William Byron clinched a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs Round of 8 by winning at Texas Motor Speedwayon Sunday afternoon.
Byron made a bold move off of a restart with six laps to go, going to the bottom of the track — making it three wide in the process — and clearing both leader Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain. He did not look back. The win gave car owner Rick Hendrick his 300th in the highest level of NASCAR.
Byron's Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson appeared poised to win, leading by over four seconds, until a caution came out for J.J. Yeley's wrecked car with 25 laps to go. He and Wallace stayed out of the pits while the bulk of the field pitted for two fresh tires. On the ensuing re-start Larson spun in the lower groove while racing Wallace, who was on the high side. Larson backed into the wall, bringing out another yellow flag.
Wallace led cleanly into Turn 1 on the ensuing restart and made it one lap before a host of cars wrecked behind him on the front stretch.
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 results
William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford
Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford
Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Carson Hocevar (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford
BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford
Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Zane Smith (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota
Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford
A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
J.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford
Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Todd Gilliland (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford
Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Updated NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings
1.William Byron – 3,083* 2.Denny Hamlin – 3,074 3. Chris Buescher – 3,0594. Christopher Bell – 3,0575.Martin Truex Jr. – 3,056 6.Ross Chastain – 3,049 7.Brad Keselowski – 3,045 8.Kyle Larson – 3,039 ______________________________ Cut line9. Bubba Wallace – 3,037 10. Tyler Reddick – 3,03611.Ryan Blaney – 3,028 12.Kyle Busch – 3,022*Clinched entry in Round of 8
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 TV/streaming schedule
All times Eastern
Saturday12:30-1:20 p.m.: Practice (USA, NBC Sports app)1:20-2:30 p.m.: Qualifying (USA, NBC Sports app)
Sunday3-3:30 p.m.: Pre-race show (USA, NBC Sports app)3:30-6:30 p.m.: Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 (USA, NBC Sports app)
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 details
Track: Texas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile dogleg oval) in Fort Worth, TexasLength: 267 laps for 400.5 milesBanking: Turns 1-2 – 20 degrees | Turns 3-4 – 24 degrees | Straights – 5 degreesStage lengths: Stage 1 – 80 laps | Stage 2 – 80 laps | Stage 3 – 107 laps2022 winner: Tyler Reddick (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 starting grid
Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota
Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford
Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota
Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford
William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Carson Hocevar (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford
Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford
Zane Smith (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford
BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford
J.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford
Todd Gilliland (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford
NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings
Despite a lackluster Round of 16, Truex Jr. starts the second round right where he did three weeks ago: atop the standings and level on points with William Byron. Truex had an average finish worse than 23rd in the three previous playoff races this season, and even dipped below the cut line, but things broke his way at Bristol and his stage points haul from the regular season ups his standing entering the Round of 12.
1.William Byron – 3,036 2.Martin Truex Jr. – 3,036 3. Denny Hamlin – 3,0324. Kyle Larson– 3,023 5.Chris Buescher – 3,021 6.Kyle Busch – 3,019 7.Christopher Bell – 3,016 8.Tyler Reddick – 3,014 ______________________________ Cut line9.Ross Chastain – 3,011 10. Brad Keselowski – 3,01111.Ryan Blaney – 3,008 12.Bubba Wallace – 3,000
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 top drivers and best bets
The seven drivers with the best odds for victory, according to BetMGM, are all in the playoff field and six of those seven drive for either Hendrick Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing, with last week's Bristol winner Denny Hamlin leading the way.
Best odds to win• Denny Hamlin +525• Kyle Larson +600• William Byron +800• Tyler Reddick +800• Martin Truex Jr. +800
Yahoo Sports' Nick Bromberg wrote earlier in the week on the gambling outlook and is bullish on Kyle Busch (+1400), who is the winningest active driver at Texas. Bromberg suggests shying away from Joey Logano — who was eliminated from playoff contention last week — citing Team Penske's 2023 struggles on intermediate tracks.
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 entry list
Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing ChevroletAustin Cindric (2), Team Penske FordAustin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing ChevroletKevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing FordKyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletBrad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing FordCorey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports ChevroletKyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing ChevroletChase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletAric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing FordDenny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaRyan Blaney (12), Team Penske FordChase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing FordJ.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing FordA.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing ChevroletChris Buescher (17), RFK Racing FordMartin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaChristopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaHarrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing FordJoey Logano (22), Team Penske FordBubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing ToyotaWilliam Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJustin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing ChevroletMichael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports FordZane Smith (38), Front Row Motorsports FordRyan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing FordCarson Hocevar (42), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletErik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletTyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing ToyotaRicky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing ChevroletAlex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletTodd Gilliland (51), Rick Ware Racing FordTy Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaTy Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports ChevroletBJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports FordDaniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 weather
The forecast for the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is scorching, with highs projected in the upper 90s for both days of Cup Series running and a 69% chance of rain for race day. Assuming things stay relatively dry, the combination of hot track surface chewing up tires and a likely high number of cautions — there haven't been fewer than eight in any Texas race since 2019 — should make for wildly varying pit strategies, especially in the playoff field.