NASCAR's EchoPark Texas Grand Prix to return to Circuit of the Americas in March
After a May monsoon put a damper on NASCAR's first trip to Central Texas, the stock car circuit will give Austin a second chance next spring, looking for a little March Mayhem.
NASCAR released its 2022 schedule Wednesday with 39 Cup races, including a full weekend March 25-27 at Circuit of the Americas. The Toyota Tundra 225 truck race will be followed by the Xfinity Series Pit Boss 250 and lead into the EchoPark Automotive Texas Grand Prix.
Returning to Austin next year was no sure thing with a Gulf Coast disturbance drenching spirits in late May, leading to a rain-shortened, crash-filled race that frayed the nerves of drivers and teams. Not only that, but other tracks around the country are clamoring for a NASCAR visit.
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However, race organizers were impressed by the city, the internationally acclaimed road-course circuit and the estimated race-day crowd of 45,000-50,000 who braved the elements and a lingering pandemic. So they picked up a second-year renewal option with COTA.
"Our inaugural NASCAR-at-COTA weekend was truly an experience like no other," Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith said. "We're already planning so much more for fans next season — more fun, more access and more camping."
The camping spaces sold out, a first for Circuit of the Americas, and on-site parking was filled.
COTA Chairman Bobby Epstein could not be reached for comment. His facility is gearing up for a massive fall: MotoGP's Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas Oct. 1-3; Formula One's Aramco U.S. Grand Prix Oct. 22-24 and a Rolling Stones concert on Nov. 20.
More:Chase Elliott wins Circuit of the Americas' first NASCAR Cup Series race
Moving up the NASCAR COTA event two months does place it opposite the PGA Tour's Dell Technologies Match Play event that same week at Austin Country Club. However, it could help with the weather.
The average local rainfall in March is 2.2 inches, compared to 5 inches for May, according to the National Weather Service. The average high temperature in late March is mid-70s compared to 90 in late May.
The first Austin cup race drew 2.36 million viewers on Fox Sports 1, that day's highest cable number, but it's one of the smallest Cup audiences in 2021. It also was trounced by CBS' final day of the PGA Championship, which drew 6.58 million. NASCAR in Austin won't face that kind of challenge in '22 against the Dell Match Play tournament.
After the waterlogged Austin race, the SMI president told the American-Statesman he was encouraged in many ways.
"This checked all the boxes with our sponsors, TV partners and the race teams," Smith said. "People enjoyed Austin. The market and the region responded. The sports world was talking about NASCAR going to Austin. All things considered, it was an amazing turnout."
Many drivers brought their families for the Austin experience. They enjoyed that, just not the deluge.
More:As drivers head to COTA, will NASCAR sell to Austin's racing crowd?
"It's a neat place, and I hope it gets another chance," runner-up Kyle Larson said. "We can't race in that kind of weather, though. You could barely see out the windshield."
Tickets already are on sale, with weekend packages for adults starting at $79.
Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth will keep the All-Star race for a second year, on May 22. TMS will host a playoff race Sept. 25.
The NASCAR season will start with a new look, a winners-only exhibition Feb. 6 inside the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The Daytona 500 will be two weeks later.