NASCAR fantasy picks for the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway

Denny Hamlin was the victor at the Bass Pro Shops Bristol Night Race, much to the chagrin of the multitude of fans who hurled boos down upon him as he emerged from his car. Denny seems as though he’s embracing the role of the villain, however, and I doubt it’s going to deter him in any way from his goal of reaching the final four yet again. 

Despite the threat of rain and a brief pause to dry the track after a shower, the NASCAR Cup drivers were able to complete the race with some surprise endings. Both Bubba Wallace and Martin Truex Jr. pulled upsets and came through with enough points to move on to the Round of 12 while Kevin Harvick and last season’s Champion, Joey Logano, both ended the day on the outside looking in. Harvick’s woes were due to a handling issue that started early on, while Logano was caught up in an accident that ended his day, and season, early. Michael McDowell and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. were also eliminated from the playoffs in Bristol on Saturday night. 

Here is the complete list of drivers who advanced to the Round of 12 to battle further for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship:

Martin Truex Jr.

William Byron

Denny Hamlin

Chris Beuscher

Kyle Busch

Kyle Larson

Tyler Reddick

Christopher Bell

Ross Chastain

Brad Keselowski

Ryan Blaney

Bubba Wallace

As we head to Texas this week, another driver has the chance to advance into the Round of 8, while non-playoff drivers are fighting for a win. Here are my Brilliant, Bold, and Bonkers NASCAR fantasy picks for the first race in the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12:  The AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.

5th Down Fantasy is a proud sponsor of the new NASCAR podcast: Holly’s Racing Fantasy. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for the latest happenings in the NASCAR Cup Series, highlights from the previous week’s race, and fantasy picks for the upcoming event.

Follow and Subscribe: Spotify | Apple | YouTube | Amazon | Stitcher | iHeart Radio

Brilliant – These expert fantasy picks for NASCAR have the best shot at a win this weekend

Kyle Busch 

This is probably the best chance that Kyle Busch has to get himself a win in this round. He has fantastic numbers here with only one DNF to show for it, so I expect him to come out on top by the end of the day.

Wins in Texas: 4

Top 5s: 14

Top 10s: 18

Tyler Reddick 

Tyler Reddick has a few unsavory finishes here, but he also has a bunch of delightful ones, too. He has one win and his average finish is sixth, so stick him on your NASCAR fantasy list and consider it good.

Wins in Texas: 1

Top 5s: 2

Top 10s: 3

William Byron

It’s been a hot minute since William Byron won a race, so he’s probably itching to get back to Victory Lane by now. The numbers are so-so, but with the hot season he’s had, I’ll toss the stats out the window and take a chance on the 24 team.

Wins in Texas: 0

Top 5s: 1

Top 10s: 4

Bold – Here’s my NASCAR fantasy advice on this week’s sleeper picks 

Ryan Blaney

Ryan Blaney better win here if he wants to keep going on because he’s below the cutoff line and Talladega won’t do him any favors next week. Lucky for the driver of the 12 car, he’s not too shabby here. If not a win, I expect he’ll get some decent stage points, so keep an eye on this guy when you set your NASCAR fantasy lineup.

Wins in Texas: 0

Top 5s: 4

Top 10s: 8

Erik Jones

He’s not in the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still get a win. Erik Jones is looking for his first win of the season, and this has always been a good track for him and his team. He’s been on a slow burn lately, so if he can get up front, run well, and stay out of scuffles, I think he’ll have a top-five finish. 

Wins in Texas: 0

Top 5s: 3

Top 10s: 7

Joey Logano

He’s disappointed in missing the playoffs and becoming a statistic, so Joey Logano is going to race for his reputation this week. I doubt he’ll steal a win from a playoff driver, but if he has an opportunity to bring it home clean, he certainly will. 

Wins in Texas: 0

Top 5s: 3

Top 10s: 7

Bonkers – Chances are slim that these drivers will benefit your NASCAR fantasy points this week

Michael McDowell

I’m sure he’s stinging from his loss, despite how hard he worked to finish well. There’s a lot of racing left, and he may get another win now that the pressure is off. But it won’t be here. 

Wins in Texas: 0

Top 5s: 0

Top 10s: 0

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 

Hold off on Ricky Stenhouse Jr. until we hit Talladega next week. Thai isn’t the place for him, and he’s probably in recovery mode after last week’s elimination. 

Wins in Texas: 0

Top 5s: 0

Top 10s: 0

Alex Bowman

Still looking for the elusive win, Alex Bowman will have to wait yet another week for it. Though the 48 car was once known for its victories in Texas, they’ve been scarce lately. And with 4 DNFs on the record, I’d leave this one out of your lineup this week.

Wins in Texas: 0

Top 5s: 2

Top 10s: 2