O’Reilly Auto Parts Series At COTA: Full Entry List For The Focused Health 250

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series heads to Circuit of The Americas this weekend with a 40‑car field built for a road‑course shakeup. Saturday’s 3 p.m. ET start on The CW marks a sharp pivot from the drafting tracks that opened the season. COTA demands precision, patience, and the ability to manage a race that unfolds corner by corner instead of pack by pack.

Teams on this entry list that excelled in the opening rounds now face a completely different skill set, and the shift will expose who built a balanced program over the offseason. This is the first of four road‑course events on the 2026 schedule, with Watkins Glen, Naval Base Coronado, and Sonoma still ahead.

Each track presents its own challenges, but COTA’s combination of elevation changes, heavy braking zones, and long straightaways makes it the most complete test. For now, the focus is squarely on Austin, where early‑season momentum can either solidify or evaporate.

A Field Loaded With Road‑Course Talent

The entry list blends rising prospects, established veterans, international specialists, and strategic one‑off appearances from Cup‑level talent. JR Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing anchor the field with four cars each, while Richard Childress Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, and the Haas Factory Team add depth across the grid.

The variety of organizations represented ensures that the race won’t be dominated by a single approach or philosophy. International representation adds another layer. Baltazar Leguizamón of Arrecifes, Argentina, joins Barrett Cope Racing in the No. 30.

Alex Labbe returns in the No. 0 for SS GreenLight Racing, bringing years of road‑course experience from multiple disciplines. Their presence underscores how road‑course events continue to attract drivers from around the world, raising the overall level of competition.

Drivers To Watch

Connor Zilisch: No. 1, JR Motorsports

Connor Zilisch arrives on this O’Reilly Series entry list as one of the most naturally gifted young road racers in the field. At 19, he already carries the poise of a veteran, pairing raw speed with a calm approach that suits COTA’s long braking zones and technical sections.

His strength is adaptability. he learns quickly and rarely repeats mistakes. JR Motorsports has given him competitive equipment, and this weekend will show how he handles the pressure of being a clear threat this early in the season.

Shane van Gisbergen: No. 9, JR Motorsports

Shane Van Gisbergen returns to the site of his first NASCAR win, and few in the paddock understand COTA’s rhythm better. His car control, braking discipline, and ability to create passing opportunities where others see none make him a constant presence at the front.

He enters as the most polished road‑course racer in the field, and the track suits every part of his skill set. If the race becomes a battle of execution, he immediately becomes the benchmark.

Ross Chastain: No. 32, Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport

Ross Chastain arrives as an ineligible entry, but his presence changes the competitive landscape. He’s aggressive, decisive, and unafraid to take unconventional lines to make passes work. COTA rewards drivers who commit fully, and Chastain rarely does anything halfway.

His experience in Cup machinery gives him a strong reference point, and even without points on the line, he will influence the race’s tempo. Furthermore, he’s a driver everyone on the field should be fearful of come Saturday.

Brent Crews: No. 19, Joe Gibbs Racing

Brent Crews makes his O’Reilly Series debut at 17, taking advantage of updated eligibility rules that allow younger drivers to compete on road courses and short ovals. He’s composed beyond his age and has a strong karting and road‑racing foundation.

His challenge will be managing the race’s length and the intensity of restarts. With JGR equipment underneath him, this debut doubles as an early evaluation of how quickly he can adjust to the series’ demands.

Justin Allgaier: No. 7, JR Motorsports

Justin Allgaier brings years of road‑course experience to the entry list and a steady approach that pays off at COTA. He’s disciplined under braking and rarely overdrives the entry to corners. His strength lies in consistency.

Therefore, this proves he doesn’t need chaos to move forward. If the race stretches into a long green‑flag run, Allgaier becomes increasingly dangerous, especially in the middle stages when tire management becomes critical.

Sammy Smith: No. 8, JR Motorsports

Sammy Smith continues to grow as a road‑course racer. He’s aggressive in the right moments and patient when the track demands it. His challenge will be qualifying, starting mid‑pack at COTA, a track that can trap even the quickest cars. Smith has shown he can run with the leaders when he starts up front, and this weekend will test whether he can convert raw speed into sustained race pace.

Jesse Love: No. 2, Richard Childress Racing

Jesse Love’s road‑course craft has improved steadily, and COTA gives him a chance to show how far he’s come. He’s confident in heavy braking zones and comfortable managing wheel‑to‑wheel battles. His biggest hurdle is avoiding early‑race mistakes that can bury a strong car. RCR has invested heavily in its road‑course program, and Love’s performance will reflect how far that effort has progressed.

Parker Retzlaff: No. 99, Viking Motorsports

Retzlaff closes out the entry list but shouldn’t be overlooked. He’s shown flashes of speed on technical tracks and tends to improve as the race progresses. His focus will be on maximizing track position through strategy and staying clean in the opening laps. If the race becomes a battle of attrition, Retzlaff has the discipline to capitalize on it.

Baltazar Leguizamón: No. 30, Barrett Cope Racing

Baltazar Leguizamón brings international experience to Saturday’s entry list and a smooth driving style that fits COTA’s flow. He’s comfortable in multi‑class traffic and understands how to manage long runs. His challenge will be adapting to the weight and braking characteristics of a stock car. If he finds the balance early, he can outperform expectations.

