The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Texas to take on the Texas Motor Speedway in the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400. This will be the first race of the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. This 400-mile race will take place for 267 laps around the 1.5-mile track in Fort Worth, Texas. The race is scheduled for Sunday, September 24th, at 3:30 PM ET on USA and PRN radio.
NASCAR Cup Series AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway Odds and Best Bets
Four Daytona 500 champions were eliminated from the NASCAR playoffs following last week’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway. This year’s Daytona winner, Ricky Stenhouse, along with 2021 Daytona 500 champion Michael McDowell, were sent packing from the playoffs. They were joined by defending and two-time series champion Joey Logano, and 2014 Cup champion Kevin Harvick was eliminated in his final Cup Series season.
This race is arguably the most important of the playoffs outside of the championship race in Phoenix. With the next two races of the Round of 12 being wild cards at Talladega and the Charlotte Roval, getting the win here at Texas and locking yourself into the Round of 8 could be pivotal in these drivers’ chances at a championship. Ross Chastain (-3), Brad Keselowski (-3), Ryan Blaney (-6), and Bubba Wallace (-14) all enter this round below the cut line with their work cut out for them.
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Kyle Larson +450
Denny Hamlin +450
William Byron +700
Tyler Reddick +800
Martin Truex Jr +800
Christopher Bell +1100
Ryan Blaney +1200
Kyle Busch +1200
Brad Keselowski +1400
Chris Buescher +1500
Chase Elliott +1600
Bubba Wallace +1800
Ross Chastain +2200
Ty Gibbs +2800
Kevin Harvick +2800
Joey Logano +3000
Alex Bowman +4500
Erik Jones +5500
Daniel Suarez +5500
Aric Almirola +10000
Ricky Stenhouse Jr +15000
Carson Hocevar +15000
Austin Dillion +15000
AJ Allmendinger +15000
Chase Briscoe +20000
Michael McDowell +25000
Ryan Preece +40000
Justin Haley +40000
Harrison Burton +40000
Austin Cindric +40000
Corey Lajoie +40000
Zane Smith +100000
Ty Dillion +100000
Todd Gilliland +100000
JJ Yeley +100000
BJ McLeod +100000
You know 😎 @dennyhamlin 8/1! ✅ The win streak continues
Winning car under 11.5 -120 ✅
Busch over Blaney -110 ✅
Close on a few other big ones but no cigar, next up @TXMotorSpeedway 🤠 https://t.co/s4DtPmc1ga— NASCAR Gambling Podcast (@NascarGambling) September 17, 2023
AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway Best Bets
Ty Gibbs Top 10 Finish (+150)
The rookie has had a very solid season in his Joe Gibbs Racing #54 car. Last week, Gibbs led the way for 102 laps in a very strong showing at the tough Bristol Motor Speedway. Gibbs would finish fifth on the day, his eighth top-10 run of the season.
Heading to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend, the Toyota’s have had the strongest cars on 1.5-mile tracks for the most part this season. Gibbs’ teammate Denny Hamlin dominated two weeks ago at Kansas Speedway before losing the race to fellow Toyota driver Tyler Reddick late in the race. Toyota should be strong this weekend and look for the young rising star to put up another strong run in Texas.
Bubba Wallace Top 10 Finish (+100) and Top 5 Finish (+300)
This week, we’re chasing Toyota’s top 10 finishes. At these prices, they are just too good to pass up on. Bubba Wallace survived the Round of 16 in his first trip to the NASCAR playoffs and is riding that momentum into Texas. Wallace has been extremely fast at comparable tracks this year.
Wallace finished fourth place at Las Vegas, Kansas (spring race), and Charlotte. Two weeks ago, at the fall Kansas race, Wallace finished second in stage one and was running second place when a tire issue forced him onto pit road. Barring an issue like that, Wallace should easily be a top 10 car and might have a chance at another fourth-place finish or maybe even better.
Bubba Wallace at high-speed 1.5’s this year …
Las Vegas = 4th
Kansas #1 = 4th
Charlotte = 4th
Kanas #2 = 32nd but 2nd in Stage #1 and running in 2nd when he had his problem.— Ryan (@ifantasyrace) September 19, 2023
Ty Gibbs Over Kevin Harvick (-110)
The rookie vs. the veteran. 27 years separate these two drivers, and in fact, Kevin Harvick was about to finish his second season in the Cup Series the year Ty Gibbs was born. The case for Ty Gibbs to finish in the top 10 above is the same case to be made here. Gibbs has looked the part, finishing consistently in the top 15 in seven of the last nine races.
For Harvick, in his final season, it hasn’t been all roses. The 2014 champion was eliminated from the playoffs last week after a bad run at Bristol. Over the last six races, Harvick has four finishes of 19th or worse. Ride the momentum of Gibbs and fade the fading Harvick.
Kyle Larson to Win (+450)
This may be the most important race of the playoffs for all these drivers, but even more so for Kyle Larson. Superspeedway racing is not Larson’s strong suit. The 2021 champion has one career top-five finish to his name. In four of the last six races at Talladega, Larson has finished 33rd or worse. While he won the 2021 race at the Roval, he also has two finishes of 25th or worse. So this team has Texas this weekend circled as a must-win.
Larson has been one of the fastest two cars the last three weeks in a row, winning at Darlington, finishing fourth at Kansas, and second last week at Bristol. He led 99 laps at that Kansas race and led 85 there in the spring before being passed on the last lap by Denny Hamlin and settling for second. Larson should again be one of the fastest cars this weekend and has the best chance to park it in victory lane.
Chase Elliott to win (+1600)
This is one to bet as early as you can in the week. Chase Elliott should never be sitting at the price of 16/1. It hasn’t been a season to remember for the 2020 champion and 2021 regular season champion. While he has yet to reach victory lane this season, this car and its driver can show up and win any week.
Elliott has finished top 10 in five of the last six races and led 47 laps at Kansas Speedway. Per Ifantasyrace.com, Elliott was the victim of a flat tire at Texas last year. He crashed while leading the race on lap 183, having led 44 laps, and Elliott had the best speed ranking. This bet offers value and a true shot to cash on Sunday.
