The best way to watch Sunday’s Cup race at COTA Austin: Get started time, TV data and climate

The NASCAR Cup Sequence will dangle its 5th race on the Circuit of The Americas however its first on a shorter format Sunday.The 20-turn, 2.4-mile configuration (referred to as the “Nationwide” route) can be a couple of mile shorter, and lap instances will have to be more or less a minute quicker. That still manner an building up to 95 laps, up from 68 in final yr’s distance at the longer format utilized by the Method One sequence.Because the 3rd race of the 2025 season, that is the earliest date for COTA at the Cup time table since becoming a member of the circuit in 2021.The Cup winner at COTA has began at the entrance row of the previous two COTA races, together with William Byron from the pole place final yr.Connor Zilisch, 18, is slated to make his Cup Sequence debut in Trackhouse Racing’s No. 87 Chevrolet with team leader Darian Grubb.The 2025 scheduled began with lead adjustments at the ultimate lap at Daytona and Atlanta, the primary time a winner has gained with a last-lap go within the first two races of a Cup season.Main points for Sunday’s Cup race at Circuit of The Americas(All instances Jap)START: Actor Jack Quaid is scheduled to offer the command to begin engines at 3:38 p.m. … The fairway flag is scheduled to wave at 3:49 p.m.PRERACE: The Cup storage opens at 12:30 p.m. … The drivers assembly will start at 2:40 p.m. … Motive force introductions can be at 3:05 p.m. … Riley Gaines, 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer, will give the invocation at 3:30 p.m. … Officer Rebecca Vermeulen of the San Antonio Police Division will carry out the anthem at 3:31 p.m.DISTANCE: The race is 95 laps (228 miles) on a 20-turn, 2.4-mile highway route.STAGES: Degree 1 ends at Lap 20. Degree 2 ends at Lap 45.ENTRY LIST: Click on right here for the 37 vehicles enteredTV/RADIO: Fox will start its race broadcast at 3:30 p.m. Efficiency Racing Community and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio can have radio protection.FORECAST: Climate Underground — Partially cloudy skies with a prime of 80 levels and a fifteen% likelihood of rain initially of the Cup race.LAST YEAR: William Byron held off a past due price by means of Christopher Bell for his first victory on the Circuit of The Americas and his 2d win of the season.