The Cup Series finishes out the doubleheader weekend of racing at Texas Motor Speedway with the Autotrader EchoPark 500. This also marks the first race in the round of eight and will set the final four for the championship race in Phoenix next month.
Last week reigning Cup Series champion Chase Elliott survived a harrowing weekend of racing to make it into the round of eight. But his bid to notch a spot in the final four just got a bit more difficult after his Hendrick Motorsports number nine car failed the pre-race inspection process twice. As a result, Elliott will have to start the race from the back of the field.
While the only playoff driver with inspection issues, Chase Elliott was not the only driver whose car had difficulties making it through inspection; Corey LaJoie, Chase Briscoe, Garrett Smithley, and David Starr will also have to start the race from the back of the field after their cars failed inspection twice.
Points leader and Roval winner Kyle Larson will sit on the pole and bring the field to green with Denny Hamlin alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the Autotrader EchoPark 500:
Kyle Larson
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Busch
Ryan Blaney
Joey Logano
Chase Elliott – moved to the back of the field
Brad Keselowski
Martin Truex Jr
Tyler Reddick
Chris Buescher
Christopher Bell
William Byron
Matt DiBenedetto
Alex Bowman
Austin Dillon
Michael McDowell
Kurt Busch
Bubba Wallace
Daniel Suarez
Cole Custer
Erik Jones
Aric Almirola
Ryan Preece
Kevin Harvick
Ross Chastain
Chase Briscoe – moved to the back of the field
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Anthony Alfredo
Corey LaJoie – moved to the back of the field
Quin Houff
Ryan Newman
Justin Haley
Josh Bilicki
Cody Ware
BJ McLeod
Garrett Smithely – moved to the back of the field
Joey Gase
David Starr – moved to the back of the field
Timmy Hill
Stages one and two of the race are 105 laps each with stage three lasting 124 laps for a total of 334 laps around the mile and a half track.
The drivers can run around 65 laps on a single load of fuel; there will be pit stops for fuel in all three stages.
NASCAR has scheduled a competition caution for lap 25.
NFL Hall of Famers Tony Dorsett and Tim Brown gave the command to start the engines.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag start of the race and jumpis out in front for the lead with Kyle Busch in second.
Lap two, Kyle Larson leads the race with Kyle Busch in second; Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap five, Chase Elliott has already moved up nine spots since the start of the race and is in 19th place.
Lap six, Kyle Larson has a half second lead on Kyle Busch; Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
While Chase Elliott has moved up through the field, Kevin Harvick has fallen nine spots and is in 28th place.
Lap nine, Kyle Larson holds a half second lead on Kyle Busch; Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five. Chase Elliott is in 18th place.
Lap 18, Kyle Larson continues to lead the race but has pulled out to a two second lead on Joey Logano; Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and William Byron round out the top five. There are 36 cars on the lead lap. Chase Elliott has moved up to 16th place.
Kyle Larson’s team reports a bit of a radio issue.
Lap 21, Kyle Larson continues to increase his lead and is now over two and a half seconds in front of Joey Logano; Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, and William Byron round out the top five.
Lap 24, three seconds in front of the field, Kyle Larson has encountered slower traffic. There are now 34 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 25, NASCAR displays the yellow flag for the competition caution.
Kyle Larson lead the field down pit road for service and adjustments. Taking only two tires, William Byron wins the race off of pit road. Martin Truex Jr, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, Matt DiBenedetto, Kyle Busch, and Austin Dillon also took only two tires.
Kyle Busch was caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.
William Byron brings the field down for the green restart on lap 31 and gets out in front for the lead.
A big crash on the backstretch brings out the second caution flag. In the middle of a three wide battle,Bubba Wallace gets turned around, drivers start spinning, and blocks the track causing more cars to crash. Ryan Newman, Aric Almirla, Chase Briscoe, Michael McDowell, Ryan Preece, Anthony Alfredo, Cole Custer, Ross Chastain, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Alex Bowman, Josh Bilicki, Joey Gase, and Justin Haley were also involved in the crash. This is the biggest crash to ever happen at TMS.
Kyle Busch also sustained a bit of damage and was concerned about whether he had a flat tire. Busch brings his car down pit road for repairs.
Drivers are now within their pit window to make it to the end of stage one and are coming down pit road to top off the fuel cell.
William Byron brings the field down for the green flag restart of the race on lap 40 and goes side by side with Martin Truex Jr before Byron takes the lead on lap 41.
