AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 Betting Preview
23 September 2023
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin made it two straight wins in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs for Toyota, capping an impressive Round of 16 by landing on Victory Lane at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Hamlin led the top five to the checkered flag, with Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Chris Buescher, and 2022 Xfinifty Series Champion Ty Gibbs completing the top five.
The Cup Series Round of 12 opens at Texas Motor Speedway – a track where all three drivers who impressed and won their way into this round have successful histories and previous wins.
The Dunkel Index dives down the inside, analyzing and overtaking the data and recent results to find our pick to win the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 and move to the Round of Eight.
Dunkel Top 10
Here are the Top 10 drivers for this event, according to the Dunkel Index:
| D. Hamlin | 280.925 |
| K. Larson | 281.221 |
| M. Truex Jr | 281.871 |
| W. Byron | 282.767 |
| C. Bell | 283.021 |
| T. Reddick | 283.379 |
| B. Wallace | 285.304 |
| C. Elliott | 285.493 |
| R. Chastain | 285.960 |
| C. Buescher | 286.109 |
Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet’s Chances at Texas
Hendrick Motorsports
Kyle Larson (281.221) was in his best form of the season in the Round of 16, winning at Darlington and finishing inside the top five in all three races. He’ll look to carry that form and momentum into Texas, where he won the 2021 race and has four top-five finishes in 15 career races.
The Round of 12 starts with a new Championship order, vaulting William Byron (282.767) back to the co-top seed. Byron will want to improve his playoff performances in 2023 to hold off a charging Larson for the Cup Series Championship. His best finish at Texas was second place in 2021, behind his teammate and 2023 Cup Series Championship rival.
Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain
For those looking for a Chevrolet long shot who needs a big performance, Ross Chastain (285.109) might be worth a look. Chastain finished fifth at Darlington but finished outside the top ten at Kansas and Bristol. He’ll need some magic and excellent timing to win and change his performance history at Texas, scoring an average finishing position of 25.2, with his best finish being 13th.
We’ve seen Chastain make playoff magic before, and Texas might be where he breaks out and reaches the Round of Eight by scoring his first win at Texas and his first since Nashville.
Is Another Playoff Win on Tap for Toyota?
Joe Gibbs Racing
Denny Hamlin (280.925) opened the playoffs, winning both stages and leading the most laps at Darlington before finishing 25th, then scoring a second place at Kansas before winning last weekend at Bristol. Hamlin has past success at Texas, having three race wins and seven top-five finishes in 32 career races.
Christopher Bell (283.021) has scored pole position in all the playoff races and has two top-ten finishes in the playoffs. Bell has two top-ten finishes at Texas, with his best finish being third.
Martin Truex Jr. (281.871) might be the co-top seed again but has finished outside the top 15 in four consecutive races. Truex has five top-five finishes in 33 career races at Texas.
23XI Racing
Tyler Reddick (283.379) won his way into the Round of 12 and will be in the fight for the win, having won this race last season and having two top-five and three top-ten finishes in four career races at Texas.
Bubba Wallace (285.304) needs a big result to save his hopes of making the Round of Eight. He’ll need to improve on his best finish of 14th at Texas and his one top-ten finish in the Round of 16.
The Dunkel Index’s Pick to Win the NASCAR Cup Series AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400
The Dunkel Index is taking Denny Hamlin (280.925) to win the first Cup Series race in the NASCAR Playoffs Round of 12 from Texas Motor Speedway.
Keep up with your latest NASCAR news coverage and betting pick previews at The Dunkel Index.
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