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Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500: Power Rankings

Can Harvick win at Texas in the playoffs for a third consecutive year?

By Mark Abell
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Race Information

Race: Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500
Laps: 334
Date: October 25th
Venue: Texas Motor Speedway
2019 Winner: Kevin Harvick (3:44:44)
Network: NBCSN

Track

Texas Motor Speedway — Located in Fort Worth, Texas, this 1.5 mile quad-oval asphalt track was built and opened in 1996. It features this race as well as one playoff race and has different banked turns on 1 and 2 (20 degrees) vs. 3 and 4 (24 degrees). Jimmie Johnson holds the most wins here (6). Given the general shape and distance, this track is comparable to Kentucky, Charlotte and Kansas.

NASCAR Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Favorites

Kevin Harvick (ninth selection this year) — Harvick has back to back wins here in 2018 and 2019 playoffs. In addition to that and the 2nd place finish last week at Kansas, Harvick has top 10 finishes in five of his last seven races at Texas.

Chase Elliott (tenth selection this year) — Elliott is coming in strong with a late push. He has three consecutive top 10 finishes. He has finished in the top 15 in six of his last seven races at Texas.

High Risk/High Reward

Erik Jones (ninth selection this year) — Despite his 20th place finish last week, Jones now has top 10 finishes in five out of the seven playoff races. He comes to Texas where he has averaged a 6th place finish over the last two years.

Ryan Blaney (tenth selection this year) — Blaney comes into this tournament fresh off comparable tracks Charlotte and Kansas with formidable 5th and 7th place finishes. He has five top five finishes at Texas over his last seven. Since two rough starts at Bristol and Las Vegas earlier in the playoffs he has rebounded well.

The Dark Horse

Austin Dillon (fifth selection this year) — Dillon has yet to crack a top ten finish at Texas but he has come very close with three top 15 finishes in his last four races here. Likewise he has yet to crack the top ten in his last five races but he has three finishes at 11th or 12th. I’m thinking this might be the week he stops both of those streaks.

Fun Fact: Jimmie Johnson won here four consecutive years from 2012-2015.

2020 Results

Favorite: Avg Finish 10th (26th Percent)
High Risk/High Reward: Avg Finish 16th (40th Percent)
Dark Horse: Avg Finish 19th (49th Percent)