NASCAR live updates: Cup cars get first road course test at Circuit of the Americas

NASCAR fans get their first look at a package of rules changes as the Cup Series visits its first road course of the season at Austin, Texas’ Circuit of the Americas. New for 2023, the cars will have less downforce — to encourage more passing — and there won’t be any stage cautions, which should lead to interesting strategy calls.

Here’s what else to know ahead of the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix:

EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix broadcast schedule

All times ET

Friday, March 248-9 p.m.: Practice (FS1) — tape delay

Saturday, March 2511:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Qualifying (FS1, PRN, SiriusXM)

Sunday, March 263:30-7 p.m.: EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (Fox, PRN, Sirius XM)

EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix details

Track: Circuit of the Americas (3.4-mile, 20-turn road course)Length: 68 laps, 231.88 miles.Last year's winner: Ross Chastain

EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix starting grid

William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota

Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford

Jordan Taylor (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet

Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Noah Gragson (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet

Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota

Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford

Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford

Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet

Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford

Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Kimi Räikönnen (91), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Jenson Button (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford

Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford

Jimmie Johnson (84), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet

Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford

Josh Bilicki (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford

Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Conor Daly (50), TMT Racing Chevrolet

Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford

Cody Ware (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford

Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford

Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Top drivers and best bets for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix

With Chevrolet having dominated each of the first two races at COTA, it's no surprise that five of the six drivers with better than 10-to-1 odds to win drive Chevys. Kyle Larson, who finished second to teammate Chase Elliott in a rain-shortened first race there in 2021 is the favorite according to BetMGM.

Best odds to win

Kyle Larson +600

Kyle Busch +700

Ross Chastain +750

Tyler Reddick +900

A.J. Allmendinger +1000

William Byron +1000

Yahoo Sports' Nick Bromberg suggests finding good mid-tier value in points leader Joey Logano — who has 19 career road-course top-10s, including a win. Logano enters the weekend at +2500. If you're really looking for a longshot, Bromberg points out that Justin Haley (+10000) has two top-10 finishes at road courses in his career.

EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix entries list

Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing ChevroletAustin Cindric (2), Team Penske FordAustin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing ChevroletKevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing FordKyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletBrad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing FordCorey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports ChevroletKyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing ChevroletJordan Taylor (9), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletAric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing FordDenny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaRyan Blaney (12), Team Penske FordChase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing FordJ.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing FordA.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing ChevroletChris Buescher (17), RFK Racing FordMartin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaChristopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaHarrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing FordJoey Logano (22), Team Penske FordBubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing ToyotaWilliam Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJustin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing ChevroletMichael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports FordTodd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports FordRyan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing FordNoah Gragson (42), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletErik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletTyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing ToyotaRicky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing ChevroletAlex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletConor Daly (50), TMT Racing ChevroletCody Ware (51), Rick Ware Racing FordTy Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaTy Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports ChevroletJosh Bilicki (78), Live Fast Motorsports FordJimmie Johnson (84), Legacy Motor Club ChevroletKimi Räikönnen (91), Trackhouse Racing ChevroletDaniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix weather

Thunderstorms are forecast for Friday, which could wipe out an important practice session for the Cup cars, but from then it's supposed to be clear and cool on Saturday and Sunday. That forecast along with the aforementioned road course rule changes should make for compelling battles throughout the field for Sunday's race.