The calendar says it is autumn but the temperatures in Texas say that it is still summer with temps scheduled to reach the higher 90’s.  The 36 Cup Series drivers take to the track at Texas Motor Speedway for AutoTraker EchoPark Automotive 400 as the Cup Series begins the second round of the playoffs.

When the drivers of Group A take to the track for a 20 minute practice session, the track temperature is 116 degrees with the current air temperature of 91 degrees.

Craftsman Truck Series playoff driver Carson Hocevar returns to drive the number 42 Legacy Motor Club car.  He is also scheduled to drive the car next week at Talladega.

Christopher Bell gets loose and spins out on the track but saves the car just two minutes before the end of Group A practice.

From Group A, just four of the top 10 drivers are playoff drivers with three more including the fastest two on the track were drivers that have been eliminated from the playoffs.

In Group B all six of the playoff drivers charted in the top 10.

The first driver from Group A on the track to make a qualifying run is Todd Gilliland in the number 51 car.  He dropped some debris on the track while making his qualifying run.  He posted a time of 29.571 seconds around the mile and a half track.

Daniel Suarez is the first driver to break the 29 second mark with a time of 28.881 seconds.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr spins out on his warm up lap to make a qualifying run.  NASCAR has announced that they will allow Stenhouse to have another set of tires because he did not take the green flag; according to the rules.  NBC Sports broadcaster questions the move; adding that it is not fair to the other drivers.  Stenhouse will be allowed to make a qualifying run.

AJ Allmendinger, Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, Brad Keselowski, and Daniel Suarez will all be moving on to round two of qualifying from Group A.

Some of the Group B drivers are posting times faster than the number one driver in Group A.

The current track temperature is 127 degrees.

From Group B, Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs, Chris Buescher, and Denny Hamlin will move on to round two of qualifying.

The first of the top 10 drivers to make a qualifying run is Daniel Suarez with a time of 28.885 seconds.

With a time of 28.672 seconds, Bubba Wallace puts his number 23 car on the pole for his second career pole.  Chris Buescher will start alongside on the front row.

The starting lineup for the AutoTraker EchoPark Automotive 400:
Bubba Wallace
Chris Buescher
Brad Keselowski
Ty Gibbs
Ross Chastain
AJ Allmendinger
Kyle Busch
Daniel Suarez
Christopher Bell
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Larson
Erik Jones
Austin Dillon
Alex Bowman
Tyler Reddick
Martin Truex Jr
Michael McDowell
William Byron
Carson Hocevar
Joey Logano
Aric Almirola
Kevin Harvick
Ryan Blaney
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ryan Preece
Ty Dillon
Corey LaJoie
Justin Haley
Chase Elliott
Harrison Burton
Chase Briscoe
Austin Cindric
Zane Smith
BJ McLeod
JJ Yeley
Todd Gilliland

Stages one of the race are 80 laps long, stage two is 85 laps in length with stage three lasting 102 laps for a total of 367 laps around the mile and a half track.

When the drivers take to the track on a hot Sunday afternoon the ambient temperature is 100 degrees with the heat index of 110 degrees.  Inside the cars the temps will be 135+ degrees.  This is shaping up to be the hottest races in Texas Motor Speedway history.

BJ McLeod will start the race from the back of the field after the crew made some unapproved adjustments to the car.

Ryan Blaney is making career start number 300 today.

Bubba Wallace brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the inside lane with Chris Buescher on the outside; after giving the pace car a bump.  Wallce edges out for the lead as the drivers get three wide back in the field.

Lap two, the top five are Bubba Wallace, Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski, Ross Chastain, and Ty Gibbs.

At the start of the race the track temperature is 141 degrees!

Lap five, Bubba Wallace has a third of a second lead on Chris Buescher; Brad Keselowski, Ross Chastain, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

The drivers can run 67 to 72 laps on a single load of fuel and will have to make pit stops in all three stages.

BJ McLeod reports that his cool suit has failed.  When the suits fail, they often times pump warm and hot water through the suits, causing major issues for the drivers.

Lap eleven, Bubba Wallace holds his third of a second lead on Chris Buescher; Brad Keselowski, Ross Chastain, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

Martin Truex Jr is wearing a cool suit and an AC helmet (cooler air running through the helmet) which adds nine pounds to the weight and uses up a lot of amps in the car.

Lap 20, Bubba Wallace has increased his lead to over a second on Chris Buescher and the fastest laps on the track; BradKeselowski, Ross Chastain, and Ty Gibbs continue to round out the top five.

Lap 24, Bubba Wallace has pulled out to a second and a half lead on Chris Buescher; Ross Chastin, Brad Keselowski,, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.

