The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs continue this weekend with the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Drivers must run 334 laps on the 1.5-mile oval circuit to complete the 501-mile distance.
The latest race of the NASCAR schedule kicks off the semifinal round of the playoffs. If one of the eight drivers in contention wins on Sunday, they are guaranteed a spot in the Championship 4 in November at Phoenix Raceway.
AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive General Information
The event is set to take place on Sunday, September 25, at 3:30 pm Eastern time. 2022 marks the first time in history that non-playoff drivers have won the first three races.
Last week, Chris Buescher capitalized on Christopher Bell’s final pit stop to take the lead and finish ahead of Chase Elliott for the win. It was his second career victory, with his last win coming in 2016 at Pocono.
It also broke the 222-race winless streak for team RFK. Buescher also became the 19th different driver to win this season in a NASCAR Cup event.
AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 Betting Picks and Analysis
Kyle Larson
When considering the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 prediction, Larson is currently fourth in the playoff standings after finishing fifth last week at Bristol.
He also has four top-four finishes on intermediate circuits and has finished in the top eight in his previous seven races.
Larson dominated this event last year, leading for 256 laps after securing the pole position. The defending NASCAR Cup Series champion won the all-star race and this event last year at Texas Motor Speedway and is the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 prediction to win this Sunday.
Denny Hamlin
The most recent AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 prediction has Hamlin as one of the favorites this week. He has 48 career wins and is a three-time winner at Texas. Hamlin has also performed well during the playoffs while finishing eighth last week at Bristol.
He was the spring race winner in 2019 and was runner-up in last year’s all-star race, which are his only two top-five finishes in his previous nine starts on this track.
2010 Standings
His best finish in 17 seasons was runner-up to Jimmy Johnson in the 2010 standings. However, NASCAR odds have him as one of the favorites this weekend to get his first win since taking the checkered at Charlotte in May.
Chase Elliott
Chase Elliott is currently first in the NASCAR Cup playoffs and a possibility in the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 prediction. He leads all drivers with four wins in 2022.
He had a few disappointing finishes at Texas but has been more consistent lately and finished second last week at Bristol. Elliot hasn’t placed higher than 21st in five of his last nine races at this track.
Elliott Bad Performance at Bristol
This hasn’t historically been a great circuit for Elliott. Still, he has performed well lately on intermediate tracks after winning on a 1.5-mile oval in Atlanta and as a runner-up last week.
The latest AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 prediction has Elliott as one of the top NASCAR picks to take the checkered flag on Sunday.
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 Betting Trends
- The winner of the playoff race in Texas has gone on to win the Cup Series championship four times, the last being Kyle Larson in 2021.
- A non-playoff driver has won four times at Texas Motor Speedway, with Kyle Busch the last to accomplish the feat in 2020.
- Five of the previous eight winners in the first stage finished in the top 3 in this event.
- Hendrick Motorsports has the most team wins at the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 with six.
- Chevrolet has the most manufacturer wins at the Texas event with eight.
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 Betting Picks and Prediction
There have been five different winners in the last five points races at Texas. This year’s playoffs had victories by drivers who shouldn’t be winning at this stage of the season, especially last week when longshot Chris Buescher took the win at Bristol.
NASCAR Betting Picks for this Race
This race has the potential to be won by another non-playoff driver, but NASCAR odds have Larson with the best chance in this year’s field.
He’s the latest winner of this event during his championship season last year, and his strong performance shows that he has the potential to get win on Sunday.
In making an AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 prediction, he’s set up to clinch one of the eight available spots for the next round of the Cup Championship.
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 Pick: Kyle Larson (+700)
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