The 2026 Focused Health 250 was a NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Contested over 65 laps on the 2.400-mile-long asphalt road course, it was the third race of the 2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season, and the fifth running of the event.

Shane van Gisbergen, driving for JR Motorsports, continued to show road course dominance with a blistering performance, leading a race-high 31 laps and surviving a chaotic late restart to earn his fifth career NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series win, and his first of the season.[10] Austin Hill finished second, and Sammy Smith finished third. Jesse Love and Corey Day rounded out the top five, while Brent Crews (in his series debut), William Sawalich, Justin Allgaier, Ross Chastain, and Brennan Poole rounded out the top ten.

Report

Background

Aerial view of Circuit of the Americas, the track where the race will be held.

Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is a grade 1 FIA-specification motorsports facility located within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Austin, Texas. It features a 3.426-mile (5.514 km) road racing circuit. The facility is home to the Formula One United States Grand Prix, and the Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas, a round of the FIM Road Racing World Championship. It previously hosted the Supercars Championship, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the IMSA SportsCar Championship, and IndyCar Series.

On November 20, 2024, it was announced that the race would move to the 2.400 mi (3.862 km) layout.[11]

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
# Driver Team Make
00Sheldon CreedHaas Factory TeamChevrolet
0Alex LabbéSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet
1Connor Zilisch (i)JR MotorsportsChevrolet
02Ryan EllisYoung's MotorsportsChevrolet
2Jesse LoveRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
5Tyler GonzalezHettinger RacingFord
07Josh BilickiSS-Green Light RacingChevrolet
7Justin AllgaierJR MotorsportsChevrolet
8Sammy SmithJR MotorsportsChevrolet
9 Shane van Gisbergen (i) JR Motorsports Chevrolet
17Corey DayHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
18William SawalichJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
19Brent Crews (R)Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Brandon JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Austin HillRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
24Harrison BurtonSam Hunt RacingToyota
25Nick SanchezAM RacingFord
26Dean ThompsonSam Hunt RacingToyota
27Jeb BurtonJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet
28Kyle SiegRSS RacingChevrolet
30Baltazar LeguizamónBarrett–Cope RacingChevrolet
31Blaine PerkinsJordan Anderson RacingChevrolet
32Ross Chastain (i)Jordan Anderson RacingChevrolet
35Austin J. HillJoey Gase MotorsportsChevrolet
39Ryan SiegRSS RacingChevrolet
41Sam MayerHaas Factory TeamChevrolet
42J. J. YeleyYoung's MotorsportsChevrolet
44Brennan PooleAlpha Prime RacingChevrolet
45Lavar Scott (R)Alpha Prime RacingChevrolet
48Patrick Staropoli (R)Big Machine RacingChevrolet
50Preston PardusPardus RacingChevrolet
51Jeremy ClementsJeremy Clements RacingChevrolet
54Taylor GrayJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
55Sage KaramJoey Gase MotorsportsToyota
87Austin GreenPeterson RacingChevrolet
88Rajah CaruthJR MotorsportsChevrolet
91Carson KvapilDGM RacingChevrolet
92Josh WilliamsDGM RacingChevrolet
96Anthony AlfredoViking MotorsportsChevrolet
99Parker RetzlaffViking MotorsportsChevrolet
Official entry list

Practice

The first and only practice session was held on Friday, February 27, at 4:00 PM CST, and lasted for 50 minutes.[12]

Sam Mayer, driving for Haas Factory Team, set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:38.706 seconds, and a speed of 87.533 miles per hour (140.871 km/h).[13]

Practice results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 41 Sam Mayer Haas Factory Team Chevrolet 1:38.706 87.533
2 00 Sheldon Creed Haas Factory Team Chevrolet 1:38.809 87.441
3 87 Austin Green Peterson Racing Chevrolet 1:38.834 87.419
Full practice results

Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, February 27, at 5:05 PM CST.[12] Since Circuit of the Americas is a road course, the qualifying procedure used was a two-group system with one round. Drivers were separated into two groups, A and B. Each driver had multiple laps to set a time. Whoever set the fastest time between both groups won the pole.[14]

Under a 2021 rule change, the timing line in road course qualifying is "not" the start-finish line. Instead, the timing line for qualifying was set at the exit of Istanbul 8. Connor Zilisch, driving for JR Motorsports, qualified on pole position with a lap of 1:37.740 seconds, and a speed of 88.398 miles per hour (142.263 km/h).[15]

Two drivers failed to qualify: Josh Williams and Tyler Gonzalez.

