NASCAR race at COTA: How to watch on TV and online, starting order and betting odds

NASCAR’s first road course race of the Cup Series season is Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on FOX. Top drivers return to Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, this year for the series’ second-ever run on the 20-turn circuit.

Chase Elliott, who’s currently in first in the points standings, won at COTA last year when the race was shortened to 14 laps due severe weather and rain. Sunday’s forecast looks brighter with sunny skies and a high near 87 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Elliott is the favorite to win at +350, per BetMGM odds. The sportsbook lists Elliott’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson next at +450, followed by No. 12 Ford driver Ryan Blaney at +800. Blaney qualified for the pole on Sunday with Daniel Suárez in the front row.

Cole Custer, Tyler Reddick, Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, Justin Haley and Austin Cindric will also start in the top 10 based on Saturday’s qualifying sessions.

Sunday’s race is 68 laps (231.88 miles) with stages ending on Laps 15, 30 and 68. Television coverage on FOX begins at 3 p.m.

How to watch NASCAR at COTA

• Race: EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
• Distance: 231.88 miles (68 laps) with stages ending on Laps 15, 30 and 68
• Where: Circuit of the Americas
• When: Sunday, March 20 at 3:30 p.m.
• TV: FOX at 3 p.m.
• Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
• Purse: $8,799,709
• 2021 Race Winner: Chase Elliott

NASCAR at COTA starting order

Alexandra Andrejev

The Charlotte Observer

NASCAR and Charlotte FC beat reporter Alex Andrejev joined The Observer in January 2020 following an internship at The Washington Post. She is a two-time APSE award winner for her NASCAR beat coverage and National Motorsports Press Association award winner. She is the host of McClatchy’s podcast “Payback” about women’s soccer. Support my work with a digital subscription