NASCAR makes late change to Texas playoff race format

NASCAR has altered the lengths of the final two stages for this coming Sunday afternoon’s Cup Series playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Ahead of Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway, NASCAR has slightly modified the length of the second and third stages.

Stage one of the 267-lap Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 around the four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) Fort Worth, Texas oval is still set to end after lap 80, but the second stage is now set to end after lap 165.

Stage two of the round of 12 opener had been set to end after lap 160, making it an 80-lap stage like stage one and making the third and final stage a 107-lap stage.

But to keep things consistent with other 400-mile races at 1.5-mile ovals, NASCAR has made stage two an 85-lap stage and stage three a 102-lap stage to conclude the event.

The Texas race is the second of four 400-mile races at 1.5-mile ovals on this year’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff schedule.

The first was contested at Kansas Speedway two weeks ago. The third is scheduled to take place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, October 15, and the fourth is scheduled to take place at the unconventional 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway oval on Sunday, October 22.

FanDuel Sportsbook, which is giving fans an instant and guaranteed $200 just for placing a $5 bet on any driver, lists Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin as co-favorites to win Sunday’s race at Texas. 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick is the reigning winner, but his win came with Richard Childress Racing in what is now Kyle Busch’s car.

With odds and availability subject to change, lock in your $200 now before it’s too late!

Tune in to USA Network at 3:30 p.m. ET this Sunday afternoon for the live broadcast of the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 from Texas Motor Speedway. If you have yet to begin a free trial of FuboTV, do so now!