NASCAR Cup Series results: William Byron wins playoff race at Texas as other contenders wreck; updated standings

William Byron clinched a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs Round of 8 by winning at Texas Motor Speedwayon Sunday afternoon.

Byron made a bold move off of a restart with six laps to go, going to the bottom of the track — making it three wide in the process — and clearing both leader Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain. He did not look back. The win gave car owner Rick Hendrick his 300th in the highest level of NASCAR.

Byron's Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson appeared poised to win, leading by over four seconds, until a caution came out for J.J. Yeley's wrecked car with 25 laps to go. He and Wallace stayed out of the pits while the bulk of the field pitted for two fresh tires. On the ensuing re-start Larson spun in the lower groove while racing Wallace, who was on the high side. Larson backed into the wall, bringing out another yellow flag.

Wallace led cleanly into Turn 1 on the ensuing restart and made it one lap before a host of cars wrecked behind him on the front stretch.

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 results

William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota

Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford

Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

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

Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford

Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford

Carson Hocevar (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet

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

Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford

Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford

BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford

Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Zane Smith (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford

Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota

Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford

Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford

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

Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet

Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

J.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford

Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Todd Gilliland (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford

Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Updated NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings

1.William Byron – 3,083* 2.Denny Hamlin – 3,074 3. Chris Buescher – 3,0594. Christopher Bell – 3,0575.Martin Truex Jr. – 3,056 6.Ross Chastain – 3,049 7.Brad Keselowski – 3,045 8.Kyle Larson – 3,039 ______________________________ Cut line9. Bubba Wallace – 3,037 10. Tyler Reddick – 3,03611.Ryan Blaney – 3,028 12.Kyle Busch – 3,022*Clinched entry in Round of 8

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 TV/streaming schedule

All times Eastern

Saturday12:30-1:20 p.m.: Practice (USA, NBC Sports app)1:20-2:30 p.m.: Qualifying (USA, NBC Sports app)

Sunday3-3:30 p.m.: Pre-race show (USA, NBC Sports app)3:30-6:30 p.m.: Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 (USA, NBC Sports app)

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 details

Track: Texas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile dogleg oval) in Fort Worth, TexasLength: 267 laps for 400.5 milesBanking: Turns 1-2 – 20 degrees | Turns 3-4 – 24 degrees | Straights – 5 degreesStage lengths: Stage 1 – 80 laps | Stage 2 – 80 laps | Stage 3 – 107 laps2022 winner: Tyler Reddick (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 starting grid

Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota

Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford

Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford

Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

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

Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet

Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota

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

Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford

William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Carson Hocevar (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet

Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford

Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford

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

Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Corey LaJoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford

Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford

Zane Smith (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford

BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford

J.J. Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford

Todd Gilliland (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford

NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings

Despite a lackluster Round of 16, Truex Jr. starts the second round right where he did three weeks ago: atop the standings and level on points with William Byron. Truex had an average finish worse than 23rd in the three previous playoff races this season, and even dipped below the cut line, but things broke his way at Bristol and his stage points haul from the regular season ups his standing entering the Round of 12.

1.William Byron – 3,036 2.Martin Truex Jr. – 3,036 3. Denny Hamlin – 3,0324. Kyle Larson– 3,023 5.Chris Buescher – 3,021 6.Kyle Busch – 3,019 7.Christopher Bell – 3,016 8.Tyler Reddick – 3,014 ______________________________ Cut line9.Ross Chastain – 3,011 10. Brad Keselowski – 3,01111.Ryan Blaney – 3,008 12.Bubba Wallace – 3,000

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 top drivers and best bets

The seven drivers with the best odds for victory, according to BetMGM, are all in the playoff field and six of those seven drive for either Hendrick Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing, with last week's Bristol winner Denny Hamlin leading the way.

Best odds to win• Denny Hamlin +525• Kyle Larson +600• William Byron +800• Tyler Reddick +800• Martin Truex Jr. +800

Yahoo Sports' Nick Bromberg wrote earlier in the week on the gambling outlook and is bullish on Kyle Busch (+1400), who is the winningest active driver at Texas. Bromberg suggests shying away from Joey Logano — who was eliminated from playoff contention last week — citing Team Penske's 2023 struggles on intermediate tracks.

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 entry 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 ChevroletChase Elliott (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 FordZane Smith (38), Front Row Motorsports FordRyan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing FordCarson Hocevar (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 ChevroletTodd Gilliland (51), Rick Ware Racing FordTy Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaTy Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports ChevroletBJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports FordDaniel Suárez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 weather

The forecast for the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is scorching, with highs projected in the upper 90s for both days of Cup Series running and a 69% chance of rain for race day. Assuming things stay relatively dry, the combination of hot track surface chewing up tires and a likely high number of cautions — there haven't been fewer than eight in any Texas race since 2019 — should make for wildly varying pit strategies, especially in the playoff field.