Will this weekend's new course lead to another new driver winning a Cup Series race?
We've seen 10 different winners throughout the 13 races this season, with only two drivers — Martin Truex Jr. and Alex Bowman — winning multiple races. Chase Elliott, last year's Cup Series winner, is among a talented group still searching for victory No. 1.
Get the inside track on your bets with Covers Experts' Auto Racing Advisor preview and picks for the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix, which gets underway at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 23.
EchoPark Texas Grand Prix favorites:
Chase Elliott (+200)
You have to go here, right? He's won the last two years at Watkins Glen, won the last two on the Charlotte ROVAL, and won a year ago on the Daytona road course. He also led the most laps and should have won on the Daytona road course this past February, too.
Martin Truex Jr. (+400)
He has three wins this season, all coming with this 750 horsepower package. Elliott has overshadowed Truex for road course success, so you get someone with a stout road course history for double the odds.
Denny Hamlin (+1,000)
A very underrated road racer with a Top-Five finish in almost every 750 track this season.
Covers NASCAR Betting Content
EchoPark Texas Grand Prix long-shot picks:
Kyle Busch (+1,200)
He's at his best on natural road courses like Watkins Glen and Sonoma. Then, he goes out and wins the Busch Clash on the Daytona road course this past February. Worth it for these odds.
Kyle Larson (+1,400)
He's always been good on road courses but just hasn't had the results in the end. You get the second-best driver on the season for +1400 odds.
Christopher Bell (+1,500)
He won on the Daytona road course back in February, so why not here?
Austin Cindric (+2,200)
He may be a rookie but he's a phenomenal road racer and in a Penske car.
Michael McDowell (+6,600)
He's a road racer by nature, had a Top 10 in Daytona on the road course, and can be aggressive going for a win.
Chase Briscoe (+8,000)
Same as Cindric. He's won multiple times on these types of tracks and is coming through the ranks.
EchoPark Texas Grand Prix matchup pick:
Michael McDowell (-129) vs. Chris Buescher (-104)
Go with McDowell here. He has an extensive road racing background while Buescher doesn't. McDowell is actually at his best on these tracks.
PICK: McDowell (-129)
EchoPark Texas Grand Prix fades:
Team Penske
They all struggle on road courses and I don't see them turning that around this weekend. In addition to Cindric at +2,200, Penske drivers have the following odds for this race: Ryan Blaney is +1,400, Joey Logano comes in at +1,600, while Brad Keselowski is +2,000.
Kevin Harvick (+1,600)
He's not a road course ace by nature, so why would that change in his first time at a new track?
EchoPark Texas Grand Prix preview
This is the first time that NASCAR has ever raced at COTA before, so buckle up. There's no past history or data to look at. With that said, there's really no way of knowing who to pick because this track doesn't translate over to any other track that we've ever been to before. So, on a season where we've seen 10 different winners in 13 races, what can you expect?
I don't think you can go wrong with the road racing specialists in the series in Chase Elliott and Martin Truex Jr. Both are the best on these circuits over the last three years and I can see them being so again on a new track.
Plus, Elliott doesn't have a win yet this season which can allow him to be aggressive for a victory on Sunday.
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