The top five are William Byron, Martin Truex Jr, Matt DiBenedetto, Tyler Reddick, and Joey Logano. Chase Elliott is now in the top 10 in eighth place. There are 27 cars on the lead lap. Kyle Busch is in the top 20 in 18th place.
Lap 43, William Byron leads the race with Tyler Reddick in second; Matt DiBenedetto, Martin Truex Jr, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Lap 48, William Byron has a half second lead on Tyler Reddick; Matt DiBenedetto, Martin Truex Jr, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five. Chase Elliott is just outside the top five in sixth place.
Lap 57, William Byron holds a half second lead on Tyler Reddick; Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, and Chase Elliott round out the top five. Kyle Busch is just outside the top 10 in eleventh.
Ryan Blaney is reporting a vibration. The crew reports that all of the lug nuts are tight.
Lap 64, William Byron has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Tyler Reddick; Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.
Lap 66, William Byron has increased his lead to a second and a half on Tyler Reddick; Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott round out the top five. Kyle Busch is up to seventh place after getting a speeding penalty and a bit of damage from the big crash.
Lap 70, Tyler Reddick has closed the gap on leader William Byron to under a second and a half; Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.
Lap 77, William Byron continues to lead the race but his lead is down to under a second; Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.
Lap 82, Kyle Larson has caught up to leader William Byron and passes for the lead. There are just 20 cars on the lead lap.
Several of the crews are telling their drivers to start saving fuel so that they can make it to the end of the stage.
Lap 87, Kyle Larson has a lead of nearly a second on William Byron; Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, nad Chase Elliott round out the top five.
Lap 90, Kyle Larson puts fellow playoff driver Brad Keselowski a lap down.
Austin Dillon is the first of the drivers who cannot make it to the end of the stage and must make a stop for fuel. Leader Kyle Larson is also one of those drivers and comes down pit road on lap 95.
William Byron is the new leader.
Lap 96, William Byron comes down for some fuel and gives the lead over to Denny Hamlin.
Joey Logano comes down for service. Chase Elliott takes fuel only.
With nine laps remaining in stage one, Kyle Busch is the new leader with Christopher Bell is inecond; Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr, and Kurt Busch round out the top five.
There are 17 cars on the lead lap.
Second place driver Christopher Bell and Martin Truex Jr will also have to make a pit stop.
Five laps remain in stage one, Kyle Busch is the leader with Ryan Blaney in second in big fuel conservation mode; Kurt Busch, Chris Buescher, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.
Two laps to go, pit road is closed, Kyle Busch leads the race with just 12 cars on the lead lap.
Kyle Busch wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Kyle Busch
Ryan Blaney
Kyle Larson
Kurt Busch
William Byron
Chase Briscoe
Denny Hamlin
Chase Elliott
Tyler Reddick
Brad Keselowski
Drivers come down pit road for service with Kyle Busch winning the race off of pit road. Kyle Larson comes out second.
Kyle Busch brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two from the inside lane on lap 113 and it is the Kyle and Kyle battle for the lead. Kyle Busch gets out in front after a littl push form William Byron.
The top five are Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, William Byron, Chase Elliott, and Ryan Blaney. There are 17 cars on the lead lap.
Ryan Blaney gets loose on the track and moves up the track, losing a few spots.
Lap 116, Kyle Larson battle with Kyle Busch for the lead. Kyle Larson takes the lead with Kyle Busch in second; Kevin Harvick, William Byron , and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Lap 120, Kyle Larson has a half second lead on William Byron; Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five. Chase Elliott is right behind Harvick in sixth place.
Lap 124, William Byron has closed the gap on leader Kyle Larson to two tenths of a second; Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.
Lap 132, Kyle Larson has a half second lead on William Byron; Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.
Kyle Busch is reporting a chatter; adding that he has no grip.
Lap 137, Kyle Larson has increased his lead to a second on William Byron; Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five. There are 17 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 141, Kyle Larson continues to increase his lead and is now nearly a second and a half in front of William Byron; Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five. Three of the top five drivers are not in the playoffs.
Lap 145, Kyle Larson’s lead is now two seconds over William Byron.
Lap 154, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a lead of over three seconds on William Byron; Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Chase Elliott makes an unscheduled trip down pit road with a tire vibration. He is in his pit window, but having to take tires has put Elliott a lap down. He returns to the track in 20th place with 16 cars on the lead lap.
Chase Elliott’s crew reports that there was an issue with the right front tire. The tire showed some major tire wear.
Lap 159, William Byron has cut into the leader Kyle Larson’s gap; Larson is now less than three seconds out in front; Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.
Lap 161, Joey Logano begins the cycle of green flag pot stops.
