Circuit of the Americas, a 3.426 mi (5.514 km) road course, opened in 2012. Major events held there include Formula One's United States Grand Prix and MotoGP's Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas. Fans called for the track to be added to the NASCAR calendar. A primary obstacle was the need for other speedways to give up their races, which were protected by sanctioning contracts. Texas Motor Speedway, an oval track located in Fort Worth, regularly hosted two Cup Series races. Texas Motor Speedway was a large opponent, maintaining an agreement with NASCAR that prevented the sanctioning body from adding races in the region. TMS president Eddie Gossage clashed with COTA and F1 in 2014 and 2018 when the latter scheduled the USGP for the same weekend as NASCAR's November races at Texas.
In 2017, COTA president Bobby Epstein stated he had been in contact with NASCAR officials. Gossage rebutted this news. Although NASCAR did not race at the track in the 2010s, demonstrations involving NASCAR drivers took place. In 2013, Kurt Busch participated in a seat swap with Supercar champion James Courtney to promote the V8 Supercars' Austin 400. Six years later, Tony Stewart drove a two-seat version of his Stewart–Haas Racing Ford Mustang around the circuit with Haas F1 Team drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen riding. Stewart compared COTA to NASCAR road course Watkins Glen International.
On September 30, 2020, NASCAR revealed the 2021 Cup Series schedule with a COTA race planned for May 23. The Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series, along with the International Motor Sports Association's Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America sports car series, joined the weekend as support races. The Truck race was part of the Triple Truck Challenge. The race replaced the spring event at Texas, which became the NASCAR All-Star Race. Speedway Motorsports, which operates TMS, assumed organizational responsibilities of the COTA race. Bryan Hammond was named race executive director in November.
NASCAR announced on December 11 that the weekend's races would utilize the full, 3.426 mi (5.514 km) course. Safety changes to the track included placing tire barriers, extending the pit wall, adding caution lights, and installing curbs and rumble strips. On February 25, 2021, Speedway Motorsports announced EchoPark Automotive would assume naming rights for the race, branding it the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix. Chase Elliott won the inaugural EchoPark Texas Grand Prix. The race was shortened to 54 laps due to heavy rain. This gave Hendrick Motorsports their 268th win, tying Petty Enterprises, and Chevrolet their 800th victory in NASCAR. On November 20, 2024, it was announced that both the Cup and Xfinity Series races would move to the 2.400 mi (3.862 km) layout starting in 2025. On January 8, 2026, DuraMAX was announced as the title sponsor for the race.
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