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What to know about NASCAR in Austin

Race car fans will have a chance to catch NASCAR in Austin this weekend. Why it matters: NASCAR, which came to the Circuit of the Americas in 2021, faces an uncertain future in Austin. Driving the news: The rental agreement between Speedway Motorsports and COTA is set to expire this year, but both parties are likely to talk this weekend, COTA chairman Bobby Epstein told The Athletic. "I think so, you have to ask them," Epstein told The Athletic when asked if he expected NASCAR back in 2026. "I think we all want to continue working together." How it works: Attendees can watch practice and qualifying rounds for the Xfinity Series race and the IMSA-sanctioned VP Racing SportsCar Challenge on Friday and Saturday. The IMSA challenge features two 45-minute races between prototype cars racing GT-style cars. Sunday is the main event, with a pre-race concert by Corey Kent at 12:45pm before the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix NASCAR Cup Series Race, which starts at 2:30pm. Zoom in: 37 drivers will face off in the Grand Prix, including 18-year-old Connor Zilisch from Trackhouse Racing who is making his Cup Series debut. The intrigue: There's a new track layout this year, which will shorten COTA's 3.41-mile circuit. The layout cuts turns 7 through 11, making the course 2.3 miles. The shortened track means more laps — nearly 100 — and more action for fans by eliminating long straightaways that can spread out the field. What to watch: The new course will be a key factor in whether Speedway Motorsports decides to renew their lease, Mike Burch, Speedway Motorsports chief operating officer, told The Athletic. "We'll take a look at ticket renewals, feedback from the fans who attended the race and the overall results before we talk with NASCAR about next year's schedule," Burch said. "One of the biggest factors will be how the drivers compete on the new National Course, a move we made to put more action and laps in front of the fans." 📍 If you go: Three-day packages start at $79 and are available online.