Autotraders EchoPark Automotive 400 Prediction: Will the Hendrick Roll Continue?

• No matter the series, qualifying is a critical issue at Texas Motor Speedway.

• Will Hendrick Motorsports drivers continue their NASCAR Cup domination?

• Ross Chastain is an underrated commodity on this intermediate track.

Autotraders EchoPark Automotive 400 Betting Odds

Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook. Click the odds in the table below and get $150 in bonus bets instantly at DraftKings.

Our Picks for the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400

• Ross Chastain to win the race at +1800 at DraftKings

• Chase Elliott to beat Ryan Blaney head-to-head at +125 at DraftKings

AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 Predictions

Pay Close Attention to Saturday Qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway

We made a similar argument in our NASCAR Xfinity Series preview: qualifying speed at Texas Motor Speedway is an excellent predictor of success in the race that follows.

In the past 23 NASCAR Cup Series races at the 1.5-mile intermediate speedway, 19 of the winners have come from starting positions within the top 10.

Accordingly, it might be wise to wait for Saturday’s time trials and look to the first five rows for a potential race winner.

Two of the last six Texas winners have come from the pole position—Kevin Harvick in 2019 and Kyle Larson during his championship season in 2021.

That’s a high percentage worth considering.

Can Anyone Else Stop the Hendrick Motorsports Juggernaut?

Last Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports celebrated the 40th anniversary of its first victory as an organization by finishing 1-2-3 in the Cook Out 400.

William Byron (+550 via DraftKings Sportsbook at Texas) led the charge with his third victory of the season, followed by teammates Kyle Larson (+350) and a resurgent Chase Elliott (+1200).

This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series heads for Texas Motor Speedway, where Byron won the most recent race last fall.

This is the second 1.5-mile downforce track on the schedule this year. Larson was the winner at the first one—Las Vegas.

But don’t get the impression the Hendrick drivers are invincible. We think a Chevrolet driver from a different organization will take the checkered flag on Sunday.

However, we like Elliott to beat Ryan Blaney heads-up at +125. Elliott has finished fifth and third in his last two starts, at Richmond and Martinsville, and has beaten Blaney both times.

Don’t Overlook Ross Chastain the Way Oddsmakers Have This Week

In last year’s Playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway, Ross Chastain finished second, 1.863 seconds behind winner William Byron.

In the first intermediate-track test of the 2024 season, Chastain ran fourth at Las Vegas.

The bottom line is that the driver of the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet is a consistent threat on the 1.5-mile speedways.

Though the watermelon-farmer-turned-racer has produced indifferent results on other types of venues this season, we can’t resist a price of +1800 at DraftKings, on a track where he excelled in his last outing.

Consequently, Chastain is our pick to win at Texas on Sunday.

How to Watch the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400

• What: AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Cup Series Race

• Where: Texas Motor Speedway

• When: Sunday, April 14, 3:30 p.m. ET

• How to Watch: FS1