Qualifying results

Pos. # Driver Team Make Time Speed
1 1 Connor Zilisch (i) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 1:37.740 88.398
2 9 Shane van Gisbergen (i) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 1:37.949 88.209
3 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:38.359 87.841
4 20 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:38.448 87.762
5 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 1:38.562 87.661
6 91 Carson Kvapil DGM Racing Chevrolet 1:38.572 87.652
7 19 Brent Crews (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:38.670 87.565
8 41 Sam Mayer Haas Factory Team Chevrolet 1:38.717 87.523
9 00 Sheldon Creed Haas Factory Team Chevrolet 1:38.786 87.462
10 8 Sammy Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet 1:38.863 87.394
11 2 Jesse Love Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 1:38.887 87.372
12 17 Corey Day Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1:38.900 87.361
13 87 Austin Green Peterson Racing Chevrolet 1:38.903 87.358
14 54 Taylor Gray Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:39.021 87.254
15 18 William Sawalich Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1:39.393 86.928
16 96 Anthony Alfredo Viking Motorsports Chevrolet 1:39.429 86.896
17 50 Preston Pardus Pardus Racing Chevrolet 1:39.483 86.849
18 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Chevrolet 1:39.542 86.798
19 88 Rajah Caruth JR Motorsports Chevrolet 1:39.544 86.796
20 25 Nick Sanchez AM Racing Ford 1:39.546 86.794
21 32 Ross Chastain (i) Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 1:39.586 86.759
22 55 Sage Karam Joey Gase Motorsports Toyota 1:39.947 86.446
23 24 Harrison Burton Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 1:40.024 86.379
24 31 Blaine Perkins Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 1:40.140 86.279
25 07 Josh Bilicki SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 1:40.145 86.275
26 44 Brennan Poole Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 1:40.190 86.236
27 26 Dean Thompson Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 1:40.241 86.192
28 0 Alex Labbé SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 1:40.243 86.191
29 99 Parker Retzlaff Viking Motorsports Chevrolet 1:40.431 86.029
30 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 1:40.462 86.003
31 45 Lavar Scott (R) Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 1:40.484 85.984
32 48 Patrick Staropoli (R) Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 1:40.702 85.798
Qualified by owner's points
33 02 Ryan Ellis Young's Motorsports Chevrolet 1:40.755 85.753
34 27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 1:41.010 85.536
35 28 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Chevrolet 1:41.176 85.396
36 42 J. J. Yeley Young's Motorsports Chevrolet 1:41.821 84.855
37 30 Baltazar Leguizamón Barrett–Cope Racing Chevrolet 1:42.536 84.263
38 35 Austin J. Hill Joey Gase Motorsports Chevrolet — —
Failed to qualify
39 92 Josh Williams DGM Racing Chevrolet 1:40.787 85.725
40 5 Tyler Gonzalez Hettinger Racing Ford 1:42.020 84.689
Official qualifying results
Official starting lineup

Race

Race results

Stage results

Stage One Laps: 20

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 10
2 41 Sam Mayer Haas Factory Team Chevrolet 9
3 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 8
4 20 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7
5 2 Jesse Love Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 6
6 91 Carson Kvapil DGM Racing Chevrolet 5
7 17 Corey Day Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 4
8 87 Austin Green Peterson Racing Chevrolet 3
9 88 Rajah Caruth (R) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 2
10 9 Shane van Gisbergen (i) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 0

Stage Two Laps: 20

Pos. # Driver Team Make Pts
1 41 Sam Mayer Haas Factory Team Chevrolet 10
2 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 9
3 91 Carson Kvapil DGM Racing Chevrolet 8
4 2 Jesse Love Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 7
5 9 Shane van Gisbergen (i) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 0
6 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 5
7 8 Sammy Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet 4
8 20 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 3
9 32 Ross Chastain (i) Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 0
10 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Chevrolet 1