Lap 27, Ryan Blaney reports that his entry into the corners are loose.

Lap 28, Bubba Wallace has pulled out to a lead of two seconds on Chris Buescher; Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five  with all 36 drivers still on the lead lap.

Lap 30, eight of the top 10 spots are filled by playoff drivers; only Ty Gibbs and AJ Allmendinger are not in the playoffs.

Lap 32, Bubba Wallace’s lead is two seconds on Chris Buescher as he begins lapping slower traffic.

Kyle Busch may be having some radio issues in his car.

Lap 38, Christopher Bell is the first driver to make a green flag pit stop to start the cycle of stops.

Lap 40, leader Bubba Wallace comes down pit road for service and gives the lead over the AJ Allmendinger.

AJ Allmendinger makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Ty Dillon.

Christopher Bell had a slow stop of 15 seconds (average is nine to 10 seconds) after a jack issue.

Chris Buescher also had a slow pit stop after he stalled the car.

Ty Gibbs had a bad stop when he ran over the air hose.

Austin Dillon brings out the first caution flag of the race on lap 42 when he looses a tire on the track.  The wheel nut also came off of the car and was rolling down the track.  The tire is separated from the wheel hub.  Dillon gets int the wall hard.

The drivers who have not made a pit stop com down pit road for service.

Bubba Wallace brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 49 from the inside lane and goes side by side with Ross Chastain when the second caution flag of the race comes out for a crash involving Alex Bowman and Aric Almirola.  The drivers were in a three wide battle with Carson Hocevar.

Joey Logano comes down pit road for an adjustment to the suspension and is charged with unapproved equipment.

Out of the care center, Austin Dillon said that he had a loose wheel before the crash that put him out of the race.

Bubba Wallace brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 54 from the inside lane and gets into a three wide battle with Kyle Busch for the lead.  Bubba Wallace takes the lead.

Todd Gilliland brings out the third caution flag of the race on lap 55 when he looses a tire that is resting again the wall; the wheel hub and nut also comes off of the car.

Todd Gilliland becomes the second driver out of the race.

With the rule change, NASCAR penalizes the crew two laps for losing a tire on the track plus two crew members are suspended.

Bubba Wallace brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 58 and holds on to the lead with Ross Chastain in second; Kyle Busch, Chris Buescher, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Kyle Busch reports that he has a flat tire and was waving his hand but he stays on the track after losing third place.  He was way up the track and now reports he isn’t sure what is wrong.  Busch is in seventh place.

Lap 63, Bubba Wallace has a half second lead on Ross Chastain; Chris Buescher, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Lap 68, Bubba Wallace has a half second lead on Ross Chastain with Chris Buescher, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin rounding out the top five.

Lap 70, Erik Jones in tenth place is the only driver in the top 10 not in the playoffs.

Ten laps remain in stage one with Bubba Wallace a half second in front ot Ross Chastain; Chris Buescher, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Kyle Busch gets up the track out of the groove again.  He reports that the right tire feels like it has not air and is chattering.

Kyle Busch gets into the wall hard on lap 74; bringing out the fourth caution flag of the day.  He is driving down the track backwards to cause minimum damage to the car.  There is significant damage to Busch’s car.  The crew has seven minutes on the “crash clock” to get the car repaired.

Bubba Wallace brings much of the field down pit road for service short of the end to stage one.  Taking only two tires, Martin Truex Jr wins the race off of pit road.

Denny Hamlin hits Ty Gibe on pit road; causing some damage to the car.  Hamlin hit Gibbs but Gibbs was in a bad spot on pit road.  Ty a steering issues bs has taken his car to the garage with

Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag restart with just one lap to go in stage one.  Tyler Reddick takes the lead with Chris Buescher in second.

Tyler Reddick wins stage one.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Tyler Reddick
Chris Buescher
Christopher Bell
Willam Byron
Michael McDowell
Chase Elliott
Ryan Blaney
Chase Briscoe
Denny Hamlin
Bubba Wallce

Martin Truex Jr spins out after some on track contact at the end of stage one.

A few drivers come down pit road for service.

Kyle Busch is out of the race.  He knew that there was something wrong with the car but was told to “tough it out” until the end of the stage before the wreck.

Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two after a push from Michael McDowell.  McDowell passes Chris Buescher for second.

Lap 88, the top five are Tyler Reddick, Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher, Chase Elliott, and Ryan Blaney.

After the pit road incident, Ty Gibbs is out of the race.

Lap 92, Tyler Reddick has a one second lead on Michael McDowell; Chris Buescher, Chase Elliott, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Lap 97, Denny Hamlin passes Ryan Blaney for fifth.