Alex Labbe: No. 0, SS GreenLight Racing

Alex Labbe is one of the more underrated road‑course drivers in the field. He’s efficient, rarely makes unforced errors, and tends to outperform his equipment on tracks like this. His experience across multiple series provides him with a strong foundation for COTA’s technical demands. If the race becomes a strategy battle, Labbe will be in the conversation.

Why This Entry List Matters

This entry list brings together rising prospects, established veterans, international specialists, and Cup‑level talent, reshaping the competitive landscape. Road‑course events remove the usual advantages teams carry from week to week.

There is no superspeedway draft to lean on, no short‑track notebook to reference, and no margin for imprecision.COTA forces every organization to build a plan from scratch and rewards drivers who can adapt quickly to changing grip, braking demands, and race flow.

With powerhouse teams and smaller independents sharing the same 40‑car grid, the weekend becomes an early measure of depth, preparation, and execution across the entire series. It also highlights how the O’Reilly Series continues to attract diverse talent, raising the competitive bar across the board.

O’Reilly Auto Parts Series At Circuit Of The Americas

Focused Health 250: Full Entry List

1. Alex Labbe — No. 0 — SS GreenLight Racing
2. Sheldon Creed — No. 00 — Haas Factory Team
3. Connor Zilisch — No. 1 — JR Motorsports
4. Jesse Love — No. 2 — Richard Childress Racing
5. Ryan Ellis — No. 02 — Young’s Motorsports
6. Tyler Gonzalez — No. 5 — Hettinger Racing
7. Justin Allgaier — No. 7 — JR Motorsports
8. Josh Bilicki — No. 07 — SS‑GreenLight Racing
9. Sammy Smith — No. 8 — JR Motorsports
10. Shane van Gisbergen — No. 9 — JR Motorsports
11. Corey Day — No. 17 — Hendrick Motorsports
12. William Sawalich — No. 18 — Joe Gibbs Racing
13. Brent Crews— No. 19 — Joe Gibbs Racing
14. Brandon Jones — No. 20 — Joe Gibbs Racing
15. Austin Hill — No. 21 — Richard Childress Racing
16. Harrison Burton — No. 24 — Sam Hunt Racing
17. Nick Sanchez — No. 25 — AM Racing
18. Dean Thompson — No. 26 — Sam Hunt Racing
19. Jeb Burton — No. 27 — Jordan Anderson Racing
20. Kyle Sieg — No. 28 — RSS Racing
21. Baltazar Leguizamón — No. 30 — Barrett‑Cope Racing
22. Blaine Perkins — No. 31 — Jordan Anderson Racing
23. Ross Chastain — No. 32 — Jordan Anderson Racing
24. Austin J. Hill — No. 35 — Joey Gase Motorsports
25. Ryan Sieg — No. 39 — RSS Racing
26. Sam Mayer — No. 41 — Haas Factory Team
27. J.J. Yeley — No. 42 — Young’s Motorsports
28. Brennan Poole — No. 44 — Alpha Prime Racing
29. Lavar Scott — No. 45 — Alpha Prime Racing
30. Patrick Staropoli — No. 48 — Big Machine Racing
31. Preston Pardus — No. 50 — Pardus Racing Inc.
32. Jeremy Clements — No. 51 — Jeremy Clements Racing
33. Taylor Gray — No. 54 — Joe Gibbs Racing
34. Sage Karam — No. 55 — Joey Gase Motorsports
35. Austin Green — No. 87 — Peterson Racing Group
36. Rajah Caruth — No. 88 — JR Motorsports
37. Carson Kvapil — No. 91 — DGM Racing X JIM
38. Josh Williams — No. 92 — DGM Racing X JIM
39. Anthony Alfredo — No. 96 — Viking Motorsports
40. Parker Retzlaff — No. 99 — Viking Motorsports

What This Means

COTA is more than the first road‑course stop of the season. It’s a measuring stick. For Zilisch, Crews, and other young drivers, it’s a chance to establish themselves early. For veterans like Allgaier and Clements, it’s an opportunity to show their experience still carries weight. For Van Gisbergen, it’s familiar ground.

And for the series as a whole, the depth and diversity of this entry list reflect a growing emphasis on road‑course skill and international reach. Teams that excel here will carry confidence into the next phase of the schedule, while those who struggle may need to recalibrate quickly.

Looking Ahead

The road‑course stretch that begins in Austin will shape the early championship picture. Watkins Glen offers a faster, more flowing layout, while Naval Base Coronado introduces a temporary circuit with no historical data. Sonoma closes the sequence with a technical, tire‑sensitive challenge that rewards discipline.

Teams that excel at COTA will carry momentum into a demanding stretch of the schedule, and drivers who struggle here may find themselves playing catch‑up for weeks. The next month will reveal which organizations have built complete programs, not just superspeedway speed, and which drivers can adapt across multiple road‑course styles.

What’s Next

The 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series entry list for COTA is one of the strongest road‑course fields the series has assembled. The Zilisch‑van Gisbergen dynamic alone is worth watching, but the debut of Brent Crews, the wildcard presence of Ross Chastain, and a full 40‑car grid give this race the potential to shape the early-season narrative.

COTA will reward preparation and punish hesitation, and the opening laps will set the tone for the year. Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on The CW in Austin will show who’s ready for the long season ahead. So stay tuned.