NASCAR fans will get their first glimpse of a rule change package as the Cup Series visits its first street course of the season at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. New for 2023 the cars will have less downforce – to encourage more overtaking – and there will be no stage warnings, which should make for some interesting strategy calls.
Here’s what else you should know ahead of the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix:
Broadcast schedule for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
All times ET
Friday March 24th8pm-9pm: Exercise (FS1) – tape delay
Saturday March 25th11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Qualification (FS1, PRN, SiriusXM)
Sunday March 26th15:30-19:00: EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (Fox, PRN, Sirius XM)
Details of the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
Rail: Circuit of the Americas (3.4 miles, 20-turn road course)Length: 68 laps, 231.88 miles.Last year’s winners: Ross Chastain
Starting grid EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota
Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford
Jordan Taylor (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Daniel Suarez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
AJ Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Noah Gragson (42), Chevrolet of the Legacy Motor Club
Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota
Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford
Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ricky Stenhouse Jr (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Kimi Raikkonnen (91), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Jenson Button (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford
Martin Truex Jr (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ryan Preece (41), Stewart Haas Racing Ford
Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart Haas Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford
Jimmie Johnson (84), Chevrolet of the Legacy Motor Club
Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford
Josh Bilicki (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford
Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Conor Daly (50), TMT Racing Chevrolet
Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Cody Ware (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford
Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford
Aric Almirola (10), Stewart Haas Racing Ford
Top drivers and best bets for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
With Chevrolet dominating each of the first two races at COTA, it’s no surprise that five of the six drivers with a more than 10-to-1 odds of winning are driving Chevys. Kyle Larson, who finished second to teammate Chase Elliott in a rain-shortened first race there in 2021, is the favorite according to BetMGM.
Best odds
Kyle Larson +600
Kyle Busch +700
Ross Chastain +750
Tyler Reddick +900
AJ Allmendinger +1000
William Byron +1000
Yahoo Sports’ Nick Bromberg suggests finding good mid-range value in points leader Joey Logano, who has 19 career top 10 finishes on the road, including one win. Logano starts the weekend with +2500. If you’re really looking for a longshot, Bromberg points out that Justin Haley (+10000) has had two top 10 finishes on street courses in his career.
List of participants for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing FordCorey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports ChevroletKyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing ChevroletJordan Taylor (9), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletAric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing FordDenny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaRyan Blaney (12), Team Penske FordChase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing FordJ.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing FordA.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing ChevroletChris Buescher (17), RFK Racing FordMartin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaChristopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaHarrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing FordJoey Logano (22), Team Penske FordBubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing ToyotaWilliam Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJustin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing ChevroletMichael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports FordTodd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports FordRyan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing FordNoah Gragson (42), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletErik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletTyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing ToyotaRicky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing ChevroletAlex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletConor Daly (50), TMT Racing Chevrolet Cody Ware (51), Rick Ware Racing FordTy Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaTy Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports ChevroletJosh Bilicki (78), Live Fast Motorsports FordJimmie Johnson (84), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet Kimi Raikkonnen (91), Trackhouse Racing ChevroletDaniel Suarez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix Weather
Thunderstorms are forecast for Friday, which could ruin an important practice session for the Cup cars, but from then on it should be clear and cool on Saturday and Sunday. That prognosis, along with the road course rule changes mentioned above, should make for convincing battles across the field for Sunday’s race.
Source : www.whio.com