The NASCAR Cup Series completed its first road-course race of the 2026 season on Sunday with the DuraMax Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Tyler Reddick became the first driver in history to win the first three races of a year.

The 23XI Racing driver led 58 of the 95-lap race after starting from the pole and held off road-course ace Shane van Gisbergen in the closing laps. While Reddick’s performance stood out, the race produced mixed outcomes across the field.

Several drivers delivered strong recovery drives, while others left Austin facing early-season setbacks as the NASCAR standings take shape. Here are the five winners and losers from the DuraMax Texas GP at COTA.

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Winners and Losers in the NASCAR Cup Series race at COTA

Winner: Shane van Gisbergen – Trackhouse Racing No. 97

Shane van Gisbergen entered the weekend as the favorite, and he showed that pace again on Sunday. The New Zealander climbed from 13th and steadily worked his way toward the front during the long green-flag runs. He complained about balance issues early in the race but finished Stage 1 in second.

Although SVG dropped down during pit stop cycles in Stage 2, he eventually finished second behind Reddick. The runner-up result added 45 points and reinforced his reputation as the strongest road-course racer in NASCAR.

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Loser: Ross Chastain – Trackhouse Racing No. 1

Ross Chastain began the race with a strong strategy call that placed him in position to score stage points early. The No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet was competitive in the opening part of the race and won Stage 1, before pit cycles shuffled the running order.

However, the race unraveled late in the final stage when a wheel came off the No. 1 car in the closing laps. The issue dropped Chastain to the back of the field and turned what could have been a strong finish into a disappointing result.

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Winner: Ty Gibbs – Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54

Ty Gibbs delivered one of the most impressive drives of the afternoon in Austin. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver used a strategy to remain on track during the end of Stage 2, allowing him to claim the stage victory and collect valuable points.

After pitting during the stage break, Gibbs restarted deeper in the field but quickly charged back through the pack. Fresh tires helped him move forward during the final run, and he climbed from outside the top 15 to finish inside the top 5.

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Loser: Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports No. 5

Kyle Larson’s COTA NASCAR weekend was complicated even before the green flag. Abnormal engine data during pre-race checks forced the team to inspect the car further or keep their starting position. The team chose to stay on the grid and monitor the issue during the race.

The afternoon became more challenging when Larson encountered problems with his cooling and drink systems during the event. Those issues made the physical demands of the road course more difficult to manage. Despite the setbacks, Larson battled in traffic and finished inside the top 10 at P6.

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Loser: Connor Zilisch – Trackhouse Racing No. 88

Connor Zilisch entered the weekend with strong expectations after showing an impressive pace on road courses. The Trackhouse Racing driver demonstrated that speed again during the race, after starting 15th in the field.

Unfortunately, multiple incidents prevented the NASCAR rookie from converting that pace into a top finish. His last wreck happened while he was running in the top five, when contact on Lap 15 restart pushed him back in the running order. Zilisch still recovered to finish 14th.

The schedule moves to Phoenix next week, as the NASCAR Cup Series field hopes to blunt Tyler Reddick’s momentum.