The second segment of the NASCAR playoffs officially begins on Sunday, September 25th, with the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Last weekend's race at Bristol saw Chris Buescher capture a surprise victory, just beating Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott.
He actually became the 19th driver to win a Cup Series race this season. That hasn't been done since 2001. Heading into Sunday, it's the usual suspects leading the way in the sportsbooks. Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson are all at +650, while regular-season winner Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney sit at +900 odds. Continue reading for the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 picks.
Before we get into the preview, odds, and predictions, make sure to check out our how to bet on NASCAR page.
AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 Odds
 | Odds |
|---|---|
| Christopher Bell | +650 |
| Denny Hamlin | +650 |
| Kyle Larson | +650 |
| Chase Elliott | +900 |
| Ryan Blaney | +900 |
| Kyle Busch | +1000 |
| Ross Chastain | +1100 |
| William Byron | +1200 |
| Martin Truex Jr | +1400 |
| Tyler Reddick | +1400 |
| Alex Bowman | +1600 |
| Bubba Wallace | +2000 |
| Joey Logano | +2000 |
| Kevin Harvick | +2000 |
| Daniel Suarez | +2500 |
What You Need to Know
This is a 1.5-mile track with a 105-105-124 stage lap setup. The race is supposed to get started at 3:30 PM ET and can be seen on the USA Network. Kyle Larson (+650) is the reigning champion from 2021 and Kevin Harvick actually won three years in a row from 2017-2019. Both drivers are ones to watch on Sunday.
Betting Preview for NASCAR Playoffs at Texas
Christopher Bell is at +650 for a reason here. He finished in fourth last weekend at Bristol and is the only driver left in the playoffs to secure a top-five finish in all three races so far. Also, intermediate tracks tend to be his forte, finishing in the top eight in five of his last seven tries. At this rate, it's only a matter of time until Bell comes through with a victory. It could very well be in Texas, where he's finished top-three in his previous two starts on the track.
How can we ignore the champion? Larson is also trending in the right direction, finishing in eighth at Kansas and then fifth in Bristol. Not only did he win in Texas last season in this exact race, but he also won the All-Star race. Although Larson isn't dominating at the same level as 2021, he's still someone who cannot be overlooked in the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 picks.
Chase Elliott got off to a slow start in the playoffs, but he bounced back with authority in Bristol and proved why he won the Cup Series in the regular season. However, there are a couple of reasons Elliott may not be in the mix in Texas. He finished in 12th and 20th in 2020 and seventh last year. Also, intermediate tracks aren't exactly his strong suit, finishing outside of the top-20 in three of his last six races. Perhaps Elliott can turn the tables here, but all signs point to the exact opposite.
Although Hamlin finished as runner-up in the All-Star race at the Texas Speedway last season, he hasn't typically done that well here. He's only got two top-five finishes in the last nine on this track, finishing way out of the mix in his other appearances. Hamlin was runner-up in both Darlington and Kansas to begin the playoffs but finished in ninth at Bristol. Given his lack of success in Fort Worth, he's probably not worth putting any money on in the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 picks.
Ryan Blaney could be an intriguing option. He won the All-Star race in the spring after leading for 84 laps and owns six top-10 finishes in his last eight appearances here. That being said, Blaney has yet to win a race in 2022. Maybe this will be his time to come through with a big performance. He'll certainly have confidence on this speedway after previous outings here.
Final Picks
There are a few valuable bets for Sunday's race. First, we're going to go with Christopher Bell for the win. As previously mentioned, he's peaking at the perfect time and drives extremely well at Fort Worth. Next, Elliott for a top-five finish is 100% worth it. He continues to improve and although he doesn't do all that well in Texas, I have a feeling that will change. Lastly, I like Blaney for a top-three finish, too.
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