The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs is entering its next stage in the Round of 12 and multiple drivers are jostling for the top spot. In the pole position is William Byron who is tied with Martin Truex Jr. as the No. 1 overall driver in the NASCAR Playoffs standings at 3036 total points. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin is in third place at 3032 points, but just won the recent race in Bristol this past weekend and is looking to continue his winning ways this week at the EchoPark Automotive 400 at the Texas Motor Speedway. Another driver to look out for is Kyle Larson who finished in second last weekend at the Tennessee race and is only 13 points away from the top of the NASCAR leaderboard. Finally, a dark horse contender in this race according to some betting markets is Tyler Reddick, a driver who is currently in eighth place in the standings but could make a big splash in Texas.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each driver, and a predicted race winner, along with more notes and information about NASCAR wagering.
| Favorites to Win The 2023 NASCAR Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denny Hamlin | +475 | +475 | +475 |
| Kyle Larson | +475 | +475 | +475 |
| Tyler Reddick | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| William Byron | +750 | +750 | +750 |
As noted above, Hamlin is coming off a first-place finish last weekend and is in the driver’s seat, so to speak, in terms of being at the top of the leaderboard. Moreover, he has had back-to-back races where he excelled, last weekend and then a second-place showing the week prior in Kansas City. The question is though can he keep this momentum or perhaps see a possible regression? He won two races during the NASCAR regular season, so two already in the postseason would be spectacular.
Of the drivers on this list, Larson has posted the best performances of any competitor during the NASCAR Cup Series postseason. In the last three races, he has finished in the top five of each outing and won the NASCAR Playoffs opening race at Darlington a few weeks back. Larson also was able to notch two wins during the NASCAR regular season.
The dark horse contender this postseason, Reddick has rebounded from a so-so regular season to pull off back-to-back top-three showings in the NASCAR Playoffs. He won the 2023 Hollywood Casino 400 two weeks ago in Kansas City and finished second in the Darlington race. That said, he is coming off a disappointing 15th-place showing this past weekend in Bristol.
Our last racer spotlight, Byron is the reigning points leader thanks to his fantastic success during the regular season. During that portion of the NASCAR Cup Series, Byron was able to notch together five wins and post a slew of great outings. During the postseason he has had one top-five outing and finished in ninth place last weekend. He certainly has shown he can win races on a consistent basis, so perhaps this is the one where he is victorious again.
Prediction: Hamlin won last weekend, so why not select him to win again? He has been the hot hand the last two weekends during the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Once you are all dialed in regarding the latest news and information pertaining to this NASCAR race in Texas, make sure to also check all that SBS has to offer you. Of course, for fans of the sport, our NASCAR betting sites guide is a must-read page where you can learn more about the latest markets and betting lines from any NASCAR or auto race. Moreover, if you are looking for more ways to get the most out of your bets, the best bonus betting sites rundown is a great page to check out. Here you can find a welcome bonus catalog of the latest welcome bonus offers available to you. Finally, if you are looking for some more intriguing higher stakes wagering options, then make sure to check out our VIP sports betting sites breakdown where you can learn more and see if VIP wagering is for you.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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