Following back-to-back short track races, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to the 1.5-mile quad oval this week for the AutoTrader Echo Park Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway (3:30 p.m. ET, FS1) .
2021 Texas champion Kyle Larson is the favorite (+400) to win at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Former Texas champions Tyler Reddick (+600), Denny Hamlin (+650) and William Byron (+700) are his biggest challengers.
At the first 1.5-mile track of the season, Larson and Reddick had a one-two finish.
Will we expect a similar result, or will we see a surprising candidate emerge in Texas?
Keep reading to find out how I’m betting on Sunday’s Cup Series race at Texas.
AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 Top Odds
| driver | winner | top 3 | top 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Larson | +350 | +105 | -190 |
| William Byron | +600 | +170 | -120 |
| Denny Hamlin | +700 | +210 | -105 |
| tyler reddick | +750 | +225 | +100 |
| ryan blaney | +1200 | +340 | +155 |
| christopher bell | +1200 | +350 | +155 |
| chase elliott | +1200 | +350 | +155 |
| bubba wallace | +1200 | +350 | +155 |
| martin truex jr. | +1300 | +380 | +165 |
| Kyle Busch | +1500 | +450 | +190 |
AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 Best Bets
Kyle Larson wins (+425, betmgm)
The road to victory lane at Texas Motor Speedway passes through Kyle Larson. The No. 5 car will aim for its second win of the season after winning Las Vegas in March.
This race is the only high-speed 1.5-mile race in 2024, so it’s the best comparison for Texas. Dating back to last season, Larson has ranked in the top three in speed in seven of the past eight 1.5-mile fast races.
Larson put on a clinic at the 2021 Texas race, leading 256 of the 334 laps en route to the victory. He had the car to win last season, led 99 laps and crashed in the last 20 laps while fighting for the lead.
I know the odds are low, but the odds could get even worse if he qualifies near the front. Get Larson when you can and expect a dominant performance.
William Byron Top 3 finish (+210, caesars)
William Byron earned his third win of the season for the series lead last week at Martinsville. Byron is in the running for the title and should do well in Texas.
Larson’s late-race wreck in last year’s race opened the door for Byron to take his first Texas win. In the previous two races, he led 55 and 42 laps respectively.
He ranks second in Texas in combined speed over the past two races and third in speed at the fast 1.5-mile track since early 2023. Had it not been for an accident early in the race, he probably would have been a top contender in Las Vegas. .
Byron is proving to be one of the best drivers in NASCAR. He should be back at the front and fighting for the win with Larson.
Tyler Reddick Top 5 Finish (+140, bet365)
Tyler Reddick has only started five games in the Cup Series at Texas, but he has shown speed from day one. Reddick finished second in his first start and won the 2022 race. Reddick led a race-high 70 laps to take the victory.
He was a top contender last year, leading 36 laps, but a late carnage ruined a strong finish. Overall, the 1.5 mile course was very friendly to Toyota drivers.
Redick won the playoff race at Kansas last year and nearly beat Larson in Las Vegas this year. It was clear that he was the only car with enough speed to challenge Larson.
That speed will carry over to Texas, where Redick should post a top-five finish.
Get an overview of the best US sports betting sites and apps
Kyle Busch Top 10 Finish (-110, betmgm)
Kyle Busch is the points leader after two draft tracks to start the season. After six races, he is at the playoff cut line in 15th place. While things continue to be tough for Bush, Texas presents an opportunity to bounce back.
Busch crashed in the last two races at Texas, but the speed numbers show he had a top-10 car. This matches his speed on 1.5-mile fast tracks since 2023.
Overall, he was the fifth best driver on this track type. He has recorded top-10 speeds in six consecutive races, including this year’s race in Las Vegas.
I doubt Busch will be competing for the win on Sunday, but he should have enough speed to finish in the top 10.
