2021 Echopark Texas Grand Prix: NASCAR CUP Preview, Odds, Picks, Longshots
The NASCAR Cup Series will head to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX for the first in series history on Sunday for the Echopark Texas Grand Prix. Sunday’s Cup Series event will be the second road course race of the 2021 season. Sunday’s inaugural Cup Series race will consist of 68 laps around the 3.410-mile circuit totaling 231 miles. Practice sessions along with qualifying will precede the events Sunday giving limited yet at least some sample to the fast cars.
Here are a few drivers to consider for the Echopark Texas Grand Prix.
Chase Elliott +240- Chase comes into Sunday’s race sitting 7th in the 2021 Cup Series standings with 7 top 10 finishes on the season including 5 top 5 finishes. Elliott has flat out been the best in the Cup Series over the last 9 races held on road courses with 5 wins. Very short price for Chase on Sunday afternoon coming in as a heavy favorite but don’t be shocked if Elliott increases the win total to 6 over the last 10 Cup Series road course races on Sunday afternoon.
Martin Truex Jr. +450- Truex currently holds down the 3rd spot in the 2021 Cup Series point standings, field best 3 victories on the season to date along with 8 top 10 finishes. Martin no stranger to running well at road courses and has the best average finish of 5.44 over the last 9 Cup Series races held on road courses. Truex falls just behind Chase Elliott for 2nd best average driver rating in the last 9 road course events of 120.6 with 2 wins and 7 top 10 finishes. Look for Truex to bounce back after a less than average race at Dover one week ago.
William Byron +1800- Byron sitting 2nd in the 2021 Cup Series standings currently, has the most top 10 finishes of any driver on the circuit with 11 including 5 top 5 finishes and the victory at Homestead-Miami. Bryon’s average finish over the last 9 Cup Series road course races hasn’t been the best at 17.78 but does make up for that with 9th best average driver rating of 88.8 in that time span. William has 4 top finishes over the last 9 races held on road courses for the Cup Series, look for Byron to be in contention for the victory here in Austin on Sunday.
Kevin Harvick +1800- Kevin down the list sitting 8th in the Cup Series standings heading into the event on Sunday afternoon with 10 top finishes on the season including 4 top 5 finishes. Very surprising that Harvick and team have not been to victory lane in the 2021 Cup Series season but good finishes as of late have helped the effort. Kevin has the 3rd best average driver rating of 100.3 over the last 9 races held on road courses in the Cup series including 7 top 10 finishes and 2 top 5 finishes. Harvick will be looking for victory lane on Sunday and is a great value here on Sunday.
Kurt Busch +3000- Kurt will be the long shot play of the week here for the Echopark Texas Grand Prix on Sunday. Kurt has the 7th best average finish of 9.44 over the last 9 road course races in the NASCAR Cup Series. Also, Kurt has 6 top 10 finishes including 3 top 5 finishes and an average driver rating of 91.8 which is 7th best over the last 9 road course events. Great long shot price on a driver that has a legitimate shot to win on Sunday afternoon, Busch is worth a sprinkle of action.
AUTHOR: Jeff Jeter
