Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – COTA (2025)
COTA 2025 Top Ten Starters
- Tyler Reddick
- Bubba Wallace
- Chase Elliott
- Carson Hocevar
- Daniel Suarez
- Shane van Gisbergen
- Kyle Larson
- Kyle Busch
- Ross Chastain
- Todd Gilliland
COTA Pre-Race Notes
This was the first COTA race with the shortened track layout. New softer tires were used as well.
Connor Zilisch made his Cup debut.
Zane Smith started in the rear of the field.
Stage #1 Top Ten (Lap 20): 23,22,88,8,9,45,5,99,24,16
Stage #2 Top Ten (Lap 45): 60,12,71,8,88,16,24,23,20,99
COTA Race Notes
Tyler Reddick who started on the pole led the opening 8 laps.
Big: On lap 1 in turn 1, Chase Elliott who was running in 3rd was spun which dropped him to the back. Todd Gilliland was also impacted by this since Elliott spun right into his way. Gilliland started 10th. Elliott was spun by Chastain.
Big: Also on lap 1, Connor Zilisch had a flat tire, and Denny Hamlin had some fender body damage. Zilisch then came to pit road on lap 2.
Notable: On lap 4, Ty Dillon who was way back in the 30’s was spun by Austin Cindric. No caution came out. Dillon spun into Zane Smith’s way and the #38 had some contact. On the next lap, Dillon came to pit road.
Notable: On lap 5, Noah Gragson was shown to have spun. He was in 25th at the time.
Lap 5: 45,23,88,8,99,5,77,24,71,16 … 48,19,54,20,12,22,1,11,60,35 … 17,43,47,6,4,3,41,42,7,9 … 34,2,21,38,51,10,87
Big: On lap 5, Bubba Wallace who was in 2nd got a “Track limits” penalty. This dropped him back to 8th and was ultimately about a 6-second penalty.
On lap 9, Shane van Gisbergen got the lead. He then led the next 9-laps until he pitted before the Stage break.
Lap 10: 88,8,45,99,5,77,24,16,23,48 … 71,19,20,54,12,1,22,11,60,35 … 71,6,43,47,3,42,7,34,41,38 … 9,2,21,4,51,87,10
Lap 15: 88,8,45,99,5,24,77,16,48,19 … 23,71,20,54,1,12,22,17,60,11 … 35,6,3,42,34,38,9,7,41,43 … 47,4,2,21,51,87,10
On lap 17, there was a rush of cars ducking down pit before pit road closed for the Stage break.
Big: On lap 18, Michael McDowell got a pit penalty for his crew going over the wall too soon. Prior to pitting he was running in 12th. It dropped him to the back.
Drivers who didn’t pit before the Stage End: Wallace, Logano and Elliott.
Lap 20: 23,22,88,8,9,45,5,99,24,16 … 19,48,77,20,47,54,1,17,6,2 … 60,3,5,11,12,71,42,7,34,41 … 87,21,4,38,43,51,10
Stage #1 Top Ten (Lap 20): 23,22,88,8,9,45,5,99,24,16
Lap 25 (Stage #2 restart): 88,8,45,5,99,24,16,19,48,77 … 20,54,1,17,6,60,3,35,11,12 … 42,7,34,41,21,4,38,22,23,87 … 71,47,2,51,43,9,10
On lap 27, Kyle Busch passed SVG for the lead and then led the next 8 laps.
Lap 30: 8,88,45,24,16,99,19,5,20,48 … 17,77,60,1,54,6,11,35,12,7 … 42,3,87,22,41,4,71,23,34,38 … 47,2,21,51,43,9,10
Big: On lap 33 while running in 8th, Kyle Larson got a “Track Limits” penalty and had to do a stop and go penalty. After the penalty, Larson now found himself back in 16th.
Lap 35: 8,88,16,24,99,45,19,20,48,17 … 77,60,1,54,6,5,12,11,87,35 … 7,3,22,71,34,42,23,4,41,38 … 47,2,21,51,9,43,10
On lap 36, SVG re-took the lead, passing Kyle Busch.
On lap 36, Connor Zilisch was reported to be up 13 spots since the Stage #2 restart. He was up to 19th at the time. He was happy with his car. Bowyer said at the time, “Without a doubt, Zilisch has top ten speed.”
Lap 40: 88,8,16,24,99,19,20,45,48,17 … 77,60,1,87,12,6,54,5,11,7 … 35,3,71,22,34,23,4,41,42,38 … 47,2,21,9,51,10,43
Big: On lap 41, Denny Hamlin who was in 19th got a “Track Limits” penalty.
On lap 42, a round of green flag pit stops before the Stage end started.
Notable: On lap 43, John H Nemechek got a commitment cone violation coming to pit road. He was running back in the high 20’s.
Big: On lap 43 during his pit stop, Kyle Larson’s team had some sort of tire issue which resulted in a slow pit stop.
Big: On lap 44, Kyle Larson lost a wheel following pit green flag pit stop.
Notable drivers who didn’t pit before the end of Stage #2: Preece, Blaney, McDowell, Wallace and Hamlin.
Lap 45: 60,12,71,8,88,16,23,24,11,20 … 99,34,41,19,9,45,35,17,48,47 … 77,1,87,6,7,3,51,54,10,22 … 42,4,2,21,38,43,5
Stage #2 Top Ten (Lap 45): 60,12,71,8,88,16,24,23,20,99
Lap 49 (Before the restart for the final Stage): 71,8,88,16,24,20,99,19,45,17 … 48,77,1,87,6,7,3,54,22,4 … 2,21,38,60,12,23,11,41,9,35 … 47,51,10,34,43,42,5