Lap 163, Kyle Larson has again opened up the gap with a lead of nearly four seconds on William Byron; Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Kevin Harvick rund out the top five.
The fourth caution flag comes out on lap 166 for debris on the track. Chase Elliott and Joey Logano were in danger of being lapped for a second time when the caution flag came out.
There are only eleven cars on the lead lap; all eleven of them come down pit road for service. Kyle Larson wins the race of off pit road with Kyle Busch coming out in second.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart with 40 laps remaining in stage two. Kyle Larson jumps out in front of Kyle Busch to take the lead with William Byron taking second.
Lap 171, the top five are Kyle Larson, William Byron, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Brad Keselowski.
There are 15 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 174, Kyle Larson has a tenth of a second lead on William Byron; Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.
Lap 176, Brad Keselowski pushes Ryan Blaney and takes fourth from Kyle Busch.
Lap 177, Kyle Busch is falling through the field and is now in seventh.
Team mates Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski battle for third with Blaney taking the spot.
Lap 178, Kyle Larson leads the race with team mate William Byron in second; Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.
Lap 181, Kyle Larson has just a third of a second lead on William Byron but it is over tow seconds back to third place driver Ryan Blaney; Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.
Lap 191, Kyle Larson has a half second lead on William Byron; but it is four seconds back to third place driver Ryan Blaney; Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski round out the top five. Kyle Busch has dropped to 10th place.
Lap 195, Kyle Larson has increased his lead on William Byron to nearly a second; Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick ,and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.
Kyle Busch is reporting some handling issues. Martin Truex Jr is also reporting some issues with his car.
Lap 204,, William Byron has some debris on his grille.
Lap 205, Kyle Larson has a half second lead on William Byron; Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick nad Brad Keselowski round out the top five with 15 cars on the lead lap.
The last car on the lead lap, Chase Elliott is continuing to report some issues with his car.
Kyle Larson wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Kyle Larson
William Byron
Ryan Blaney
Kevin Harvick
Brad Keselowski
Kurt Busch
Denny Hamlin
Chase Briscoe
Tyler Reddick
Kyle Busch
Drivers come down pit road for service with Kyle Larson leading the race off of pit road with William Byron coming out second.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 217. Kyle Larson gets a push from Ryan Blaney and gets out in front for the lead.
The top five are Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick.
Kurt Busch gets loose and looses a few spots. He brings his car down pit road for an unscheduled pit stop.
Ryan Blaney got loose and dropped a couple of spot and is battleling with team mate Brad Keselowski.
Lap 220, Kyle Larson leads the race with William Byron in second.
Kurt Busch had a loose tire, not all of the lug nuts were secured.
Lap 222, the top five are Kyle Larson, William Byron, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, and Ryan Blaney.
During his pit stop, Martin Truex Jr’s crew made some major adjustments to the car.
Lap 227, Kyle Larson has a half second lead on William Byron; Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap 231, six of the top 10 drivers are round of eight playoff drivers.
Lap 238, William Byron is reporting a vibration issue.
Lap 239, Kyle Larson has a lead of over a second and a half on William Byron; Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, and Kevin Harvick.
Kyle Larson is also reporting a bit of a vibration issue.
Lap 242, Daniel Suarez is the last car on the lead lap in 15th place.
Lap 243, Tyler Reddick passes Kevin Harvick for fifth.
Lap 247, Kyle Larson has increased his lead to two seconds on William Byron; Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Lap 252, William Byron has closed the gap on leader Kyle Larson to just over a second and a half; Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
With 78 laps remaining in the race, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a lead of over a second on William Byron.
Joey Logano reports an issue with the splitter.
Lap 260, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a lead of nearly two and a half seconds on William Byron; Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Kyle Busch reports some major handling issues in his car.
Ryan Blaney reported that his car sputtered from nowhere and then came back to life.
Christopher Bell made an unscheduled trip down pit road with a crush panel issue.
Lap 267, Kyle Larson has a lead of over a second and a half on William Byron; Brad Keselowski is in third over four and a half seconds back with Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick rounding out the top five.
With 66 laps remaining in the race, drivers are now within their fuel window.
The caution flag comes out on lap 275 when Chase Briscoe hits the wall and cuts a tire. Briscoe was battling with Denny Hamlin at the time of the wreck.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Kyle Larson winning the race off of pit road; William Byron and Brad Keselowski follow to hold on to their spots.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart with just 55 laps remaining in the race. Kyle Larson gets a push from Brad Keselowski and Larson takes the lead.
