The Cup Series had a normal schedule this week at Texas Motor Speedway. The teams had a 20-minute practice session before they lined up the cars for group qualifying. There have been two races at Texas using the Gen-7 car. There has been an average of 13 cautions per race, so the teams are going to need cars that are fast on the short-run and long-run Sunday. It is smart to combine the driver’s single lap speed with his 10-lap average speed to predict which cars are the fastest for Sunday’s race.
Here is my starting lineup for the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 …
KYLE LARSON (7): Larson destroyed the field last month at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He led 181 laps, won both Stages and won the race. The No. 5 car looks fast again this weekend. Larson posted the fastest long-run speed in practice and he won for the race. Larson should score a lot of Stage Points and have a good chance to go to Victory Lane Sunday.
TYLER REDDICK (7): Reddick won at Texas Motor Speedway in 2022. Can he do it again Sunday? The No. 45 car started 18th and finished 2nd at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last month. The team has speed again this weekend. Reddick posted the second-fastest long-run speed in practice and qualified fourth for the race. It is a good idea to use your allocations with Reddick at the 1.5-mile tracks.
TY GIBBS (8): Gibbs does not have great stats at Texas, but I am not worried about it. Gibbs seems to be a much improved driver this season. He started 8th and finished 5th at Las Vegas last month. The No. 54 car has speed again this weekend. Gibbs posted the fastest speed in practice and qualified second for the race. Texas should be a good track to use an allocation with Gibbs.
CHASE BRISCOE (7): I was hoping I did not have to use Briscoe this week, but the No. 14 car looks too fast to fade this weekend. Briscoe finished 5th and 10th in his two races at Texas in the Gen-7 car. Briscoe starts fifth for the race. He should score some Stage Points and has a good chance to finish in the top-12 Sunday. That will likely be the best in Group C.
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