NASCAR DuraMax Texas Grand Prix Predictions, Odds & Race Preview — COTA

Key Highlights

• Christopher Bell, who is the last driver to win three straight races at any point of a NASCAR season, rounded out the podium with a third-pace finish. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDuraMax Texas Grand Prix expert picks and predictionsOdds listed below courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook as of 2-28. DuraMax Texas Grand Prix pre-qualifying favoritesShane Van Gisbergen (+120)Implied odds: 45.5%Shane Van Gisbergen won five of the six road races the Cup Series held last year, with COTA being the exception.
• But it's not like he was disgraced here in 2025, as he finished sixth and led 23 laps. The odds are low, but they might be even lower following qualifying — SVG has an average start position of 3.8 over 12 road/street starts. Connor Zilisch (+350)Implied odds: 22.2%Connor Zilisch's Cup Series debut couldn't have gone much worse, as he limped to a 37th-place finish at COTA last year.
• However, Zilisch has demonstrated road-course prowess in the O'Reilly Series, winning at COTA as well as Watkins Glen (twice), Portland, Sonoma, and the Charlotte Roval over the last two seasons. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDuraMax Texas Grand Prix sleepersChristopher Bell (+900)Implied odds: 10%Christopher Bell is the most likely candidate to beat SVG in my eyes, and makes a great deal of sense as a Top 3 bet at +265. Bell has a win and a second in consecutive appearances at COTA, and has six Top 5s in his last seven road/street course starts. Chase Briscoe (+2000)Implied odds: 4.8%While Chase Briscoe has yet to win on a road/street course at the Cup level, he hasn't had many opportunities in the top-notch Joe Gibbs Racing equipment he has now. Briscoe saw noticeable improvement in his road course efforts last season, leading laps at three separate ovals and scoring three Top 10s, including a second at Sonoma. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt's hard to bet against SVG, but you don't have to if you take Briscoe to score a Top 5 (+260) or Top 10 (-105). DuraMax Texas Grand Prix fadesRyan Blaney (+4500)Implied odds: 2.2%Ryan Blaney is 1-for-42 lifetime on road/street courses, with the victory coming way back in 2018.
• He has just one Top 5 in his last 30 starts over such tracks. Denny Hamlin (+6000)Implied odds: 1.6%The price is this big on the best driver to never win a title for a reason.
• Denny Hamlin has only two Top 10s in his last 22 road/street races. COTA track analysisThe Circuit of the Americas, located in Austin, TX, is a 3.426-mile, 20-turn road course known for a 133-foot elevation change.