2023 NASCAR Texas odds, picks and predictions for the Cup Series playoff race

There are now 12 drivers left to compete for the NASCAR Cup Series championship as the second round of the postseason kicks off this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

In this next three-race stretch, drivers are looking to secure their bid into the Round of 8 and continue chasing the title. And it all starts Sunday afternoon in the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 (3:30 p.m., USA Network).

Four of the original 16 playoff drivers were eliminated last week at Bristol, including Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, who is retiring at the end of this season, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Michael McDowell.

The drivers still alive and who can clinch an automatic spot in the next round with a victory at Texas are: William Byron, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace.

Reddick won last year’s playoff race at the 1.5-mile oval, which was his first career Texas win in four starts.

Busch owns the most victories at the track of any active Cup driver with four, while Hamlin and Harvick have three apiece. Hamlin won last week’s playoff race at Bristol to earn his third victory of the 2023 season.

FrontPageBets takes a look at drivers to watch in Sunday’s AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Pick to win: Kyle Larson (+600)

Kyle Larson already has three wins this season, as well as taking the checkered flag at the Cup Series All-Star race. The driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy has one career win at Texas.

Larson is currently fourth in the playoff standings heading into Sunday’s race.

In 15 career starts at Texas Motor Speedway, Larson has an average finish of 17.8, racking up four top-5s, including his lone victory in 2021. Last year, he finished ninth.

Top-3 pick: Denny Hamlin (+150)

Always a threat to win, Hamlin is coming off his latest victory last week at Bristol.

The driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota has won three times at Texas, with his last victory at the Fort Worth track coming in 2019.

After finishing the regular season in second place in points, Hamlin sits in third after four playoff races.

In 32 career starts at the 1.5-mile Lone Star State oval, Hamlin has an average finish of 13.6 with 15 top-10s and seven top-5s to go with his three wins. He’s completed 98% of his laps there.

Top-10 pick: Kevin Harvick (+105)

Harvick, in his final season before retirement, hasn’t won in 2023. And now he’s eliminated from the playoffs.

But, he can still find victory lane and cap his swan song on a high note. And what better place to do it than a track where he’s won three times?

In 38 career Cup starts at Texas, the driver of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford has an average finish of 10.5. He’s earned 24 top-10 and 13 top-5 finishes, completing nearly 98% of possible laps.

His last win at the Texas track was in 2020.

Odds-on favorites to win the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas

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