DuraMax Grand Prix Powered By RelaDyne At COTA: Full NASCAR Cup Series Starting Lineup 2026

Tyler Reddick already owns COTA’s Starting Lineup. That much is clear heading into Sunday’s DuraMax Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne at Circuit of The Americas. The 23XI Racing driver didn’t just show up in Austin and look fast. He flat‑out dominated qualifying, clocking a 97.760‑second lap to claim the Busch Light Pole Award and cement himself as the man to beat before the green flag even drops. This is not a fluke. This is a driver in the middle of something genuinely historic.

How Qualifying Played Out

Qualifying unfolded cleanly under dry conditions, and Reddick wasted no time establishing himself as the class of the field. His 97.760‑second lap was not only the fastest of the session. It was a statement. Ross Chastain slotted in alongside him with a 97.897‑second lap, setting up a front‑row battle between two drivers who have already won at COTA.

Chase Briscoe, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five, each within striking distance but still a step behind Reddick’s pace. The session produced no major incidents, but it did produce a clear hierarchy: Reddick at the top, and everyone else trying to close the gap.

How the Starting Lineup Was Set

With qualifying completed as scheduled, the grid reflects pure speed. Reddick’s pole marks his third at COTA in six NASCAR Cup Series events held on the 2.400‑mile layout. Half of all poles at this track now belong to him. Chastain’s front‑row start reinforces his own comfort here.

However, Briscoe, Blaney, and Elliott benefited from clean laps in a session where track evolution rewarded aggression. The rest of the field sorted itself out through standard two‑round qualifying, with no weather interruptions or metric adjustments. What you see on the grid is exactly what each team earned.

Driver Notes and Key Facts

Tyler Reddick: Starting 1st

Reddick enters Austin chasing history. No driver has ever opened a Cup season with three straight wins, and he arrives with two already in his pocket. He won at COTA in 2023 and now owns three poles here. When a driver wins from the pole at a track, he knows it well, and when he’s carrying this kind of momentum, the pressure on the field becomes enormous.

Ross Chastain: Starting 2nd

Ross Chastain won at COTA in 2022 and understands how to manage the long braking zones and rhythm sections. His 97.897‑second lap puts him exactly where he needs to be if he wants to disrupt Reddick’s streak.

Christopher Bell: Starting 8th

Christopher Bell won this race last year and tends to come alive late in road‑course events. Starting eighth is not ideal, but Bell has proven he can manage long green‑flag runs and execute under pressure.

Shane van Gisbergen: Starting 13th

Shane van Gisbergen brings something no one else in the field can match: a five‑race winning streak in NASCAR Cup Series road‑course events. Starting 13th at COTA is not a setback for him. It’s an opportunity. He knows how to work through a field, and the track position can swing wildly here.

Chase Elliott: Starting 5th

Chase Elliott remains one of the most consistent road‑course performers in the series. COTA suits his smooth, methodical style, and starting inside the top five gives him a clean runway to settle into rhythm early.

Kyle Larson: Starting 15th

Kyle Larson starting mid‑pack is never a reason to count him out. He is one of the most dangerous drivers on the track when it starts twisting. Expect him to be a factor long before the checkered flag.

Full Starting Lineup for the DuraMax Texas Grand Prix at COTA

1. Tyler Reddick — No. 45 — 23 XI Racing (97.760)
2. Ross Chastain — No. 1 — Trackhouse Racing (97.897)
3. Chase Briscoe — No. 19 — Joe Gibbs Racing (97.913)
4. Ryan Blaney— No. 12 — Team Penske (97.982)
5. Chase Elliott — No. 9 — Hendrick Motorsports (98.002)
6. Michael McDowell — No. 71 — Spire Motorsports (98.147)
7. AJ Allmendinger — No. 16 — Kaulig Racing (98.152)
8. Christopher Bell — No. 20 — Joe Gibbs Racing (98.204)
9. Ty Gibbs — No. 54 — Joe Gibbs Racing (98.259)
10. William Byron — No. 24 — Hendrick Motorsports (98.38)
11. Zane Smith — No. 38 — Front Row Motorsports (98.408)
12. Carson Hocevar — No. 77 — Spire Motorsports (98.463)
13. Shane van Gisbergen  — No. 97 — Trackhouse Racing (98.464)
14. Chris Buescher — No. 17 — RFK Racing (98.497)
15. Kyle Larson— No. 5 — Hendrick Motorsports (98.514)
16. Alex Bowman — No. 48 — Hendrick Motorsports (98.542)
17. Todd Gilliland — No. 34 — Front Row Motorsports (98.562)
18. Cole Custer — No. 41 — Haas Factory Team (98.602)
19. Denny Hamlin — No. 11 — Joe Gibbs Racing (98.617)
20. Joey Logano — No. 22 — Team Penske (98.675)
21. Ty Dillon— No. 10 — Kaulig Racing (98.772)
22. Josh Berry — No. 21 — Wood Brothers Racing (98.807)
23. Daniel Suárez — No. 7 — Spire Motorsports (98.836)
24. Bubba Wallace — No. 23 — 23XI Racing (98.838)
25. Connor Zilisch — No. 88 — Trackhouse Racing (98.895)
26. Brad Keselowski  — No. 6 — RFK Racing (98.917)
27. Jesse Love— No. 33 — Richard Childress Racing (98.996)
28. Austin Cindric — No. 2 — Team Penske (99.009)
29. Ryan Preece — No. 60 — RFK Racing (99.082)
30. Kyle Busch — No. 8 — Richard Childress Racing (99.160)
31. John Hunter Nemechek — No. 42 — Legacy Motor Club (99.274)
32. Riley Herbst — No. 35 — 23XI Racing (99.433)
33. Austin Dillon — No. 3 — Richard Childress Racing (99.757)
34. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.  — No. 47 — HYAK Motorsports (99.781)
35. Noah Gragson — No. 4 — Front Row Motorsports (99.858)
36. Erik Jones — No. 43 — Legacy Motor Club (99.942)
37. Cody Ware — No. 51 — Rick Ware Racing (100.064)

Who Looks Strongest Heading Into Race Day

Reddick is the obvious favorite. He has the speed, the momentum, and the track record. Chastain is the most natural challenger, given past success here. Elliott and Bell both have the skill sets to contend, and van Gisbergen’s road‑course dominance cannot be ignored even from 13th. Larson, Bowman, and McDowell are all capable of climbing through the field if the race turns into a strategy battle.

What COTA’s Layout Means for Sunday

COTA is a rhythm track. Long braking zones, elevation changes, and technical sequences reward precision over aggression. Track position matters, but it is not absolute. Drivers can gain and lose time quickly through the Esses and the stadium section. Tire wear is moderate, but braking stability and throttle control are critical. Mistakes in Turns 1, 11, and 20 can cost multiple positions instantly.

Championship Implications

If Tyler Reddick wins, he will become the first driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to open a season with three straight victories. That would shift the early championship conversation entirely in his direction and give 23XI Racing a cushion that could matter months from now.

For everyone else, urgency is real. You cannot let a driver build a three‑win lead through three races and expect to catch up. Points matter. Playoff positioning matters. Every decision on pit road matters. Road‑course specialists know this is one of their best chances to strike. Someone needs to stop Reddick before the season gets away from them.

What’s Next

The DuraMax Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne goes green at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday on FOX, with radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Tyler Reddick leads them to the line. He owns this track. He owns the momentum. He owns the conversation heading into race day. But that’s why they run the race. Thirty‑seven drivers will take the green flag in Austin. Only one leaves with the trophy. The starting lineup sets the stage the rest is up to Sunday.