EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix: NASCAR betting odds, preview, and value picks

The first NASCAR Cup Series road course event of 2022 is the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, and it’s set for Sunday at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX).

The first-ever Cup Series race at COTA occurred last May, and although NASCAR allowed rain tires to be used in the wet conditions, the ultimately-ugly event was halted after 54 laps due to unreasonably heavy precipitation. Chase Elliott was awarded the truncated victory, meaning he has now won six of the Cup Series’ last 12 road races.

Elliott was installed as the +300 favorite for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson a close second-choice at +450. They are the only two drivers listed at below +1000. But bettors don’t have to concede the race to the favorites. Let’s go looking for value with our NASCAR selections this Sunday.

Kyle Busch (+1000)

Kyle Busch is often recognized as one of the better road racers in the Cup Series, yet he’s without a win over one since 2015. That could finally change this Sunday at COTA.

Busch checked in 10th here in 2021, winning Stage 2 and leading 12 laps in the process. In four of the last five Cup Series stops at road courses, Busch finished in the Top 5, with 28 total laps led.

The No. 18 Toyota driver led 21 laps at Atlanta last week before wrecking out of the race. He had an average finish of 7.75 in the four Cup Series races prior to that 33rd-place result.

Austin Cindric (+1500)

Reigning Daytona 500 champion Austin Cindric has an outstanding track record at road courses, and should be taken as a serious threat at long odds in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.

Cindric placed in both stages in the Cup Series race at COTA in 2021 and led four laps, but his team’s decision to pit just before the race was called off unfortunately led to his worse-than-it-looks 25th-place finish.

The No. 2 Ford driver has five wins at five different road courses in the Xfinity Series dating back to 2017, and was fifth in the Xfinity event at this venue last season.

Joey Logano (+2000)

Joey Logano is an underrated road course driver, and shouldn’t be overlooked at this price on Sunday.

Logano led a race-high 14 laps in the 2021 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix en route to a third-place result. That was part of a string of four straight Top 5 finishes at road courses for the No. 22 Ford driver from October of 2020 to June of 2021.

He is in good form this year, ranking second in points behind only Elliott.