Three weeks into the NASCAR season, the annual EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas will be NASCAR's earliest road course ever.

AUSTIN, Texas — NASCAR is gearing up for an exciting weekend at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, moving away from its usual tight pack racing. The track has a new 2.4-mile layout with more turns, which means more chances for close racing and action.

The NASCAR Cup Series will make its fifth visit to the Circuit of The Americas this weekend, but the Austin, Texas, track will be significantly different this season. A new "National" course will be used for stock cars.

The new NASCAR layout at Circuit of The Americas will get its first test Friday as Xfinity cars hit the track for practice and qualifying. A new “National” course will be used for stock cars at the Austin,

NASCAR is gearing up for race weekend in Austin. The whole weekend will be jam-packed with fun leading up to the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix

Ryan Preece, driver of the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, drives last year during the NASCAR Cup Series EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas. Photo: Jonathan Bachman/