Final Stage results

Stage Three Laps: 25

Fin St # Driver Team Make Laps Led Status Pts
1 2 9 Shane van Gisbergen (i) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 65 31 Running 0
2 3 21 Austin Hill Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 65 4 Running 50
3 10 8 Sammy Smith JR Motorsports Chevrolet 65 0 Running 38
4 11 2 Jesse Love Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 65 0 Running 46
5 12 17 Corey Day Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 65 0 Running 36
6 7 19 Brent Crews (R) Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 65 5 Running 31
7 15 18 William Sawalich Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 65 0 Running 30
8 5 7 Justin Allgaier JR Motorsports Chevrolet 65 1 Running 46
9 21 32 Ross Chastain (i) Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 65 0 Running 0
10 26 44 Brennan Poole Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 65 0 Running 27
11 9 00 Sheldon Creed Haas Factory Team Chevrolet 65 0 Running 26
12 14 54 Taylor Gray Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 65 0 Running 25
13 28 0 Alex Labbé SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 65 0 Running 24
14 8 41 Sam Mayer Haas Factory Team Chevrolet 65 8 Running 42
15 4 20 Brandon Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 65 0 Running 32
16 18 39 Ryan Sieg RSS Racing Chevrolet 65 0 Running 22
17 24 31 Blaine Perkins Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 65 0 Running 20
18 34 27 Jeb Burton Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet 65 0 Running 19
19 6 91 Carson Kvapil DGM Racing Chevrolet 65 2 Running 31
20 32 48 Patrick Staropoli (R) Big Machine Racing Chevrolet 65 0 Running 17
21 1 1 Connor Zilisch (i) JR Motorsports Chevrolet 65 13 Running 0
22 31 45 Lavar Scott (R) Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet 65 0 Running 15
23 16 96 Anthony Alfredo Viking Motorsports Chevrolet 65 0 Running 14
24 35 28 Kyle Sieg RSS Racing Chevrolet 65 0 Running 13
25 20 25 Nick Sanchez AM Racing Ford 65 1 Running 12
26 27 26 Dean Thompson Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 65 0 Running 11
27 17 50 Preston Pardus Pardus Racing Chevrolet 65 0 Running 10
28 36 42 J. J. Yeley[N 1] Young's Motorsports Chevrolet 65 0 Running 9
29 23 24 Harrison Burton Sam Hunt Racing Toyota 65 0 Running 8
30 29 99 Parker Retzlaff Viking Motorsports Chevrolet 65 0 Running 7
31 19 88 Rajah Caruth JR Motorsports Chevrolet 65 0 Running 8
32 30 51 Jeremy Clements Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet 65 0 Running 5
33 13 87 Austin Green Peterson Racing Chevrolet 65 0 Running 7
34 33 02 Ryan Ellis Young's Motorsports Chevrolet 64 0 Running 3
35 22 55 Sage Karam Joey Gase Motorsports Toyota 53 0 Suspension 2
36 25 07 Josh Bilicki SS-Green Light Racing Chevrolet 35 0 Suspension 1
37 37 30 Baltazar Leguizamón Barrett–Cope Racing Chevrolet 33 0 Accident 1
38 38 35 Austin J. Hill Joey Gase Motorsports Chevrolet 7 0 Suspension 1
Official race results

Notes

  1. ↑ J. J. Yeley suffered an illness during the race and was relieved by Brad Perez after the second stage. Since Yeley started the race, he is officially credited with a 28th place finish.

Race statistics

  • Lead changes: 16 among 8 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 4 for 12 laps
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 12 minutes and 56 seconds
  • Average speed: 70.411 miles per hour (113.316 km/h)

Standings after the race

References

  1. ↑ "2026 schedule". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Circuit of the Americas". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  3. ↑ "NASCAR releases 2026 schedule, adding Chicagoland and shifting All-Star to Dover". NASCAR. August 20, 2025. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Entry list" (PDF). Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 27, 2026. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Practice Results" (PDF). Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 27, 2026. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Qualifying Results" (PDF). Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 27, 2026. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Starting Lineup" (PDF). Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 27, 2026. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Race Results" (PDF). Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 28, 2026. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 28, 2026. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Shane van Gisbergen escapes late-race chaos to win O'Reilly race at COTA". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 28, 2026. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Circuit of the Americas to change course layout for Cup and Xfinity races". Jayski.com. November 20, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  12. 1 2 "2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Circuit of The Americas Race Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  13. ↑ Srigley, Joseph (February 27, 2026). "NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Focused Health 250 Practice Results at COTA". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  14. ↑ "2026 NASCAR Qualifying Procedures". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  15. ↑ Srigley, Joseph (February 27, 2026). "Zilisch, SVG Claim Front Row for O'Reilly Race at COTA". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Focused_Health_250_(COTA)