It’s a sweltering Sunday for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. (Photo: Sean Folsom | The Podium Finish)
Regardless of anyone’s feelings about the challenging, polarized Texas Motor Speedway, it’s a track that’s unique and plays host to Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500.
Like Pocono Raceway, the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway challenges crew chiefs with balancing a setup that may sacrifice a few corners for success at the others. As for the drivers, it’s about trying to activate the PJ1 Trackbite application.
Beyond the usual talk for Texas, it’s the start of the Round of 12, the next leg of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. As if that is not enough, the mercury is quite high along with the humidity, challenging elements for anyone who’ll be on-site for Round 30 of 36 of the season.
Last year, Kyle Larson showcased some dominant speed in about any kind of run. Likewise, he kept calm during a flurry of late race restarts to score his eighth of 10 wins en route to his Cup championship.
On Sunday, Larson looks to defend his Texas fall win from the ninth starting position. Meanwhile, the Playoff Party crashing committee hopes to make some noise with Brad Keselowski on the pole and Michael McDowell rolling off from the fifth starting spot.
This weekend, Cody Shoppe, Jasmine Sharpe, Kobe Lambeth, Luis Torres, Matt Sisoler, Nathan Solomon and yours truly consider a hot shoe ready for the Round of 12 and the Playoff Party Crashing Committee’s chances for more wins.
Podium Preview: Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas
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Question 1
Joey Logano hopes to score another Texas victory. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
The Round of 12 kicks off at Texas Motor Speedway, a tricky 1.5-mile intermediate with different styled corners. With a hot race likely facing our Playoffs contenders, which driver and team seems most prepared and confident for a 334 lap race at Texas?
Shoppe : The thing about this year is that nobody is a clear standout. With no Playoff drivers winning a race in the Round of 12, nobody separated themselves from the pack. I’d guess the Hendrick cars will be strong as well as the remaining Gibbs cars of Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell. It will be very interesting to see if Bell can continue his strong playoff start.
Sisoler : If we’re talking just playoff drivers, based off qualifying and practice speed I’d say Joey Logano being fourth-fastest in practice with a runner-up spot for Sunday’s race alongside former teammate Brad Keselowski, not to mention he’s got an over 50 percent (14 of 26 races) mark for getting top 10s at TMS.
Chase Elliott also has an over 50 percent mark (six top 10s in 11 starts) at TMS and, I believe, Denny Hamlin has the most wins at Texas of any playoff driver with three, so they’ll be strong candidates to run up front, but with these cars, it’s up in the air.
Going off the All-Star Race, which is the only time we’ve seen Next Gens under full race conditions at TMS, Ryan Blaney, Hamlin, Austin Cindric and Logano would be the frontrunners just based off the numbers, cause they all finished in the top four spots, but again, different conditions from the ASR to Sunday’s event, so we won’t know fully until these cars are up to speed and under green flag conditions on Sunday.
Tiongson : Based on Saturday’s on track activities, I think Joey Logano, William Byron and Alex Bowman have pretty solid mid to long run speed. I look for this trio to excel and be in the mix with the usual favorites of Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell.
As we saw in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race, we may see some chaos in Stage 2 and the early part of Stage 3. Having a fast car is great but being toward the front, even by strategy, is just as paramount.
To me, Logano seems like the best pick. I also would not look past Larson given how he’s great on restarts and his pace in the All-Star Race before his crash in the early part of Stage 2. If Larson wants to not stress out too much about Talladega and the Charlotte ROVAL, a defense of last year’s win will certainly help out.
Solomon : Christopher Bell has been a pleasant surprise in the 2022 Playoffs, recording top fives in each race of the Round of 16. He’s quietly remained very consistent since winning at New Hampshire in July and has improved his points position. Bell enters the second round in a good spot, and I expect him to do well on Sunday.
Question 2
Will Brad Keselowski continue the Playoff Party Crashers’ winning ways? (Photo: Dylan Nadwdony | The Podium Finish)
Will the Playoff party crashers’ committee continue their winning ways at Texas and if so, which driver seems most likely?
Sharpe : What an excellent name for an incredible group of lads. It appears that both the 17 and 6 in the RFK stall have blossomed into great cars after Chris Buscher snagged the win last week and Brad Keselowski won the pole during qualifying for Sunday’s race.
It seems that both the Toyota and Fords camps overall have been dealing with some major mechanical problems overall, which may cost both manufacturers a chance to snag a championship.
Chevy may have the best chance, but all of the manufacturer’s drivers have had chaotic seasons with teammates fighting one another for bragging rights. Perhaps a win from someone like Michael McDowell will keep the streak going as we’ve seen plenty of winners this year.
