NASCAR Autotrader Echopark Automotive 500 odds and upset picks

The NASCAR Cup Series rolls into Texas this Sunday, Oct. 25 for the Autotrader Echopark Automotive 500 (3:30 p.m., NBCSN).

Kevin Harvick is the +275 betting favorite to win at Texas Motor Speedway and clinch his Championship 4 berth, just like Joey Logano did at Kansas last week. Harvick has three wins in his last seven races at the Lone Star State oval, but NASCAR’s most recent visit to Texas (July 19) yielded a wild result, as Austin Dillion scored one of the biggest upset wins of the season.

With that race in mind, let’s go looking for some value selections in Sunday’s Autotrader Echopark Automotive 500.

Ryan Blaney (+800)

Despite being eliminated from the postseason in the first round, Ryan Blaney has done quite well for himself over the last few weeks and has even threatened for a win. He could break through at Texas Motor Speedway, a track he’s thrived at in the past.

Blaney – who has three Top 10s in his last four races – won both stages at the July race in Texas and led 150 laps, but ultimately settled for seventh. That was his fifth Top 10 at Texas in his last six races at this venue.

The No. 12 Ford will roll off the grid in 10th place on Sunday afternoon.

Kyle Busch (+1100)

The Autotrader Echopark Automotive 500 looks like Kyle Busch’s best chance for a win before the 2020 season comes to a close.

Busch has four Top 10 results at Texas in his last five visits here. That includes his victory in April of 2018 in which he led 116 laps.

Consecutive poor finishes at Talladega (27th) and the Charlotte Roval (30th) knocked Busch out of the playoffs, but he’s bracketed those outings with five Top 5 efforts.

Busch will begin his day in ninth place.

Erik Jones (+3000)

Erik Jones has quietly put together a solid string of performances since failing to qualify for the playoffs. He’s worth a shot at long odds to take the checkered flag at Texas this Sunday.

Jones has four Top 5 finishes in his last seven races, and an average finishing position of 8.86 in that span. The No. 20 Toyota driver finished sixth in the July race here, his sixth straight Top 10 result at Texas. No active driver has a better average finishing position than Jones (9.00) at Texas (minimum eight starts).

Jones will start in 17th place.