As the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series heads to Circuit of the Americas, Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) prepares its lineup of promising young drivers to capitalize on past achievements at this challenging road course. This Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR preview focuses on the team’s recent history at COTA and spotlights key drivers such as William Sawalich, Brent Crews, Brandon Jones, and Taylor Gray as they pursue success this weekend in Austin, Texas.
Strong Track Record for Joe Gibbs Racing at Circuit of the Americas
Since NASCAR’s inaugural race at Circuit of the Americas in 2021, where Kyle Busch secured a landmark victory for JGR, the team has demonstrated consistent competitiveness on the Texas road course. Over 18 total series starts at COTA, JGR has collected four top-fives, eight top-10s, two pole positions, and led 47 laps. Last season, Taylor Gray was the top JGR finisher at the event, crossing the line in seventh.
William Sawalich: Building Momentum on the Road Course
William Sawalich pilots the No. 18 SoundGear Toyota GR Supra after an impressive run on road circuits during the previous season. Sawalich finished inside the top-five in five of seven road course starts in 2025, including a ninth-place finish at COTA. His recent outing at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta saw him start fifth, lead laps, and run near the front most of the day before an accident relegated him to 23rd place with 22 laps remaining.
Sawalich’s partnership with veteran crew chief Jeff Meendering continues for his second year in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Meendering’s leadership is proven, having visited Victory Lane 10 times, most recently with Chandler Smith at Richmond in 2024, while his record includes 79 top-five results and 158 top-10s in the Xfinity Series.
SoundGear continues to support Sawalich’s campaign, known for its innovative hearing protection and enhancement technologies. The company, a subsidiary of Starkey based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is renowned for serving customers across diverse industries ranging from law enforcement and motorsports to hunting and concerts.
Brent Crews: Making His Series Debut at COTA
Brent Crews gets set for a milestone weekend, making his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut at COTA behind the wheel of the No. 19 Young Life Toyota GR Supra. New NASCAR eligibility rules allow the vibrant 17-year-old to compete on both road courses and tracks measuring 1.25 miles or less. Though it’s his first series appearance at COTA, Crews already has experience at the circuit, previously racing in a TA2 car, and tested the O’Reilly series car at Rockingham earlier in the year.
Now in his fifth year as a Toyota development driver, Crews has built a diverse resume across dirt tracks, ovals, and road courses. The North Carolina native holds multiple records for youngest titles, having secured the Trans-Am TA2 Series championship in 2023 and the World Series of Asphalt Super Late Model crown in 2024. He also notched three wins and the Rookie of the Year honor in the CARS Tour, and at just 13, became the youngest winner in the POWRi National Midget Series.
On road courses, Crews continues to impress with a standout effort in the 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, leading over 50 laps at the Charlotte Roval and finishing second after a late pit stop. He also excelled in part-time ARCA Menards Series action for Joe Gibbs Racing, leading at Watkins Glen from pole and pacing the field for most of the race before mechanical issues dropped him to ninth.
Guiding Crews on the No. 19 pit box is Seth Chavka, who is entering his third consecutive season in this role. Last year, Chavka helped the team reach victory lane three times with veteran Aric Almirola and captured the Xfinity Series Owners Championship using a roster of drivers throughout 2025.
Backing the No. 19 car, Young Life continues its global mission to reach adolescents, making an impact in all 50 states and over 100 countries by fostering friendships and providing support for youth from middle school through college.
Brandon Jones: Pursuing Breakthrough Results at COTA
Brandon Jones returns to COTA for his sixth career O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start, aiming to improve on his best finish of 11th achieved in 2023. In his previous five attempts, he has averaged a finish of 18.4. In last weekend’s Atlanta race at EchoPark Speedway, Jones delivered a resilient run: after starting 15th, he spent most of the event in the lead pack, placing 13th in the opening stage and then finishing fifth in stage two. Despite running inside the top five late in the race, he ultimately crossed the line in 10th.
Jones continues his partnership with crew chief Sam McAulay, embarking on their second year together. McAulay’s breakthrough 2025 campaign included two series wins, helping the team climb to sixth in the Owners’ Championship. McAulay’s career totals include 24 top-fives, 37 top-10s, and two victories, signaling a growing reputation among the series’ rising crew chiefs.
This season, Jones is again backed by longtime partners Menards and Fisher® Nuts. Menards, a key name in home improvement retail with over 300 locations across the nation, has worked with Jones since his series debut in 2015. Fisher® Nuts, part of John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc., is a century-old brand well-known for its variety of American-grown nuts for snacking and cooking.
Taylor Gray: Consistent Threat on Road Circuits
Taylor Gray enters the COTA event aiming to build on last year’s seventh-place finish, which marked the best result among JGR drivers in that outing. His earlier experience on road courses includes three starts in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at COTA, highlighted by a runner-up finish in 2024 after starting in the top three.
Most recently at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, Gray started from row two and ran inside the top five during the race’s initial stage. Despite being involved in a late multi-car accident with less than 40 laps remaining, he fought back to salvage a ninth-place finish.
Overseeing Gray’s program for the No. 54 Operation 300 Toyota GR Supra is Jason Ratcliff, the winningest crew chief in O’Reilly Auto Parts Series history with 58 victories. Ratcliff’s performance record at COTA includes three top-10s out of four attempts and a top-five, including the seventh-place showing with Gray a year ago.
A Look Ahead: JGR’s Ambitious Outlook for COTA Weekend
Joe Gibbs Racing arrives at Circuit of the Americas with a history of success at the venue and a garage full of energetic young drivers ready for a breakthrough. The team’s combination of rising talent and seasoned crew chiefs sets the stage for a competitive performance, aiming to build on past victories and recent improvements. As the COTA weekend approaches, the motorsports world will be watching to see if JGR’s youthful roster can deliver another memorable result in Texas, keeping momentum alive in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season.
