NASCAR

NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix: Qualifying, Tyler Reddick’s Pole Position, Lineup At COTA

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By
Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published01 Mar 2025

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cup tyler reddick pole at cota texas (1)

Co-owned by Michael Jordan, 23XI Racing jumped out Saturday to secure both spots of the front row as Tyler Reddick earned the pole position for Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, while teammate Bubba Wallace qualified second at Circuit of The Americas. 

Reddick turned a hot lap of 88.095 mph, edging the top-five efforts of Wallace (87.894 mph), Chase Elliott (87.842), Kyle Larson (87.645) and Daniel Suarez (87.732). Reddick will lead the field for a second time at COTA. 

With the course revised to a 2.40-mile oval, the drivers were granted two 29-minute practice sessions, paced by road-course ace Shane van Gisbergen (87.409), who will start P6. The drivers ran clean practice sessions. 

NASCAR Cup Series Drivers Face New COTA  

Saturday’s practice session could play a bigger role than usual. With Cup Series drivers facing a new-look 2.40-mile oval track. The Texas road course is more than a mile shorter after a section from Turn 7 through the Turn 11 hairpin was taken out. The event will feature 95 laps and increase race time by the grandstand and through the challenging Turn 1. 

Road course ace Shane van Gisbergen told NASCAR.com that he approved of the alterations. 

““I did like the long track, but I see why they shortened it,” he said. “More time past the stands and more action.”

Starting Lineup for NASCAR Cup Series’ EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix   

Here is a look at the lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series’ EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas:   

Starting Position, Driver, Car No. 

  • 1, Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota 
  • 2, Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota 
  • 3, Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet 
  • 4, Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet 
  • 5, Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet 
  • 6, Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Chevrolet 
  • 7, Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet 
  • 8, Kyle Busch, No. 8 Chevrolet 
  • 9, Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet 
  • 10, Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Ford 
  • 11, Denny Hamlin, No 11 Toyota 
  • 12, AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Chevrolet 
  • 13, Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Toyota 
  • 14, Connor Zilisch, No. 87 Chevrolet 
  • 15, William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet 
  • 16, Michael McDowell, No. 71 Chevrolet 
  • 17, Noah Gragson, No. 4 Ford 
  • 18, Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota 
  • 19, Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota  
  • 20, Zane Smith, No. 38 Ford 
  • 21, Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet 
  • 22, Ricky Stenshouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet 
  • 23, Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford 
  • 24, Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford 
  • 25, Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford 
  • 26, Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford 
  • 27, Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet 
  • 28, Ryan Preece, No. 60 Ford 
  • 29, Justin Haley, No. 7 Chevrolet 
  • 30, Cole Custer, No. 41 Ford 
  • 31, Riley Herbst, No. 35 Toyota 
  • 32, Erik Jones, No. 43 Toyota 
  • 33, John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Toyota 
  • 34, Ty Dillon, No. 10 Chevrolet 
  • 35, Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford 
  • 36, Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford 
  • 37, Cody Ware, No. 51 Ford