JR Motorsports is set to make a strong statement as the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series takes on the demanding Circuit of The Americas this Saturday in Austin, Texas. With multiple drivers ready for standout performances and the focus squarely on road course success, JR Motorsports at Circuit of The Americas promises high energy and intense competition during the Focused Health 250.
Connor Zilisch Primed for Season Debut with Fresh Partnership
Connor Zilisch will launch his 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series campaign at Circuit of The Americas, partnering for the first time with veteran crew chief Rodney Childers. Zilisch returns as the defending race winner, having clinched the COTA victory in 2025 with 26 laps led and by a margin of 1.639 seconds. His previous achievements at this venue include becoming the second-youngest driver to capture multiple wins in series history.
Beyond his COTA triumph, Zilisch dominated road course statistics last season, notching five wins and five pole positions, and finishing in the top five in all six road course events. Last year, he led the field in laps, miles, and points accumulated on road courses, collecting 10 season victories and eight poles overall. His efforts helped JR Motorsports celebrate its milestone 100th series win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July.
Fans can follow Zilisch’s perspective closely as his car will feature an on-board camera this weekend, courtesy of O’Reilly Auto Parts, enhancing the broadcast experience for those tuning in.
“I’m really looking forward to my first start this season in the Roto-Rooter Chevrolet with JR Motorsports. The race at Circuit of the Americas was such a huge one for us last year and I can’t wait to be back and work with Rodney Childers and the No. 1 team this weekend. COTA is a real cool track and now that NASCAR is racing the short course it gets pretty intense and chaotic. There’s not a lot of time to rest. You’re always in a corner and it’s also unique because of the track limits. You’re having to manage that at all times through the esses and everywhere. It takes an immense amount of focus to get around there and be consistent and not make mistakes that can end your day very quickly.”
—Connor Zilisch, Race Winner
Justin Allgaier’s Road Course Consistency Sets High Expectations
Justin Allgaier, a proven force for JR Motorsports, will compete at COTA for the sixth time, with his best finish at the venue being third place during the 2021 inaugural event. Over 62 career starts on road courses in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Allgaier has claimed three victories, 18 top-five, and 37 top-10 finishes.
Allgaier’s resume features two major road course wins in JR Motorsports Chevrolets, taking victories at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Road America in 2018. Last season, he posted his top finishes at Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen International, taking sixth at both events. His consistent results on road circuits position him as a significant contender this Saturday.
“Road-course racing is always such a unique challenge. No two road courses are the same, and COTA is definitely one of the more challenging road courses we race on. We’ve been hard at work getting this BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet ready to go for this weekend and I know that Andrew (Overstreet, crew chief) and all the guys on this team have a great plan in place for us. JRM has had an incredible record on road courses here lately and hopefully we can add to that again on Saturday.”
—Justin Allgaier, Driver
Sammy Smith Looks to Build on Road Course Momentum
Sammy Smith is set for his first road course appearance of the 2026 season after previous solid outings at Circuit of The Americas. In three prior NOAPS starts on the Texas road course, Smith’s best finish was fourth in 2023. Across 19 career road course starts in the series, the Pilot team driver has notched five top-five and nine top-10 results. Smith also secured third place at both Watkins Glen and the Charlotte Roval in 2025, underlining his emerging expertise on these technical layouts.
“I’m looking forward to COTA this weekend, after the last two plate races, it will be nice to be on a track where you have a bit more control over situations out there and have ways to keep your nose clean. Cory (Shea, crew chief) and this No. 8 Pilot team have brought solid cars to the track this season and made great calls each week. We’ve been working to improve on road courses and I know we can get Pilot into Victory Lane at the end of the 65 laps on Saturday.”
—Sammy Smith, Driver
Shane van Gisbergen Aims for Redemption and First COTA Triumph
Shane van Gisbergen returns to COTA for his second NOAPS start at the track and will debut the No. 9 SafetyCulture Chevrolet this season. His previous visit saw him in contention after starting in the first row and leading 20 laps, though a final-lap penalty set him back to 27th at the checkers.
Van Gisbergen’s 2025 season included a win at The Chicago Street Race, and closely contested battles with teammate Zilisch, such as their one-two finish at Sonoma Raceway. The New Zealand driver’s prowess extends beyond NOAPS, having swept both Cup and NOAPS poles and races at Chicago and earning five Cup Series victories entirely on road courses. This feat established him as the fastest driver since Dan Gurney in 1968 to achieve five Cup wins, along with a rookie record for most Cup Series victories in a single season.
“I’m stoked! COTA is not one of my strongest road courses, but I enjoy it. Turn One is crazy! It’s great to have SafetyCulture on board with me for both races this weekend. JRM always brings fast Chevrolets to the track, so I’m looking forward to hopping back in the No. 9 car and seeing what we can accomplish. Thanks to JR Motorsports, Trackhouse and Chevrolet for giving me the opportunity to run the O’Reilly Auto Parts race this weekend. Hopefully we can get a great result.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Rajah Caruth Enters COTA with Rising Confidence
Rajah Caruth heads into his first NASCAR O’Reilly Series start at Circuit of The Americas ranked second in the series points standings. He rides a wave of momentum following his first career stage win at Atlanta, and has experience at COTA from a Craftsman Truck Series race, in which he finished 11th. Moreover, in six career NCTS road course starts, Caruth’s best showing came with a fourth place at the Charlotte Roval in 2025, demonstrating his capabilities in adapting to challenging circuits.
“COTA is a different challenge compared to the superspeedways, but it’s one I’m excited for. I’ve been putting in a lot of work on the simulator and iRacing to sharpen my road-course approach, especially with braking zones and managing tire wear over the long run. We’re coming in with good momentum after Atlanta, and that gives our whole No. 88 HendrickCars.com team confidence. If we stay disciplined, execute our strategy, and keep the car clean, we can have a solid run this weekend.”
—Rajah Caruth, Driver
Overview of JR Motorsports History at Circuit of The Americas
JR Motorsports boasts a history of 23 starts at Circuit of The Americas within the NOAPS. Across these appearances on the Austin circuit, the team has gathered one victory, five top-five finishes, and 10 top-10s, with an average finish position of 15.3. This persistent improvement and competitive presence highlight the organization’s ongoing effort to master this technical track.
Meet-and-Greet Opportunities for Fans
Supporters attending the event will have a chance to meet JRM drivers Carson Kvapil, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith, and Rajah Caruth at the JR Motorsports/HMS WB + AB souvenir rig on Saturday, February 28 from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. Central Time. This autograph session offers fans direct interaction with their favorite drivers ahead of the main race.
Intensity Builds Ahead of the Focused Health 250
As the excitement peaks for the Focused Health 250 at Circuit of The Americas, JR Motorsports demonstrates readiness to contend for victory, anchoring their hopes on the collective strength and momentum of their versatile driver lineup. With experienced hands like Justin Allgaier and rising road course ace Connor Zilisch, as well as competitive partners like Shane van Gisbergen, Sammy Smith, and Rajah Caruth, the team’s prospects look promising for Saturday’s showdown on one of NASCAR’s most demanding stages. The ongoing energy and unwavering focus of drivers and crews alike mark JR Motorsports at Circuit of The Americas as an unmissable chapter in the series this weekend.
