The NASCAR Cup Series is gearing up for its first road course challenge of 2026, and all eyes are on one man: Shane van Gisbergen. But can anyone stop this driving phenomenon from dominating yet again?
Van Gisbergen, the reigning Rookie of the Year, stunned the racing world in 2025 by sweeping the wins in the final five road races, solidifying his place in NASCAR history. Now, as the series kicks off its road course campaign at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, the big question looms: Is anyone capable of halting his winning streak?
COTA holds a unique place in this narrative. It was the site of the first road race last season, but it's also the last road course where van Gisbergen failed to secure a win. In fact, he hasn't tasted victory at COTA in any of his NASCAR Cup Series starts, nor in his single NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series start at the track. But is this a mere blip on the radar, or could it be a chink in the armor of the road racing maestro?
Enter Tyler Reddick, the man on a mission. With a two-race win streak to kick off 2026, Reddick boasts the best career average finish at COTA, an impressive 4.6. He's consistently finished in the top-five, and his pole positions and wins at this track speak for themselves. Reddick is the man to watch on Sunday, ready to challenge van Gisbergen's throne.
But wait, there's more! Alex Bowman, the underrated road racer, could be a dark horse this weekend. With a career average finish of 5.2 at COTA, second only to Reddick, and a win at the 2024 Chicago Street Race, Bowman has the skills to upset the odds. And let's not forget his Hendrick Motorsports teammates, William Byron and Chase Elliott, who also have wins and strong average finishes at COTA.
Another name to watch is Ross Chastain, van Gisbergen's own Trackhouse Racing teammate. Chastain has a history of success at COTA and the third-best average finish at this track. Could this be the race where he outshines his teammate?
And then there's Connor Zilisch, the young gun. He dominated NASCAR's second-tier event at COTA last year, and while his Cup Series debut at the track ended in a crash, he showed early promise. Could this be the race where he truly arrives?
But here's the twist: Van Gisbergen has a habit of starting on pole and obliterating the competition by over 15 seconds on road courses. So, will this be a walk in the park for him, or will COTA provide the stage for an upset?
Find out on Sunday, March 1st, as the NASCAR Cup Series DuraMax Texas Grand Prix takes center stage at COTA. Tune in to FOX at 3:30 PM ET to catch all the action, with radio coverage on the Performance Racing Network (PRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Will van Gisbergen continue his road course dominance, or will a new 'king of the road' emerge? The debate is on!