Lap 97, Tyler Reddick has increased his lead to nearly two seconds over Michael McDowell; Chris Buescher, Chase Elliott, and Denny Hamlin.

A confused Kyle Busch said that he doesn’t know what to do and is willing to listen to anyone who has a clue…because he doesn’t.

Lap 103, Tyler Reddick has a near three second lead on Michael McDowell; Chris Buescher, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Lap 105, Denny Hamlin passes Chris Buescher for third.

Bubba Wallace has been mired back in tenth place since restarting the race.

Lap 106, Kyle Larson passes Chris Buescher for fourth.

Denny Hamlin has passed Michael McDowell for second; three seconds behind leader Tyler Reddick.

Corey LaJoie spins out to bring out the caution flag on lap 111.  He has a flat tire after hitting the wall and is causing more damage to the car.  Whipping tire carcass’ can cause some significant damage to the cars.

Opening pit road is delayed until the safety crews can pick up all the debris.  With 31 cars on the lead lap, pit road is going to be very busy.

Drivers come down pit road for service with teams taking fuel only, two tires, and four tires.  Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace are the first drivers off of pit road after taking only two tires.

Zane Smith was charged with speeding on pit road.

Bubba Wallace brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside lane on lap 119.  Wallace gets out in front for the lead with drivers getting three wide back in the field.

Lap 120, the top five are Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, and Kyle Larson.  Larson and Denny Hamlin were in a battle for fifth.

Lap 123, Corey LaJoie is the only driver on the track not on the lead lap; he is two laps down.

Lap 124, Bubba Wallace has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Ryan Blaney; Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.

Lap 128, Bubba Wallace has increased his lead to over a second and a half on Ryan Blaney; Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.  Sixth place driver Denny Hamlin continues to challenge Larson for the position.

Lap 130, Bubba Wallace now has a two second lead on Ryan Blaney; Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.

Lap 134, Denny Hamlin passes Daniel Suarez for fourth.

Lap 135, Bubba Wallace has increased his lead on Ryan Blaney to nearly two and a half second; Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Leading 89 laps so far, Bubba Wallace has led the most laps in his career.

Lap 142, Kyle Larson has closed the gap on leader Bubba Wallace and battles for the lead; passing Wallace on the outside lane.”

The top five are Kyle Larson, Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Erik Jones.

Erik Jones passes Ryan Blaney for fourth.

Lap 145, Kyle Larson has pulled out to a lead of nearly a second and a half on Bubba Wallace.

Bubba Wallace reports that his car just doesn’t handle in traffic.

Lap 147, Denny Hamlin has caught Bubba Wallace and is in a battle for second.

Lap 149, Kyle Larson has a four second lead on Kenny Hamlin; Erik Jones, Bubba Wallace, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

With 14 laps remaining in stage two, Kyle Larson has a lead of over four second on Denny Hamlin; Erik Jones, Bubba Wallace, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Erik Jones has caught Denny Hamlin and is challenging for second.  Kyle Larson is over five seconds out in front.

With eight laps remaining in stage two, Kyle Larson has a lead of over five seconds on Denny Hamlin; Erik Jones, Ryan Blaney, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.

Chris Buescher passes Bubba Wallace for fifth.

Chase Elliott passes Bubba Wallace for sixth.

Erik Jones has passed Denny Hamlin for second.

Four laps remain in stage two, Kyle Larson has a six second lead on Erik Jones.

Driving it like he stole it, Kyle Larson wins stage two with a lead of over six seconds.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Kyle Larson
Erik Jones
Denny Hamlin
Ryan Blaney
Chris Buescher
Chase Elliott
Brad Keselowski
Ross Chastain
Bubba Wallace
Daniel Suarez

Drivers come down pit road with Kyle Larson wins the race off of pit road.

Ross Chastain had a slow pit stop after the car stalled and issues with the throttle position sensor.

Justin Haley was charged with equipment interference during his pit stop.

Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 172 with Erik Jones alongside.  Drivers are three wide in the field.

Kyle Larson takes the lead with Erik Jones and Denny Hamlin in a battle for second.

Lap 173, the top five are Kyle Larson, Erik Jones, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Bubba Wallace.

Lap 176, Kyle Larson has a lead of over a second on Erik Jones; Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.

JJ Yeley is the only driver to attempt both races this weekend.

With 88 laps remaining in the race, Kyle Larson has a lead of a second and a half on Erik Jones; Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.

Ross Chastain gets up the track but saves the car and keeps it off of the wall.

With 85 laps to go, Kyle Larson has a two second lead on Erik jones; Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.

Brad Keselowski passes Bubba Wallace for fifth.

