Written By Zach McAdoo
The Lone Star State will see the stars of NASCAR coming for a visit this weekend. The NASCAR Playoffs will start the Round of 8 at Texas Motor Speedway this Sunday and the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500. After last week’s wild elimination race, Texas will try to keep the entertaining racing going with a 500-mile race.
Texas Motor Speedway Track Facts
Texas Motor Speedway opened it’s gates for racing back in 1996 under the name, Texas International Raceway. The 1.5-mile quad-oval would eventually change to the current name shortly thereafter. The NASCAR Cup Series made it’s debut at the track that same year. For the first eight years that Texas Motor Speedway was on the NASCAR schedule, it only hosted one race. That changed in 2005 when Texas was given a fall playoff race weekend. Up until the ongoing 2021 season, that schedule remained the same.
With an increased emphasis on road course racing this season, NASCAR wanted to give the Texas spring race to another Lone Star State track, Circuit of the Americas. However, Texas Motor Speedway officials obviously wanted to keep a second NASCAR Cup Series race date. To compromise, NASCAR moved its All-Star Race from Charlotte Motor Speedway to Fort Worth. That adjustment was enough for TMS to surrender its spring points race to COTA.
NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway | Weekend Racing Schedule
Andy’s Frozen Custard 335
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Date: Saturday, October 16, 2021
Start Time: 3 P.M. EST
Coverage: NBCSN
Distance: 300 miles
Laps: 200
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Date: Sunday, October 17, 2021
Start Time: 2 P.M. EST
Coverage: NBC
Distance: 501 miles
Laps: 334
DFS Finds
Tyler Reddick (DK $7,700/ FD $8,200)
The driver who surprised the field and finished second last week. Tyler Reddick has been great at Texas Motor Speedway. An average finish of 8.5 in his two starts at the track which includes a second-place finish last year in the Texas 1 race. Reddick has been strong after he was eliminated from the playoffs so Reddick would not be a bad pick for FanDuel NASCAR.
Ross Chastain (DK $8,900/ FD $7,700)
The Value play for this week is Ross Chastain. The 42 is trying to get a win for his team owner who is leaving NASCAR at the end of the year. Chastain has been a rollercoaster in the playoffs that should be an upswing starting this week. Chastain has gained positions in comparison to his average start so Chastain could be a good pick for FanDuel NASCAR DFS.
Betting Picks
Longshot: Matt DiBenedetto (60/1)
Matty D has been trying for three years now to get that first win. He is getting desperate to find victory lane and he only has a few more shots to do that in good equipment. DiBenedetto has very good odds this weekend and maybe could surprise the field for the win.
Underdog: Tyler Reddick (30/1)
Like I said before Tyler Reddick is a good driver in his past races here. He finished second behind his teammate in his first race here last season. Reddick has been good since he was eliminated from the playoffs. Why not take a chance on Reddick this week with how good he has been.
Race Winner: Kyle Larson (+340)
Kyle Larson won here in the All-Star Race and he will do it again on Sunday. Larson figured out how to get to the front and stay there in June. He will start on the pole so no need to figure out how to get up there. Larson should have no problem staying out front at the end of the race. 5 car will advance himself to the Championship 4.
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