The first road course race of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season provided plenty of skill, excitement and some drama. The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix Race at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) also provided three firsts in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The race appeared to start with all the teams and drivers working on getting their cars handling the way they wanted them. The first two stages of the race had no cautions for incidents on the track. The only yellow flags waived to end those two stages.
Daniel Suarez started the race strong by leading all the laps in the first stage to score the win. The second stage was dominated by Austin Cindric. However, due to a complete race strategy it was Denny Hamlin remaining on track when others pitted that won stage two.
There were seven cautions that took place in the third and final stage. Most of the stage it was Ross Chastain and AJ Allmendinger battling at the front of the field. When the final caution took place it sent the race to a NASCAR Overtime of a green-white-checkered finish.
The battle through the final lap was reminiscent of a short track race with beating, banging and bumping. AJ Allmendinger bumped Ross Chastain to gain the lead. Alex Bowman was in position to challenge for the win from third place as Allmendinger and Chastain battled. Chastain then bumped Allmendinger sending him into Bowman to race back to the lead. Chastain held that lead to claim his first ever NASCAR Cup Series win. The win was also the first in the Cup Series for new team Trackhouse Racing and his crew chief Phil Surgen.
Alex Bowman was able to hold on to finish in second-place. Christopher Bell claimed third with Chase Elliott in fourth. Tyler Reddick rounded out the top five. See the complete race results for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix Race here.
This marks the sixth different winner in six races in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season. It is also the sixth winner under the age of 30 this year.
Chase Elliott leaves COTA as the Cup Series Point Standings leader. Ryan Blaney sits in second-place with Joey Logano in third-place. Rounding out the top five are Alex Bowman (fourth) and Ross Chastain (fifth). See the complete NASCAR Cup Series Point Standings here.
The NASCAR Cup Series is going short trackin’ next in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway Sunday, April 3rd.
By: Buck Stevens