With 78 to go, Kyle Larson has a lead of over three seconds on Erik Jones; Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.

With 73 laps to go, Bubba Wallace and Chris Buescher battle for sixth.  Buescher takes the spot.

With 72 laps remaining in the race the drivers still have to make a pit stop for fuel.

Bubba Wallace reports that his car is loose.

There are 70 laps to go in the race; Kyle Larson has a four second lead on Erik Jones with Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Brad Keselowski rounding out the top five.

Corey LaJoie is three laps down after damage to the car form a wreck and flat tire; he is the only driver on the track not on the lead lap.

There are 65 laps remaining in the race and Kyle Larson has a four and a half second lead on Erik Jones; Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.

Lap 207, Tyler Reddick is the first driver to come down pit road to begin the cycle of green flag pit stops.

The eighth caution flag comes out on lap 208 when Daniel Suarez spins out and is stopped in the grass trying to come to pit road.

Drivers come down pit road for service with Kyle Larson winning the race off of pit road.

Ryan Blaney was caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race form the back of the field.

Kule Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart from the inside lane with 53 laps remaining in the race.  Larson edges out for the lead after a push from Brad Keselowski.

The top five are Kyle Larson, Erik Jones, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, and Bubba Wallace.

Fifty to go, Kyle Larson has al lead of over a second on Erik Jones.

Brad Keselowski reports that he has a vibration.

With 48 laps to go, Kyle Larson has a second and a half lead on Erik Jones.

There are 29 cars on the lead lap.

Just 47 laps remaining in the race; Kyle Larson has a two second lead on Erik Jones.

Carson Hocevar got into the wall but the track stays green.

With 44 laps to go, William Byron and Chris Buescher battle for sixth.

Forty to go, Kyle Larson has a near four second lead on Erik Jones; Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.

If one of the Hendrick Motorsports drivers wins today, it will be win number 300 for Rick Hendirck.

Just 31 laps remain in the race; Kyle Larson has a five second lead on Erik Jones; Denny Hamlinm Brad Keselowski, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.

JJ Yeley brings out the caution flag with 25 laps remaining in the race when he spins out and has some heavy damage to the car after hitting the wall.

Some of the drivers come down pit road for service with race leader Kyle Larson staying out on the track.

After staying out on the track Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart with Bubba Wallace alongside with just 20 laps remaining in the race.  Larson and Wallace are door to door in a battle for the lead. 

Kyle Larson spins out and brings out the caution flag while in a battle with Bubba Wallace for the lead.  Wallace just missed being hit by Larson when he spun out.

Bubba Wallace is listed as the leader.

Kyle Larson is on pit road for repairs.

Only half of the top 10 drivers are in the playoffs.

Bubba Wallace brings the field down for the green flag restart with William Byron alongside with just 13 laps remaining in the race.  Wallace gets out in front for the lead.  Drivers are three wide across the track.

The top five are Bubba Wallace, Chase Brisvcoe, Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Ross Chastain.

A big crash brings out the caution flag with 12 laps to go involving Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones, AJ Allmendinger, Tyler Reddick, Zane Smith, and Austin Cindric.  Several of the drivers hit the wall to start the melee.  Martin Truex Jr just missed the big crash.

After the crew could not make repairs during the seven minute “crash clock”, Kyle Larson is out of the race.

Bubba Wallace brings the field down for the green flag restart with just six laps remaining in the race with Chase Briscoe alongside.  Wallace edges out in front but Briscoe comes up to battle for the lead with William Byron making it a three wide battle.  William Byron takes the lead.

The top five are William Byron, Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, and Chase Briscoe.

Ross Chastain passes Bubba Wallace for second.

Three to go, William Byron has a one second lead on Ross Chastain.  Christopher Bell and Bubba Wallace battle for third.

William Byron takes the white flag.

William Byron wins the race to give Rick Hendrick his 300th career win.  This is Byron’s sixth win of the season and secures him a spot in the next round of the playoffs.

The results of the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400:
William Byron
Ross Chastain
Bubba Wallace
Christopher Bell
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Brad Keselowski
Daniel Suarez
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Chase Briscoe
Chase Elliott
Alex Bowman
Justin Haley”
Chris Buescher
Michael McDowell
Carson Hocevar
Martin Truex Jr
Aric Almirola
Ty Dillon
Harrison Burton
Joey Logano
BJ McLeod
Ryan Preece
Zane Smith
Tyler Reddick
Corey LaJoie
Austin Cindric
Ryan Blaney
AJ Allmendinger
Erik Jones
Kyle Larson
JJ Yeley
Ty Gibbs
Kyle Busch
Todd Gilliland
Austin Dillon