Kyle Larson leads the race with Tyler Reddick and William Byron battling for second.
Lap 283, the top five are Kyle Larson, William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, and Denny Hamlin.
Ryan Blaney passes Denny Hamlin for fifth.
Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin battle for position and barely miss a wreck and shakes up the field.
With 47 laps remaining in the race, William Byron moves to battle with Kyle Larson for the lead.
With 44 laps to go, Kyle Larson has a third of a second lead on William Byron; Brad Keselowski, Tyler Reddick, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five with 15 cars on the lead lap.
The caution flag come out on lap 299 after Joey Logano blows an engine and takes his car to the garage. A playoff driver, the blown engine drops Logano 26 points below the cut line.
Some drivers come down pit road for service. There are just 13 cars on the lead lap.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart with just 30 laps remaining in the race. Kyle Larson gets out in front wit the help of Tyler Reddick.
Kyle Busch gets in the back of Chris Buescher after Buescher tried to block him. In the melee, Anthony Alfredo gets into the wall and his car catches fire. With flames on the ground outside the driver’s side door, Alfredo gets out of the car unharmed.
NASCAR has brought out the red flag to stop the race in order to get the track cleaned up.
After a delay of about 10 minutes to clean up the track and get Anthony Alfredo’s car towed, NASCAR pulled the red flag to display the yellow and the cars are moving once again.
Chris Buescher was the only driver to come down pit road.
Out of the infield care center, Anthony Alfredo says that he is fine; adding that the wreck was a bummer.
All seven of the remaining playoff drivers are on the lead lap.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart with 25 laps remaining in the race. Kyle Larson gets a push from Tyler Reddick to get out in front for the lead.
With 24 laps to go, Kyle Larson leads the race with William Byron in second; Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Drivers are three wide across the track.
Denny Hamlin has a smoking car with a tire rub.
Twenty-two to go, Tyler Reddick gets around William Bryon to take second.
Denny Hamlin spins out and brings out the ninth caution flag of the race. He has multiple flat tires.
Denny Hamlin managed to stay on the lead lap but since he pitted while pit road was closed, he will have to serve a penalty and will have to restart the race from the end of the longest line.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart with just 16 laps remaining in the race with Tyler Reddick alongside. William Byron gives Kyle Larson a push to send him out in front for the lead.
The top five are Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, William Byron, Kevin Harvick, and Brad Keselowski.
Martin Truex Jr slams into the wall hard and brings out the tenth caution flag of the race with 14 laps to go. Truex has some significant damage to the right side of the car. Truex has some slight contact with Daniel Suarez prior to loosing the car and hitting the wall.
Martin Truex Jr is out of his car and out of the race. Denny Hamlin is back on pit road with the crew working on the car.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart with just nine laps remaining in the race. William Byron is alongside with Tyler Reddick behind Larson.
Tyler Reddick pushed Kyle Larson to the lead. Kevin Harvick drops back.
Kyle Larson leads the race with William Byron in second.
Tyler Reddick and William Byron make contact in a battle for second. Tyler Reddick drops back.
Drivers are getting three wide across the track.
The eleventh caution comes out after Chris Buescher slams the wall. Denny Hamlin also has some major damage to his car. Chris Buescher and Chase Briscoe make contact and send Buescher around who comes down in front of Denny Hamlin who has no where to go.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for a two lap shootout to the end of the race with William Byron alongside. Brad Keselowski gives Kyle Larson a push and Larson gets out in front for the lead. William Byron and Brad Keselowski battle for second.
Kyle Larson takes the white flag.
Kyle Larson wins race number eight of the season after leading 256 laps. Larson has secured his spot in the final four.
Half of the drivers who finished in the top 10 are not playoff drivers.
The unofficial results of the Autotrader EchoPark 500:
Kyle Larson
William Byron
Christopher Bell
Brad Keselowski
Kevin Harvick
Ryan Blaney
Chase Elliott
Kyle Busch
Tyler Reddick
Daniel Suarez
Denny Hamlin
Erik Jones
Matt DiBenedetto
Austin Dillon
Chase Briscoe
Kurt Busch
Michael McDowell
Aric Almirola
Cole Custer
Corey LaJoie
Chris Buescher
BJ McLeod
David Starr
Garrett Smithley
Martin Truex Jr
Josh Bilicki
Timmy Hill
Ross Chastain
Anthony Alfredo
Joey Logano
Quin Houff
Bubba Wallace
Alex Bowman
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ryan Newman
Ryan Preece
Justin Haley
Cody Ware
Joey Gase