The final race of the Round of 16 ended in Denny Hamlin's favor last week in Bristol and now, we look ahead to Sunday's Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 down in Texas as the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs continue. Hamlin, a three-time winner in this event, is a co-favorite with Kyle Larson at +475 odds. Others who are expected to make some noise at the Texas Motor Speedway include Tyler Reddick (+700), William Byron (+750), Martin Truex Jr (+850), and Christopher Bell (+900). This is the first race in the Round of 12 and it's now officially determined that the 2023 winner will not be Joey Logano. He was eliminated last week, ending his pursuit of back-to-back titles. Keep reading for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 picks.
Before we get into the preview, odds, and predictions for this race, check out our how-to bet on NASCAR page.
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 Odds
| Driver |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denny Hamlin | +475 | +600 | +500 |
| Kyle Larson | +475 | +600 | +500 |
| Tyler Reddick | +700 | +750 | +700 |
| William Byron | +750 | +800 | +700 |
| Martin Truex Jr | +850 | +900 | +900 |
| Christopher Bell | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| Kyle Busch | +1200 | +1200 | +1600 |
| Ryan Blaney | +1200 | +1200 | +1000 |
| Brad Keselowski | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Chris Buescher | +1400 | +1600 | +1400 |
This event takes place at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. It debuted in 2005. Stage 1 has 80 laps, stage 2 85, and the final stage has 102 laps. There are 267 laps in total for 400 miles. Ex-Cup Series star Jimmie Johnson has the most wins here with five. Kevin Harvick's two titles are the best among all drivers in the current Cup Series. Chevrolet seems to be the GOAT manufacturer in Texas as well, notching nine victories.
Race Preview
Denny Hamlin (+475)
Hamlin is a deserving favorite Sunday. Three wins at Texas is certainly impressive, but overall, his form in Fort Worth isn't that consistent. He's finished top-five here in his last 10 appearances at Texas outside of the three victories. On a more positive note, Hamlin is coming off a win and was runner-up in Kansas. Perhaps his terrific string of results can continue on Sunday. I guess we will see.
Kyle Larson (+475)
Larson has been a favorite for countless different races this season. That's exactly why you see him so high up in the sportsbooks for Sunday's race. He's also flourishing in the playoffs, winning Darlington, finishing fourth at Kansas, and placing as a runner-up at Bristol behind Hamlin last Saturday. Larson won the Texas race in the 2021 playoffs, too. The confidence is very high for the veteran right now and I think he has a solid chance of winning the first race in the Round of 12. In some capacity, betting on Larson is a good idea.
Tyler Reddick (+700)
As previously mentioned Reddick was the 2022 Texas winner, but it's a mixed bag for him here with 35th, ninth, and second as well. Reddick seems to be in form at the moment though, finishing top-10 in four of his last six races. That includes a win at Kansas, runner-up at Darlington, and fourth at Indianapolis. When it comes to intermediate tracks in 23', Reddick is thriving as well. He's one to keep an eye on come Sunday in Fort Worth.
William Byron (+750)
Byron showed promise in the first three races of the playoffs, finishing fourth at Darlington and ninth at Bristol. He was really good for most of the season and actually sits in first in the postseason standings tied with Hamlin. Overall, Byron has 15 top-10s, five top-fives, and five wins. He's led for a Cup Series-best 877 laps.
Martin Truex Jr (+850)
It would be foolish to not discuss Truex Jr. That being said, he's historically poor at Texas. In 33 races at Fort Worth, he's never won. Plus, Truex Jr. is struggling immensely as of late. His last four finishes are: 19th, 36th, 18th, and 24th. That doesn't exactly scream success, does it? He also hasn't finished better than 25th in three of his last four appearances in Texas. I think Truex Jr. is one to fade.
Christopher Bell (+900)
Bell has been driving well lately. He was third at Bristol and eighth at Kansas. Overall, Bell has four top-10 finishes in his previous six. And while he did finish third twice since 2020 at Texas Motor Speedway, Bell isn't great on intermediate tracks in 2023. Another fade here.
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 picks
As always, bet on a couple of different drivers here. Honestly, betting on Chevrolet as the winning manufacturer is a must considering their track record in Texas. That leaves Chastain, Byron, Larson, or Busch as the potential winners. Next, we'll go with the favorite in Larson to win the race. Expect him to keep it rolling as the playoffs proceed.
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