this weekend’s entry list, meaning every driver entered will race on Sunday.
The lone open entry for this weekend will be driven by defending NOAPS champion Jesse Love, driving the No. 33 Chevrolet, in a third entry for Richard Childress Racing.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series COTA Entry List
Forty drivers are entered this weekend at COTA, meaning two drivers will fail to qualify for this weekend’s race. Coverage of the Focused Health 250 can be found live on the CW at 3:00 p.m. ET, with radio coverage on the Performance Racing Network.
Here’s who’s racing this weekend at COTA.
Alex Labbe is entered this weekend in the No. 0 SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet, while Connor Zilisch will make his first start of the season in JR Motorsports’ No. 1.
Tyler Gonzales is behind the wheel of the No. 5 Ford for Hettinger Racing this weekend.
Making his first NOAPS start for JRM in the No. 9 Chevrolet is road course phenom Shane van Gisbergen.
Brent Crews will make his first start of the 2026 season, driving Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 19 Toyota Camry.
In the No. 30 Barrett-Cope Racing Chevrolet, making his first start of the season is Baltazar Leguizamon.
Driving Joey Gase Motorsports’ No. 35 entry this weekend is Austin J. Hill, with Sage Karam in the team’s No. 55 Toyota.
JJ Yeley will be behind the wheel of the Young’s Motorsports No. 42 this weekend.
Preston Pardus will compete in the Pardus racing, Inc. No. 50 Chevrolet.
Carson Kvapil will make his first of four scheduled starts in the No. 91 DGM Racing Chevrolet.
Craftsman Truck Series St. Petersburg Entry List
The Truck Series’ inaugural trip to St. Petersburg has 36 drivers entered, so all will qualify. The OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 is set to run on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 12 p.m. ET and airs on FOX and the NASCAR Racing Network.
Dario Franchitti will pilot the No. 1 for TRICON Garage, while Adam Andretti continues in the No. 5.
Carter Fartuch joins Team Reaume in the No. 2. Jackson Lee is in the No. 22 for the team.
The No. 4 of Niece Motorsports will be piloted by Ben Maier. Landen Lewis is in the No. 45.
Nos. 7 and 77 are listed as TBA, but Connor Mosack and James Hinchcliffe were previously announced to drive them this weekend.
Colin Braun steps in the No. 25 for Kaulig Racing.
Wesley Slimp hops in the No. 62 for Halmar Friesen Racing.
Derek White joins MBM Motorsports in the No. 76.
Freedom Racing Enterprises’ No. 76 will be driven by Nathan Nicholson.
