COTA Echopark Texas Grand Prix Fantasy NASCAR Confidence Rankings / Post Qualifying Predictions
On Sunday, NASCAR is racing at COTA for the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix. They say everything is bigger in Texas, but COTA is a little smaller in 2025 with the track now 2.4-miles in length. In past years, COTA was a 3.4-mile beast, which had it ranked as NASCAR’s biggest track. The smaller track length will increase the lap count to 95 laps, with the Stages being set for 20/45/95.
On Saturday, NASCAR held an extended practice, with each team getting two sets of 20-minutes to practice. Here’s a look at COTA Practice Notes, COTA Group Speed Rankings, COTA Practice Speeds and 10-Lap Averages and COTA 5 and 10 Lap Average Speed Cheat Sheet.
Here’s the COTA qualifying results/ starting lineup.
If you’re in a hurry, check out our COTA Quick Rankings!
COTA Full Field Fantasy Rankings
1) Shane van Gisbergen
Start 6th / Projected Finish Range 1-6 / Dominator Potential – Medium-High
COTA Outlook – Shane van Gisbergen is a super-elite road course racer and at COTA, look for him to be the driver to beat. SVG was fast in practice, and in Group A’s session #1 he had the best 5 and 10-lap average. SVG also seemed quite pleased with his car, so there’s no doubt he’ll be dangerous. Last year at COTA, SVG had a race to forget with multiple problems but don’t let that scare you away. In 2024, SVG was caught speeding on pit road on lap 26 while running in 9th and then later when he rebounded back up to 13th on lap 41, he lost first gear which ultimately doomed him to a 21st. In 2024 at road courses, SVG had some problems along the way but to end the year, he nearly won at Watkins Glen (2nd, best Speed Ranking) and then won the pole and finished 7th at the Charlotte Roval.
DraftKings $9,800/ FanDuel $14,000
2) Tyler Reddick
Start 1st / Projected Finish Range 1-6 / Dominator Potential – High
COTA Outlook – Tyler Reddick, the 2023 COTA winner will be tough to beat in the “Lone Star State”. Reddick’s an elite road course racer and his COTA track record has been impeccable. In the Next Gen at COTA, Reddick has a 3.7 average finish (2nd best), the best Driver Rating, the best Average Running Position (4.6) and the best Next Gen Speed Ranking. Last year, the #45 was stout and Reddick was a factor throughout en route to a 5th. In the race, Reddick had the 3rd best average running position (5.5), earned the 4th best Driver Rating and had the 4th best Total Speed Ranking. In 2023, Reddick had the field covered and easily raced his way to victory lane. In the race, Reddick earned the best Driver Rating, led the most laps (41) and had a 3.7 average running position. In terms of speed stats, Reddick ranked #1 for Total Speed Rankings, #1 for Green Flag Speed and then ranked 2nd for Speed Late In A Run. In the two races prior to that, Reddick had results of 5th and 9th.
DraftKings $9,900/ FanDuel $13,000
Further Recommended Reading = COTA Finish Projections, DraftKings COTA Scoring Projections, FanDuel COTA Scoring Projections
3) Chase Elliott
Start 3rd / Projected Finish Range 1-6 / Dominator Potential – Medium-High
COTA Outlook – 7-time road course winner, Chase Elliott will be tough to beat at COTA. Elliott won the inaugural race in the rain, and he’s looked strong over all three of his COTA races, despite having a misleading result last year with his combined average finish being 7th and his Next Gen Speed Ranking being 8th. Last year, Elliott finished 16th but you can get out an asterisk mark for that result. “Performance Wise”, I think Elliott was likely really a top five contender. In the race, Elliott started 9th but then on lap 39 when he was up to 6th, he was penalized for short cutting the track. Then later when he rebounded back up to 11th on lap 54, Elliott had a spin that dropped him back a few positions leading to his 16th. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Elliott ranked 10th. In 2022 when he next most recently raced, Elliott finished 4th and had the 7th best Total Speed Ranking. In 2021, Elliott came up clutch in the rain, racing his way to victory lane. Last year at road courses, Elliott had a solid season despite things not being smooth, ranking 6th in terms of Track Type Total Speed Rankings and having a 13.0 average finish. In practice #2, Elliott was happy with his car and ranked 2nd both 5 and 10-lap averages.
DraftKings $9,000/ FanDuel $10,500
