Throughout his career, Red McCombs had a talent for seeing opportunity where others saw risk. In 2010, that instinct helped bring an ambitious idea to life: creating Circuit of The America and bringing Formula 1 racing to Texas.
The vision originated with Austin native, race promoter and former driver Tavo Hellmund, who had spent years working to bring Formula 1 back to the United States. But transforming that vision into reality required significant private capital, business expertise, relationships and investors willing to embrace a project without precedent in the United States.
That’s where Red McCombs and McCombs Enterprises entered the picture.
In July 2010, McCombs was announced as a primary investor behind the proposed Formula 1 United States Grand Prix project. Beyond financial resources, McCombs brought decades of business experience, relationships and credibility to help move the ambitious project forward.
It was a characteristically bold investment. Formula 1 had struggled to establish a lasting home in the United States, and many investors and lenders viewed the project as simply too risky.
But McCombs saw something bigger than a racetrack.
Having previously owned the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Vikings, he understood the power of major sports to attract attention, generate economic activity and elevate communities on the national—and international—stage. Circuit of The Americas offered an opportunity to do that for Texas on a global scale.
McCombs helped provide the financial backing and business credibility necessary to bring the vision to life.
The result was Circuit of The Americas the first purpose-built Formula 1 racing facility in the United States. The track opened outside Austin in 2012, welcoming Formula 1 back to America with the inaugural United States Grand Prix that November.
Today, COTA has grown far beyond its original role as a Formula 1 venue. It hosts international motorsports, major concerts and entertainment events, drawing visitors from across the country and around the world. It has also played an important role in Formula 1’s dramatic growth in the United States.
Red’s contribution is permanently recognized at one of COTA’s most distinctive landmarks. In 2020, the circuit renamed its dramatic first turn “BIG RED” in his honor—a fitting tribute to a man known for thinking big and making bold bets on Texas.
For McCombs Enterprises, COTA reflects an approach that has defined the organization for generations: think big, embrace opportunity, invest for the long term, and help create projects that make Texas stronger.