NASCAR team decides not to compete at COTA
By Asher Fair
MBM Motorsports will not be competing in Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), despite having reportedly considered it.
The entry list for Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is officially set with 39 cars, including the regular 36 chartered entries and three non-chartered entries.
The three non-chartered entries for this 68-lap EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix around the 20-turn, 3.426-mile (5.514-kilometer) Austin, Texas road course include the No. 50 The Money Team Racing Chevrolet, the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet, and the No. 91 Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet.
Those three entries are set to be piloted by Conor Daly, Jimmie Johnson, and Kimi Raikkonen, respectively.
One team that had reportedly been considering running a non-chartered car in this race, MBM Motorsports, will not be doing so.
39 entries for Cup race at COTA. Possible 40th car if Carl Long opts to enter (he has been considering it, driver TBA). 15-Button, 78-Bilicki, 84-Johnson, 91 says TBA but will be Raikkonen. pic.twitter.com/Dc1mN3oEfX
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 20, 2023
Carl Long’s team has not competed in the NASCAR Cup Series since last year.
They attempted but failed to qualify for the 2022 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway with J.J. Yeley behind the wheel of the No. 55 Ford and Timmy Hill behind the wheel of the No. 66 Ford, but they returned later in the season.
They fielded the No. 66 Ford for Boris Said in the race at Circuit of the Americas, and he finished in 26th place. They later fielded the No. 55 Ford for Yeley in the April race at Talladega Superspeedway, and he finished in 25th. They haven’t competed since.
MBM Motorsports used to run full-time in the Cup Series, most recently in 2020 with Hill behind the wheel of the No. 66 Ford/Toyota, but they could never secure a charter. They began competing full-time again with Hill in 2021, but they had to reduce their commitment to a part-time schedule a few races into the season.
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The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix is set to be broadcast live from Circuit of the Americas on Fox beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET this Sunday, March 26. If you haven’t yet already done so, begin a free trial of FuboTV now!