Lambeth : If I had to predict the 20th different winner of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, I think Brad Keselowki might have a shot to finally seal the deal in a trying, character-building season for the owner-driver of RFK Racing. After taking a surprise pole in qualifying on Saturday afternoon, Keselowski is looking to keep the good times rolling, following his teammate Chris Buescher’s Bristol victory.
The RFK Ford Mustangs continue to show improvement each week which should make everyone in that organization pleased with the direction of their Cup program. There’s a lot for them to be excited about closing out the year and enter 2023 with some positive momentum.
However, I think we’ll see a playoff driver in victory lane at Texas, with the Playoff party crashers streak coming to a halt!
Torres : Real talk, no way. Not at Texas because I do see Team Penske being the team to beat. Considering what we saw in the All-Star Race, I don’t think any other team will have their number. Especially those who are outside the playoffs or have been eliminated.
However, if someone pulls the upset. I gotta look at Martin Truex Jr. as the best threat to continue the party crashing in what’s been an already wild playoffs. He’ll be the one making history by becoming the 20th driver to win this season which will be a Modern Era record.
By all means, two laps in the sweltering sun at Texas deserves some kudos. Before grabbing another bottle of quality H2O, let’s rewind to last Saturday night’s Bristol Night Race, Race 29 of 36 of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season!
Another race, another good one for Cody Shoppe.
Shoppe adds to his stellar points lead.
This is not a list that drivers want to find themselves in. However, it’s a fact of life that the Round of 12 will eliminate four more drivers. Here’s our picks for the eliminated drivers after the Round of 12.
Is Ross Chastain in a spot of trouble during the Round of 12? (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
Shoppe : Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe, Daniel Suárez and Alex Bowman
Sisoler : Alex Bowman, Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell
Tiongson : Ross Chastain, Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin and Austin Cindric
Sharpe : Ross Chastain, Alex Bowman, William Byron and Austin Cindric
Lambeth : Alex Bowman, Chase Briscoe, Daniel Suárez and Ross Chastain
Next, here’s our top 10 starters for Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas!
Row 1
Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
Row 2
William Byron and Tyler Reddick (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
Row 3
Michael McDowell and Chase Elliott (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
Row 4
Austin Dillon and Denny Hamlin (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
Row 5
Kyle Larson and Daniel Suárez (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
Lastly, here’s our picks for Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas!
It’s a Texas size six pack for Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at Texas. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
Torres : History will be made this Sunday at Texas because Ryan Blaney will be the 20th different winner of 2022. A Modern Era record will happen as Blaney has tremendous amount of urgency to get a win. More so without key crew members on his side following the catastrophic events at Bristol.
He won the All-Star Race convincingly, but even if Kyle Busch and Ross Chastain were in the mix, Blaney did show some speed in his No. 12 Ford. Penske are going to be tough to beat in a full distance race and I don’t see much difference in strength from the team that’ll bode well to kickoff the Round of 12.
Sharpe : Kevin Harvick is called “The Closer” for a reason. Even after a mostly unlikable season, he’s been able to snag a couple of wins.
Sisoler : The question is when does the streak of non-playoff drivers winning races in the playoffs end? I certainly did not see the Round of 16 having three winners not in the playoffs for the driver’s championship, and I’m not sure, with Texas, having the possibility of being a Wild West shootout in terms of not fully knowing what might happen, that that trend gets broken.
I think the 4 and 18 both now have nothing to lose by being out of the title hunt, so I’m gonna go with Kevin Harvick getting the win at Texas that he needed last week at Bristol.
Lambeth : Christopher Bell got off to a hot start in the Round of 16, becoming the only driver to enter last Saturday night’s Bristol Night Race to lock themselves into the next round. But consistency can only get you so far the deeper we get into the postseason.
Bell didn’t have a great qualifying effort but I think he can still find his way to the front of the field. He needs to get a win if he wants to become a championship favorite and it may happen in the Lone Star State!
Shoppe : After a rough round one elimination, Kyle Busch will rebound in Texas much like 2020 in in this race!
Tiongson : When it comes to a driver who may thrive on a long green flag run at Texas, look at Kyle Larson as a favorite. Also, if we get a bevy of late race restarts, Larson’s a solid choice for this race as seen last year. If Larson wants to be at ease about Talladega and the Charlotte ROVAL, Texas is a race to capitalize on for a Round of 8 spot.
Solomon : We’ve had non-playoff drivers win the first three races of the Playoffs, but I think that changes Sunday. Joey Logano has two points-paying victories this season, but expect that to go up. I’m going with Logano on Sunday.
We’re ready for some racing. How about you? What do you think are the biggest storylines heading into the race? Who are your favorites to win? Tweet us now @ThePodiumFinish and tell us now!
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The opinions and thoughts expressed in Podium Preview are solely of the authors. They do not reflect any organizations affiliated with the participants and author outside of TPF. This weekly feature is strictly for entertainment purposes. Ultimately, they are not indicative of TPF, the organization and its staff.
