'Want to see them trade some paint': NASCAR fans, drivers excited for modified COTA course

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As engines roared and cars rumbled around Circuit of the Americas for practice Friday, drivers got a chance to take on the modified track and fans got to see where cars could potentially trade some paint.

Unlike the four previous times NASCAR has raced at COTA, this year's track is shorter, going down from 3.41 miles to 2.3 miles. Rather than drive the full circuit like Formula 1 events, NASCAR cut out more than a mile, increasing the race from 68 laps to 100 so fans can see their favorite drivers attack the world-famous hill leading up to Turn No. 1 more.

Kyle Larson finished third last week in Atlanta, and said he appreciates the change.

"The track was so big and there weren't many fans on one half of the track, so when you eliminate that half of the track, it's better for the fans," Larson said. "They'll get to see us more often."

Based on simulations, lap times should go down by roughly 30 seconds with the new layout. Ross Chastain won the race at COTA in 2022 when the full circuit was utilized, but he's all for making the experience more fan-friendly. He'd also like to smash a watermelon to celebrate another win.

"It flows together nice, and (Turn) 12 (of the Full Course) will really change since we don’t have that long backstretch," he said. "Once I get to (Turn) 13, though, it’s all going to be the same. I’ll get my normal speed I was at last year. Gosh, this place is awesome."

Chastain finished second in qualifying for Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250, and he'll try for pole position for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix earlier in the day.

Fans who attended Friday's session already have a favorite spot to see potential wrecks and battles for positioning, and that's on Turn No. 6. Two new turns come into play with the shortened course, 6A and 6B that lead into the the track's typical Turn No. 12, and it could get dicey as drivers barrel through the section.

To superfan Rick Hovey, that's why he paid for the ticket.

"We all want to see them crash and go into stuff, you know, trade some paint, so that's where we're going to go," he said. "We're going to make a beeline over there because we heard from the people that work the track, and they said it's going to be a cluster."

Connor Zilisch won the pole for the Focused Health 250 with a lap time of 97.262 seconds, followed by Chastain and last year's EchoPark Automative Grand Prix winner, William Byron. The race will air on CW at 1:30 p.m. CT.